21 Spectacular Photos that Will Send You to Serengeti National Park

Hakuna matata; what a wonderful phrase about a wonderful place! Introducing a photo guide for your next Serengeti safari. From a world traveler who’s wish finally came true! Serengeti National Park for the win.

In this post:

Must-Do experiences in Serengeti National Park

Tour information for the Big Five Game Drive

About Accommodation in Serengeti National Park

Photos of the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge

How to Get to Serengeti

FAQs for your trip to Serengeti (where is it located, what animals you’ll see etc)

What to pack for an African Safari – See the full African Safari Packing List Here

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Must-Do Experiences

First and foremost, you MUST do a Big Five Game Drive at sunrise … and visit during the wildebeest migration. If you stay at a luxury resort in Serengeti National Park, arrange some time to enjoy the property. Getting to and from Serengeti National Park isn’t easy — I recommend making arrangements to stay longer to rest (and beat the jet lag!).

I didn’t get the chance to personally experience a Serengeti Balloon Safari, but know that it exists, and it’s worth looking into.

Check out my top experiences in Serengeti National Park:

1. Experience the Wildebeest Migration on a Serengeti Safari

Bucket List check!

 Take it from someone who has traveled the world, this is one of the most AMAZING experiences of a lifetime!

What is the great migration in Africa?

2 Million Wildebeest migrate across 1,800 miles, clockwise Tanzania and Kenya seeking water and grass. Zebras and gazelles are a part of the migration and it’s known as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

That’s the big picture view, but honestly, it’s just all-around majestic. We saw hyenas tearing apart a carcass; the wildebeests run in circles — it’s like the Lion King in real life.

2. Go on a Big 5 Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

I’ve done Big 5 Game Drives in Zambia and Botswana, and was hesitant to do another in Tanzania. However, this was a beautiful, unique experience — not only because of the wildebeest migration, but the overall sheer volume of game!

Start your Serengeti Safari with a sunrise breakfast.

Breakfast of Champions!  Picnic perfect packed by the Four Seasons Serengeti

Our guides knew the park beyond the picnic area, and helped us locate a variety of animals. 

From vibrant birds…

… to the king of the jungle!

A mother cheetah and her cubs in Serengeti National Park – with the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge safari.

Wild zebras in Serengeti National Park, Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Serengeti
(But we saw them too).

3. Catch Some Sun with the Hippos

The Retina Hippo Pool, also known as the Serengeti Hippo pool, is a hundred or so hippos in their natural habitat.
For the record, hippos are one of the deadliest animals in Africa! The viewing spot from the safety of our Serengeti Safari car was quite the experience!

4. Indulge with a View

While staying at Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge, we made time to enjoy our suite and the hotel restaurants. The meals were as exquisite as the views!

Our suite at the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge

Lunch at the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge

Details!

5. Make New Friends

Don’t be shy! Meet some locals, ask the driver’s questions and let furry friends come to you.

We had a blast talking to the Masai who work at the Four Seasons.
They have a great sense of humor and are very creative!

Carly’s day was made when she friends with a little rock hyraat the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge

Accommodation at the Serengeti National Park

We had the privilege of partnering with the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge for our experience — and it was remarkable! Swimming within feet of elephants, meeting people from the Masai Mara culture, and being in the HEART of Serengeti National Park was a dream come true.

Aside from the novelty of the destination itself, the suites and service were flawless.

Please see below for some photos of the property, courtesy of the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge.

One of the five free-standing villas  at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge

We too saw the elephants pass by our room on their way to the watering hole.

The Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge backyard.

Serengeti National Park Location

Serengeti National Park is in the country of Tanzania. It’s a part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Unit, a World Heritage Site.

However, it borders Kenya which geographically explains the Great Migration of the Wildebeest between Kenya and Tanzania.

How to Get to Serengeti National Park

The Tanzania Board of Tourism organized and sponsored our transit to Serengeti National Park.

Know the following about booking travel to Serengeti:

• Flights to the cities you’ll be experiencing may be infrequent — unlike flights in the USA or Europe that have half a dozen flights going in and out of a city per day, the flight you may need to take may only be available on some days. It’s important to book flights in advance.
• Flying into Tanzania, you may have a larger luggage allowance than flying on the small charter plane into the conservation park. We left our larger suitcases at a different hotel and looped back to it before flying out of Livingstone (Zambia).
• You’ll need to fly into the Seronera Airstrip — there are charter and private planes that fly into this airstrip. Because of flight dates, we had to fly in from the ARUSHA Airport. This is a very small airport and operates much different than what I was used to. Don’t be surprised if you have to hand your bag to someone who will personally load your luggage onto the plane — There aren’t any check-in counters.
• I am not typically a fan of travel agents, however, I suggest linking up with a travel planner to sort out drivers, flights and overall transit throughout your trip.
• If you need help booking travel, you can contact my Tanzanian friend in tourism, Eugene: EugeneSMG[at]Gmail.com
• Alternatively, contact your hotel for an reservation specialist.

What Animals Live in Serengeti National Park?

There’s no guarantee of which animals you encounter when driving around Serengeti National Park. However, we personally saw lions, cheetah, zebras, elephants, wildebeest, warthogs, gazelles, hyenas and more.

What to Pack for an African Safari

Your African safari packing list (for men and women) is an article of its own!
From visas to the best bug spray, check out my African Safari Packing List + Planning Guide

Which tips would you add to visiting Serengeti National Park?