Ignoring the fact that Serengeti national park is situated in a remote place, the park is still easily accessible although being located in a place with nature’s laws of long ago and seasonal cycles that have stayed unaltered, the park can be arrived at by either air or by road. The major journey starting points for the visitors are Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport after which you can take a safari of your preferred choice to your lodge or place of accommodation depending on your choice, the best way to get to the park would be flying from Arusha to any of the airstrips within the park, driving to Serengeti national park is also possible when using 4×4 safari vehicle.
Getting to Serengeti by air
The main entry point is Kilimanjaro International Airport located between the towns of Arusha and Moshi. Kilimanjaro International Airport is just about 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the southern entrance to the park
There are also numerous international flight options like KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines. There also do exist connections between Nairobi city in Kenya and Kilimanjaro International Airport providing additional options for international flights such as British Airways, Emirates, and other Airlines that fly into Tanzania’s capital Dar-es-Salaam although flying into Dar-es-Salaam would add an extra cost for an overnight stay including a domestic flight on a small regional airline having luggage restrictions
Regional air travel
Regional air travel is the most comfortable and recommended route as you travel to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport then you can head for a fly-in safari to the Serengeti. From there, it will take you approximately 1 or 2 hours to fly to any of the seven airstrips within Serengeti national park which will take between 1 to 5 hours. All the flights are operated by local airlines like Coastal Aviation or Grumeti Air. Another way of arriving at the par by air can be by flying from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport or Wilson Airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Also, when travelling from the area of Lake Victoria region, the best airport to use is Mwanza airport. direct flights to other national parks like lake Manyara national park also do exist.
Serengeti fly-in safari
The Serengeti fly-in safari is an easier and more convenient way to get into Serengeti national park, the fly-in safari involves the use of private or scheduled charter flights. Some of the best lodges have airstrips that can help you arrange direct scheduled or private charter flights from Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport straight to their airstrips
Arriving at Serengeti national park by road
The following are the ways you can arrive at Serengeti national park by road means
Serengeti drive-in safaris
Serengeti drive-in safari Is the most popular method of arriving at Serengeti national park. The drive in usually last for approximately 8 or 9 hours. The drive-in start from Arusha town straight to the national park of Serengeti with an overnight stay at any of the en-route suites also part of the safari
Serengeti self-drive safaris
Serengeti national park is also accessible by travelling in a rental car even if it’s not mostly recommendable. During a self-drive safari, you need to take precautions careful planning is paramount and necessary when driving across Serengeti national park. petrol can be got from Seronera located in the Southern Serengeti, a 4×4 vehicle is the best since it is able to access all the roads within the park all year out
Entrance gates at Serengeti national park
There are four major gates that lead you in and out of Serengeti national park. They are The Naabi Hill Gate, Ndabaka Gate, Klein’s Gate, and Bologonya Gate
Naabi Hill’s Gate.
This gate is Serengeti’s main entrance making it the busiest entry point. The Distance from Naabi Hill’s Gate to Seronera where petrol is sold is approximately 45 kilometres. The gate is always open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (East African Time)
Ndabaka Gate.
This gate is the main entrance to the Western Corridor area; it is approximately 145 kilometres from Seronera and about and a half-journey drive from Mwanza the second largest city after Dar es Salaam. The gate is always open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (East African Time) daily but the last entry time is always at 4:00 pm
Klein’s Gate.
The gate is located in the far North East corner of Serengeti national park. The gate is always open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (East African Time) and also the last entry time is 4:00 pm
The Bologonya Gate.
Located at the border, Bologonya Gate is the entry or exit point to or from Kenya.
Getting to access the park is done through any of the gates mentioned above as long as you pay the park fees, however, if you book your safari with nature_nest safaris, the entrance fees are always catered for depending on your safari package
Best time to pay a visit to Serengeti National Park
Serengeti national park can be visited throughout the year but the best time to visit the park is during the dry season that’s from June to October. The dry season is the best time to view wildlife alongside the wildebeest migration that occurs around June and July. Wildebeest calving also occurs from January to February. Wildlife viewing can be done throughout the year as well but with some areas being better for viewing at specific times. During the dry season, the mosquitos are reduced in number which reduces the chances of contracting malaria also. The wet season within the park is from March to May which is also still a great time to see wildlife though they will be reduced in number.
Climate and vegetation of Serengeti national park
Serengeti national park experiences two seasons namely dry and wet seasons with the wet season having two rainy periods short and long rain periods. The short rain season is from November to December and the long rain period is from March to May. During the short rain period, rains are unpredictable which is most likely to affect your wildlife safari within the park while during the long rain period, the rainfall received are usually heavy, this season is also known as the green season. The other season which is the dry season is from June to October. Generally, Serengeti national park experiences a mild and pleasant climate throughout, the nights and early mornings are always cold so when organizing to visit the park, do not forget to carry warm clothes. The average temperature within the park rarely go above 37°C on a hot afternoon and also rarely drops below 13°C during the rainy season
The vegetation surrounding Serengeti National Park is distributed with the northern part of the park having the woodlands, the southern part comprising of the Serengeti plains and the western part comprising of the savannah vegetation with dotted acacia trees supported by the Grumeti River
Accommodation at Serengeti National Park
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Located just within Serengeti national park, the lodge offers you an opportunity to view the panoramic landscape of the park. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti offers guided nature walks including safaris upon request, airstrip transfers are also available for a fee. The rooms within the lodge have various features like Tea/Coffee Maker, air conditioners, sofa, flat-screen TV, mini-bar, safe, private bathroom containing a bath and shower and many others
The following are the amenities within the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti;
swimming pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Spa
- Room service
- Gym or Fitness centre
- Free Parking
- Bar
Osero Serengeti luxury tented camp
Osero Serengeti luxury tented camp is located in Bangi, it is located about 6.4 kilometres from Serengeti national park. The nearest airport to it is Keekorok Airport which is about 109.4 kilometres from Osero Serengeti luxury tented camp. The room types within the luxury tent include Non-smoking rooms, Double Rooms with Garden views, Single Rooms with Park Views, Family rooms and Triple Rooms with Garden views with each room having a private bathroom with a shower.
The following are the amenities within the luxury tented camp
- Free Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Free Parking
- Bar
- Breakfast
Briston Serengeti Hotel
Briston Serengeti Hotel is an elegant hotel located in Mugumu, the nearest airport Ol Kiombo is a distance of approximately 97 kilometres from the hotel. The room types within the hotel are Standard Single Rooms, Executive Suites and Standard Double Rooms with room features like air conditioning, flat-screen TV table, room service and many more
The following are the main amenities of Briston Serengeti hotel
- Restaurant
- Free Parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Bar
- Breakfast
Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma
Located within Serengeti, Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma is that elegant one-stop accommodation point that is 46.7 kilometres from Serengeti national park. Keekorok airport is the nearest airport which is 125.5 kilometers from Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma. The room types include Non-smoking rooms, Deluxe Doubles or Twin Rooms with private bathroom and shower inclusive of a hairdryer and also special rooms for disabled guests.
The following are the main amenities in Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma
- Airport shuttle service
- Free parking
- Restaurant
- Free Wi-Fi
- Bar
- Breakfast
- car rental service
Zawadi camp
Zawadi camp is located just in the hills of Kemarishe also known as Kemarishe Hills just in the heart of Serengeti. It is just a 30-minute drive from Seronera Airstrip which is the nearest airstrip from the camp. It is also located 3.7 miles from the retina hippo pool and 15 miles from Serengeti Visitor’s Center Seronera. The camp also has Non-smoking rooms and Family rooms with each having a private bathroom with running hot water.
The main amenities of Zawadi camo include the following
- Free parking
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Bar
Breakfast