The Serengeti

The Serengeti is one place with two entirely different seasons, and choosing between them is the whole decision. From late June through October the herds move north and west, and the Grumeti and Mara crossings happen. That is the classic migration window and the busiest. In January and February the herds are back on the short-grass plains in the south to calve, which is quieter, greener and the stronger window for predators.

March to May is the long rains, when many camps close and the ground becomes difficult. November brings the short rains, which are usually brief and often worth accepting for the space and the rates.

Kilimanjaro is the international arrival, and from there it is a light-aircraft hop to Seronera, Kogatende or Grumeti depending on where the herds are. Because the migration moves, we do not fix camps a year out and hope. We hold flexible bookings and confirm the northern or southern option closer to the date.

Among our preferred hotel partners, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti sits in the central Seronera area above a waterhole that elephants use daily. It is the property that works for members who want lodge comfort rather than a mobile camp, and for the crossings themselves we add a mobile camp in the north on the same trip. Ask your advisor about balloon flights over the plains, private conservancy access, and pairing the park with Cape Town or Zanzibar.