The Serengeti is the jewel in the crown of Tanzania's protected areas with its endless rolling plains. The name 'Serengeti' comes from the Maasai for 'extensive plains'. It is without doubt the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty.
Its landscape varies from open grass plains in the south, savannah with scattered acacia trees in the centre, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west. Small rivers, lakes and swamps are scattered throughout.
The Serengeti can be visited at any time of year. It is usually warm and dry with the main rainy season from March to May, and with short rains from October to November, The park is best known for the now unrivalled herd sizes of 'plains game', which migrate between seasonal water supplies and grasslands, accompanied by the main predators, lion, cheetah, hyenas.
