How to Travel to Serengeti National Park?

How to Travel to Serengeti National Park?

No doubt everyone has every reason to visit Serengeti National Park. But as a rule of thumb, all parks in Tanzania are located in the most remote areas of the country. Serengeti is no exception. So, many ask: How do I get to Serengeti National Park? How far is Serengeti located from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, or Zanzibar? Is it possible to fly directly from Nairobi to the Serengeti?

Focus East Africa Tours is happy to help you with the answers to these and more other questions you may have. Before we dive in, we have to make it very clear that the best way to get to Serengeti depends on your safari style and, more importantly, the length of your safari. But the most practical way to access the Serengeti is by flight from Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport.

Getting to Serengeti by flight.

There are two phases here. First, you’ll have to get to Tanzania from your country. And lastly, you will have to get to Serengeti.

International travel

Regarding international travel, Tanzania has three international airports: Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar. All these have good connections with Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, but our recommended entry point is Kilimanjaro International Airport. Why is this?

To begin with, Kilimanjaro Airport is very close to the Serengeti, about 320 kilometers (200 miles). That gives you more options for getting from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti: either flying or driving compared to Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam Airports, where flying is the most practical option.

In addition to that, Kilimanjaro has a lot of flight options from various parts of the world, including Amsterdam, Istanbul, Doha, Frankfurt, and Zurich. Don’t see your airport in the list? No worries. You can connect through Nairobi Airport and Addis Ababa Airport, both of which have plenty of flight options from different parts of the world.

Domestic travel

Serengeti is one of the parks with the most flight options. The park’s seven airstrips receive flights from various airports within the country. There are no direct flights from Nairobi to Serengeti. However, you can book a flight with Kenya Airways, which partners with Regional Air to offer flights to the Serengeti.

Our recommended route is from Arusha or Kilimanjaro. It’s simple and hassle-free. You land at Kilimanjaro and transfer (on flight) to one of the seven airstrips. As soon as you land, a driver guide picks you up to take you to your lodge. Some high-end lodges have their own airstrips. Clear examples of this include Singita’s luxury properties like Sasakwa Lodge, Sabora Camp, and Faru Faru; the legendary Mwiba Lodge; and Klein’s Camp.

Direct flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar are also available. Local airlines such as Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Grumeti Air operate a variety of flight routes. It’s also possible to plan a fly-in, fly-out safari from other parks, such as Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park or southern parks, like Ruaha and Nyerere.

Getting to Serengeti National Park by road

If you love driving or can’t sacrifice the scenes on the roadsides or have plenty of time to spend, then a drive-in safari is the best option. The best route is from Arusha because most safaris start here. And the popular route goes from Arusha or Moshi to the Serengeti’s main gate (or southeastern gate), Naabi Hill Gate.

Our driver picks you up from the airport. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend a relaxing overnight stay in Arusha and afterwards drive to the Serengeti. The drive takes you through scenic villages, plantations, and the highlands of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Spare at least five hours or six for a more comfortable drive. By the way, you may stop along the way to watch buffalo or elephants in Ngorongoro.

At the entry gate, we’ll sort out paperwork for you. But we highly recommend bringing with you all necessary travel documents, like a valid passport (at least six months, one blank page) and visa. Our safari packages often include park fees, so don’t worry about them.

Aside from the popular Naabi Hill Gate, Serengeti has other access gates. Klein’s Gate, though not famous, gives access to the Serengeti’s northeast. If you want to stay in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, then this gate is for you. Like Naabi Hill, Klein’s Gate opens at 06h00 and closes at 18h00, but the last entry is at 16h00.

If you are coming from Mwanza, then access it through the Ndabaka Gate. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Mwanza and about a 3-4-hour drive to Seronera. Opens at 06h00 and closes at 18h00. It’s perfect if you want to see the wildebeest migration from the Western Corridor, especially as the herd crosses the Grumeti River.

How do I plan my Serengeti safari?

That actually depends on your budget. Most guests plan an overland safari to Serengeti National Park, combining it with other places, such as Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. After this safari, you fly back to Arusha to catch your flight back home. This works better if you have at least seven days. But if you have the budget or have limited time, a fly-in safari will be better.

Bottom line.

No matter how you want it to be, Focus East Africa Tours can plan your Tanzania Wildlife safari. We can handle flights, book lodges and camps, and guide you throughout the safari. Our safari planners will help you plan your safari.