If you have limited time to plan the safari adventure of a lifetime, there’s only one clear choice: Serengeti National Park. In just five days, you can experience all the majesty of Tanzania’s crown jewel of wildlife reserves. This includes spotting coveted Big Five animals like lions, leopards, and elephants.
In the morning, your driver will take you to the airport in Arusha to catch a 30-minute flight to the Seronera Airstrip in Serengeti National Park. This legendary wildlife reserve is the archetypal safari destination. In the Maasai language, the name Serengeti means “endless plains. ” This protected area’s 5,700 sq miles (14,763 sq km) deliver on that promise. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve supporting the world’s largest concentration of plains game, including the famous Big Five animals.
For the next few days, your base will be the Serengeti’s northern region, located near the Massai Mara Reserve in neighbouring Kenya. This is a prime area due to its high concentration of wildlife. It also offers a chance to escape the crowds, as this region is remote and relatively inaccessible. Those who make it here are rewarded with sweeping vistas of rolling green hills, granite outcrops, and acacia woodlands dotting the open savanna.
Upon arrival at the airstrip, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your tent lodge in the park.
With any luck, you’ll arrive in the Serengeti in time to witness the Great Migration, typically from June to November. This “greatest wildlife show on earth” sees more than a million wildebeest, plus hundreds of thousands of zebras and Thomson’s gazelles, undertaking the long trek to new grazing grounds. Your position north of the park is the ideal vantage point to witness this occurrence in all its glory. An incredible sight is watching the massive herds of wildebeests and zebras making the dangerous crossing of the croc-infested Mara River.
Today, you’ll embark on multiple game drives heading north toward the border with Kenya as you follow the animals. Depending on your preference, you can head out early for a morning game drive and return to camp in time for lunch. Then, later in the afternoon, embark on another game drive or relax by the pool with a good book. Alternatively, enjoy breakfast in camp, then head out on a game drive later, returning mid-afternoon.
You’re guaranteed to see incredible wildlife no matter what itinerary you choose. Besides the Big Five animals like lions, leopards, and cheetahs, this park section is also home to the greatest concentration of elephants in the Serengeti. There are also many giraffes, elands, and hippos.
First thing in the morning, you’ll view the Serengeti from a unique perspective: high in the air in the basket of a hot-air balloon. It’s an exhilarating tour that most people never get to experience. The route flies predominantly over the Seronera River, the only permanent water source in central Serengeti. Thus, it’s perfect for wildlife spotting. The area around the river is particularly scenic, teeming with open plains, acacia woodlands, and hippo pools. The views are guaranteed to be magnificent.
Once back on earth, head out on another safari. This time, you’ll eschew tyres in favour of hiking boots. This guided walking safari puts you right in the middle of the savanna. It’s an educational experience in which you’ll learn how to track animals, see and touch the flora that comprises the region’s complex food chain, and discover the secrets to medicinal plants that have been used for thousands of years to cure various ailments. Of course, you’ll also do plenty of game spotting as a park ranger or real-life Maasai tribal warrior leads you.
Then it’s back to camp to enjoy a sundowner and a leisurely dinner to cap your last day in the Serengeti. However, your evening doesn’t end there—enjoy one previous safari adventure in the form of a night drive. This spectacular experience lets you glimpse local wildlife that otherwise wouldn’t be visible. Besides spotting larger animals like hippos, lions, and elephants, the searchlight wielded by your guide will also reveal smaller nocturnal creatures like bush babies and porcupines.
After breakfast, you’ll embark on one final morning game drive in the Serengeti. Then, you’ll transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar airport. You’ve undoubtedly filled your digital photo albums and created memories to last a lifetime. End of 5 Days Serengeti Safari From Zanzibar. Hope to see you again soon!
