Singita Sasakwa Lodge (Grumeti)
Ultra-luxury Edwardian-manor 9-cottage lodge on a 350,000-acre private concession — best of the best.
Grumeti · Ultra-luxury
Complete guide · Tanzania
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari Guide: When to Go, Where to Stay, How to Book
The Serengeti and neighbouring Ngorongoro Crater form the northern circuit — the finest concentration of wildlife on earth. Where you go inside the Serengeti depends entirely on the month, because the 1.5 million-strong wildebeest herd moves in a clockwise loop through the year. This guide tells you which zone to base yourself in each month, which camps are worth the money, and how to bolt on Zanzibar for the beach finish.
The Great Migration month-by-month
January-March: calving season in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu). ~8,000 wildebeest born per day; predator action is intense. Base: Ndutu or southern Serengeti camps.
April-May: long rains; herds spread west. Cheapest month but many camps close.
June-July: Grumeti River crossings in the western corridor. Base: Grumeti or Western Serengeti camps (Singita Grumeti, Sasakwa).
August-October: Mara River crossings in northern Serengeti. The famous crocodile-lined crossings. Base: Northern Serengeti (Kogatende, Lamai Wedge) — this is the peak-price, peak-drama window.
November-December: herds return south via central Serengeti (Seronera). Short rains keep dust down and prices moderate.
Ngorongoro Crater: what to expect
The world's largest intact volcanic caldera — 260 km² floor, 600 m walls. Home to ~25,000 large animals year-round, including the densest lion population in Africa and the endangered black rhino.
Descend at 06:00 for the best light and least traffic. Full day inside; picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs (yes, the kites will try to steal your sandwich).
Stay on the rim: &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (ultra-luxury Maasai boma), Gibb's Farm (working-farm boutique on the outer slopes), Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (best mid-range with crater views).
Which zone to base yourself in the Serengeti
Central (Seronera): year-round game, best value, most fixed lodges. Best for first-timers who can't time-align with the migration.
Southern (Ndutu): December-March calving. Mobile camps only.
Western Corridor (Grumeti): May-July. Ultra-luxury Singita reserves.
Northern (Kogatende / Lamai): August-October Mara River crossings.
Ideal itinerary: 2 nights central + 2 nights migration-zone. Book mobile camps that move with the herd (Serengeti Under Canvas, Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp).
Park fees, permits and costs (2026)
Serengeti National Park: USD 82.60/adult/day (peak season) including VAT — payable per 24-hour period.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area: USD 100/adult/day + USD 354.60 crater-descent fee per vehicle (max 6 people).
Tarangire (optional add-on): USD 59/adult/day.
A private guide with 4x4 Land Cruiser: USD 350-550/day inclusive of fuel and driver. Fly-in packages that bundle bush flights + camp + game drives + fees typically run USD 900-2,500 per person per day.
Combining with Zanzibar
The classic 10-14 day Tanzania trip is 5-7 nights safari + 5-7 nights Zanzibar beach. Fly ZNZ from Arusha (JRO) after safari on Coastal Aviation or Auric Air (1.5 hr).
See our dedicated Zanzibar Beach Resorts Guide for the beach half of the itinerary.
Do safari first, beach second — you want to unwind, not front-load the fatigue.
14 handpicked Serengeti & Ngorongoro camps
Singita Faru Faru Lodge
9-suite riverine contemporary lodge on the Grumeti — private concession, no other vehicles.
Grumeti · Ultra-luxury
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Maasai-boma-inspired ultra-luxury 30-suite lodge on the crater rim — the definitive crater stay.
Ngorongoro Rim · Ultra-luxury
Sanctuary Kusini (Southern Serengeti)
12-tent luxury camp on a private granite kopje in Kusini — best for December-March calving.
Ndutu / Southern Serengeti · Luxury
Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp (mobile)
Mobile 6-tent luxury camp that migrates with the herd — Ndutu December-March, north July-November.
Mobile · Luxury
Serengeti Under Canvas (&Beyond mobile)
Mobile 9-tent luxury camp moving between five sites through the year — best 'in the herd' experience.
Mobile · Luxury
Sayari Camp (Northern Serengeti)
15-tent Asilia luxury camp in Kogatende — front row for the Mara River crossings August-October.
Kogatende · Luxury
Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge
15-suite mid-luxury lodge in Wogakuria — Mara River access, all-year northern base.
Northern Serengeti · Luxury
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
77-room Central Serengeti resort — infinity pool overlooking a waterhole, best family-luxury lodge with kids club.
Seronera · Luxury family
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
66-room Central Serengeti Maasai-inspired lodge — best-value fixed lodge in Seronera.
Seronera · Mid-range
Kubu Kubu Tented Camp
25-tent Central Serengeti Elewana camp — solid comfortable mid-luxury.
Seronera · Mid-range luxury
Gibb's Farm (Ngorongoro)
20-room working coffee-farm boutique on the outer slopes — best boutique alternative to rim lodges.
Ngorongoro Outer · Boutique
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
92-room eastern-rim lodge — best-value crater-rim stay with sunrise-side rooms.
Ngorongoro Rim · Mid-range
Tarangire Treetops (Elewana, add-on)
20 tree-house suites in the Tarangire ecosystem — best add-on baobab-and-elephants base.
Tarangire · Luxury
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?
For the Mara River crossings, August-October (northern Serengeti). For calving and dense predator action, January-March (southern Serengeti/Ndutu). For Grumeti River crossings, June-July (western corridor). Ngorongoro Crater is excellent year-round.
How many days do I need in the Serengeti?
Minimum 3 nights in the Serengeti plus 1 night at Ngorongoro Crater. Ideal is 4-5 Serengeti nights split between two zones (2 central + 2-3 migration-zone) plus 1 Ngorongoro plus optional 1-2 Tarangire on the way in.
How much does a Tanzania safari cost?
Fly-in luxury packages run USD 900-2,500 per person per day (all-inclusive of camps, meals, drives, park fees and bush flights). Mid-range fixed-lodge drive-safaris run USD 450-700 per person per day. Budget camping safaris are USD 200-350 per person per day.
Do I need vaccinations?
Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from a yellow-fever endemic country. Typhoid, hepatitis A and up-to-date routine vaccines recommended. Malaria prophylaxis strongly recommended for the northern circuit.
Serengeti or Masai Mara?
They are two halves of the same ecosystem. Serengeti is ~10x the size, has more zones and better luxury lodging; Masai Mara is denser and easier to visit in a short window. If time-flexible, choose by month: Mara for July-October, Serengeti for the other months (or for anyone doing 6+ nights).
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