Northern Serengeti
The Mara River and the great river crossings
Highlights
- Mara crossings, usually between July and September
- Far fewer vehicles than in the central Serengeti
- Rolling landscape with resident wildlife all year round
- Large crocodiles and hippos in the Mara River
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Northern Serengeti at a glance
The north of the Serengeti is hillier, greener and much emptier than the centre, and it has the Mara River. When tens of thousands of wildebeest gather on the steep banks there from July to September, hesitate and finally plunge in among the crocodiles, that is the moment many people make the long journey for. The north is worth it even without the herds: resident wildlife, hardly any vehicles, plenty of peace and quiet. It does not fit into our fixed routes, but it does fit into an individually planned one.
Impressions
Illustration: Safari Tansania
Illustration: Safari Tansania
Illustration: Safari Tansania
Best time to travel
July to September, and sometimes the spectacle lasts into October: this is when the herds of the Great Migration shuttle back and forth along the Mara River, and with patience you will see a crossing. The wildebeest do not keep to a timetable, though; if you are travelling for this, it is best to plan two or three nights in the north.
Getting there
- From the central Serengeti
- around 154 kilometres, about five hours' drive
- By air
- Kogatende airstrip; you can also return to Arusha or Zanzibar on a domestic flight
The north is not part of the fixed programme; we plan it with you as an individual route.
Send us a message
We put your route together — free of obligation and in person. We reply the same day, usually faster on WhatsApp.
Prefer to talk? Dominic Dreiner is happy to help.