Getting To Serengeti National Park

Getting To Serengeti National Park.

One of the most desirable safari wildlife parks in the world is the Serengeti National Park in the northern part of Tanzania. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts of sweeping savannahs, wildlife and the Great Wildebeest Migration that attracts tourists worldwide. Although the Serengeti might be remote and wild, they are quite accessible both via air and road, so with the right planning, it is not far away.

Access to the Serengeti by the international community.

The majority of tourists visiting Tanzania travel to the Serengeti by air after visiting the country. The main entry points are:

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

Kilimanjaro is the main entry point of Serengeti safaris and is between Arusha and Moshi.

Flies between key hubs like Amsterdam, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa and Nairobi.

With JRO, passengers have options of boarding a domestic flight which will take a direct route into the Serengeti or having a drive to the park through Arusha and Ngorongoro.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)-Dar es Salaam

It is the busiest airport in the country on the eastern coast of Tanzania.

Good among the tourists visiting the Serengeti safari, plus Zanzibar beach holidays.

Domestic flights can be done between Dar es Salaam and Strauss towards the Serengeti airstrips.

Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)

Nairobi, Kenya, is another major entry point to the city for many travellers owing to its great international flight network.

Within Nairobi, the road transports the travellers to Tanzania, or they can travel directly to the Serengeti or directly to the Kilimanjaro Airport.

Flights to Serengeti inside the country.

Domestic charter or scheduled flights are the fastest means of arriving at the Serengeti. There are other airlines which use small aircraft flying between major cities and safari areas and airstrips within the park.

The primary airlines that serve Serengeti include:

Coastal Aviation

Auric Air

Regional Air

Flight link

Popular Routes:

Arusha/ Kilimanjaro- Serengeti airstrips (approximately 1- 2 hours).

Serengeti airstrips (1/2 hours) – Dar es Salaam / Zanzibar.

Nairobi – Serengeti (through Kilimanjaro or through direct charters).

Serengeti Airstrips:

There are several airstrips in the large areas of such a park, which include:

Seronera airstrip- Central Serengeti – this is the year-round wildlife spot.

Kogatende Airstrip – Northern Serengeti, where the Mara River crossings are best (July-October).

Grumeti Airstrip – Western Serengeti, to cross the Grumeti River (June -July).

Kusini Airstrip – Southern Serengeti, when the calving is going on (December-March).

Flying to the Serengeti is a time saver besides the spectacular aerial views of the savannah, rivers and wild animals that one gets to see.

Reaching Serengeti by Road

Travellers who would like a more adventurous trip are often taken on road trips to the Serengeti, particularly as a component of the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania.

Typical Route:

Arusha to Ngorongoro conservation area – approximately 3-4 hrs.

Ngorongoro to Serengeti- approximately 34 hours (depending on the entry gate).

The majority of the safari tours visit Lake Manyara National Park or Tarangire National Park and then on to the Serengeti.

Entry Gates into Serengeti:

Naabi Hill Gate (East/Central): It is the most frequently used entry when one is commuting to Ngorongoro.

Ndabaka Gate (West): This is convenient when coming around Mwanza or Lake Victoria.

Klein Gate (North): It is found close to Kenya and the Maasai Mara border.

Bologonya Gate (North): It connects to the Kenya side at the Maasai Mara, although this is not a common route.

Driving Distances:

Arusha to Serengeti (Naabi gate): Approx. 325 km, and it can take 7-8 hours.

Ngorongoro Crater to Central Serengeti: 150km, between 3-4 hours.

Mwanza (Lake Victoria) to Western Serengeti: 300km -approximately 3 hours.

On the Road or on the air? Which one is better?

By Air:

Advantages: Rapid, scenic, comfortable, and saves time in travelling.

Disadvantages: More costly, less luggage space, less time sightseeing on the route.

By Road:

Advantages: Cheap, sightseeing tours with towns, villages and other parks; flexible schedules.

Disadvantages: Sometimes, the roads are rough and the travelling can be exhausting.

This is often a combination where many travellers fly in the Serengeti to save time, and they drive back through Ngorongoro and other parks to have the complete Northern Circuit.

Alternate Information and Special Choices.

From Mwanza (Lake Victoria)

Serengeti entry is possible through the Ndabaka Gate for visitors arriving at the western side of Tanzania or Uganda. Mwanza is not very far, just a couple of hours away, and it is well-connected both by air and road.

From Kenya

Tourists in Kenya at the Maasai Mara are able to cross over to Tanzania and proceed directly to the Serengeti. Even though border processes have to be undertaken, this path has enabled one to feel the migration on both sides of the border.

From Zanzibar

To the vacationer who is looking to visit the Serengeti and later spend some time at the beach, there are direct flights between the airstrips of Zanzibar to the airstrips of Serengeti, thus providing easy links.

The most appropriate time to visit the Serengeti.

Your time of travelling can affect your form of transportation and path.

Dry Season (June-October): The seasons are the ones with general wildlife and the ease of road access.

Calving Season (Jan-Mar): It is best reached when flying to Kusini or Ndutu in the Southern Serengeti.

Migration River Crossings (Jul-Oct): The Serengeti is also considered the best place to visit in the north (Kogatende Airstrip).

Rainy Season (Apr-May): The roads are likely to be muddy; flights are sure to be better.

How to Travel to Serengeti.

Book Early: Flights and Lodges in the Serengeti can be booked months ahead, and they are full during the seasons of migration.

Additional Parks: It is possible to visit Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater on driving routes

Select the Right Gate: Select the entry gate depending on the part of the Serengeti that you intend to cover.

Pack Light on Flights: The domestic flights give the option of only 15-20 kg of luggage (preferably soft-bag).

Prepare to be flexible: Wildlife can change their paths, particularly the migration. Flying provides a flexibility that is in time, a way of accessing other areas.

Travel Insurance: It is always a good idea, given the distant travelling and the unpredictable weather conditions.

Conclusion

The accessibility of Serengeti National Park can be easily achieved by planning, although there are numerous routes and ways of transport which can serve the park as the destination of any place worldwide. Individuals visiting the country are able to reach it either through Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Nairobi and travel by road or air. Once in Tanzania, the visitors may decide on either the adventurous drives in the Northern circuit or the speedy flights into the centre of the park.