Serengeti

The Serengeti is Tanzania’s most legendary national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose very name — derived from the Maasai word “siringet” meaning endless plains — perfectly captures its vast, primordial beauty. Stretching across nearly 15,000 square kilometres, the Serengeti encompasses a mosaic of ecosystems from the short-grass plains of the south to the wooded hills of the north, the kopjes (rocky outcrops) of the central region, and the riverine forests along the Grumeti and Mara rivers.

The Serengeti is the stage for the Great Migration, the annual movement of over two million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra, and countless gazelle in a circular journey driven by rainfall and the search for fresh grazing. The calving season in January and February sees hundreds of thousands of wildebeest born on the southern plains, while the dramatic river crossings between July and October in the northern corridor provide some of the most intense and emotional wildlife viewing imaginable.

Beyond the migration, the Serengeti supports one of the highest densities of predators in Africa. Lion prides dominate the central Seronera valley, leopards patrol the kopjes, and cheetahs hunt across the open plains. The park is also home to large herds of elephant, giraffe, buffalo, and over 500 species of birds.

A dawn hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti remains one of Africa’s most iconic experiences — floating silently over the plains as the first light illuminates herds stretching to the horizon, followed by a champagne bush breakfast. The Serengeti is not just a destination; it is a profound encounter with the wild heart of Africa.