How To Avoid The Crowd In The Serengeti

How To Avoid The Crowd In The Serengeti, Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s flagship wildlife sanctuary. Located in the country’s north, this park covers 14,763 square kilometers, and the wildlife density is on another level. The wildebeest migration, which is the world’s largest mammal migration, is the park’s signature, attracting about half a million visitors every year.

During migration peak months, usually July, August, and September, many safari guides take their visitors near the crossing points to experience the famed Mara River crossings. Apart from the migration, the central Serengeti also receives many visitors who come to search for the Big Five animals, big cats, and many other animals.

Crowds might be common in the Serengeti, but should you avoid this world-famous destination? No, because from our experience of taking visitors to this park, we have learned unique cheat codes to avoid the crowd without breaking the park rules or compromising wildlife. In this blog, we unveil secret tips for avoiding the crowd during your Serengeti safari. Let’s explore them.

1.  Focus on nature as a whole, not just a single event.

Serengeti has a myriad of wonders to watch. You can focus on exploring the whole national park instead of focusing on seeing a single event. For example, many guests crave the Mara River crossings, which happen in the north of the park. As a result, lots of safari jeeps gather near crossing points waiting for any crossing of the day, which may not happen. And even if it happens, visitors compete for the spot.

But there’s a way through this: you can search for wildlife in other regions. If many visitors are heading to the north to see river crossings, you can head south to watch resident wildlife. Here, you may spot lions, leopards, cheetahs, impalas, and more. This region is also quiet during this time and will make your trip exceptional.

2.  Track little-known wildlife movements.

So many people know the Mara River crossings. They’re a familiar scene in countless National Geographic documentaries and wildlife films. That said, competition for a front-row seat to witness these crossings in the first place is higher.

Since the Mara River crossings are famous, you can go to overlooked crossings like that of the Grumeti River. They aren’t famous and see just a few vehicles. Here, you can spot wildlife movements at their purest form. Yet, the western Serengeti harbors many resident wildlife, including large prides of lions, elephants, and buffalo.

3.  Plan your trip during the shoulder or low season.

If you want to view wildlife in harmony, avoid the high seasons. Tourist numbers in the Serengeti spike from June to October and during the festive season, from late December to early January. Many guests rush to catch the river crossings or celebrate their Christmas in the vast wilderness of Serengeti National Park.

Insight: Serengeti goes quiet from January to March, yet there’s much to see and the weather is dry and warm. The southern plains welcome about half a million calves during the calving season. This event reaches its pinnacle in February when up to 8,000 calves are born in a day. There are also more birds to see.

4.  Stay in private reserves or conservancies.

Several private reserves and conservancies border the Serengeti. And there’s no fence, which means animals can roam freely to and from these protected areas. These include Singita Grumeti Reserve and Ikorongo Game Reserve in the west, Mwiba Wildlife Reserve in the south, and Loliondo Game Controlled Area in the northeast.

These reserves get the lowest count of visitors, though they offer unparalleled experiences. They offer safari experiences not permitted in the main park, like night game drives, walking safaris, and off-road game driving. You will also access top-notch camps and lodges like Mwiba Lodge, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, and & Beyond Klein’s Camp.

5.  Explore lesser-known areas of the park.

Serengeti is big. You’re in a 14,763-square-kilometer park jam-packed with wildlife everywhere. So, you can avoid the most frequented areas like Seronera. Explore the southern Serengeti, which sees a few visitors yearly. This region has a good concentration of predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs year-round. The calving season also happens in this circuit. Or head to the western Serengeti, where nature remains unexplored.

Alternatively, you can explore Serengeti on a private safari vehicle. With a private safari van, you can drive even to the furthest reaches of this park because fuel is no problem.

6.  Embrace little things.

Instead of searching for great wildlife moments that attract lots of safari vehicles, you can stare at little things. Enjoy nature walks around camps or lodges. Discover small creatures like insects, birds, and reptiles. As you do this, you will come across large game.

The bottom line

At least now you know how to enjoy your Serengeti safari even during the peak season. And our guides will be there to help make the most of your safari. Are you ready to start your next African adventure? Our expert safari planners are here to help you.