South Serengeti

Highlights

  • Best Known For

    • Home to the Great Migration from Dec - April
    • The best wildlife viewing in the Serengeti
    • Stunningly beautiful landscapes
    • Favored area for filmmakers & photographers

  • Size

    1,900 square miles

  • Topography

    Short Grass Plains, Granite Kopjes, Lakes, Small Hills, Valleys & Depressions

  • Main Species

    Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Giraffe, Elephant, Caracal, Hyena, Jackal

South Serengeti

Home to the enormous migratory herds during the green season (Dec to Apr). This area consists of the world famous Serengeti plains. These nutrient rich plains are home to the enormous migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra during the green season. Wildlife viewing is spectacular as over two million animals will be spread across the open plains. In addition to the large migratory herds, predators (lions, cheetahs and hyenas) are abundant. This is the Serengeti at its finest!

View South Serengeti Map Lodging Options Seasonal Highlights Nearby Attractions

Overview

The southern Serengeti including the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area consists of the famous Serengeti plains. These short grass and nutrient rich plains are home to the enormous migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra during the wet season. During the dry season, the southern plains are transformed into a semi desert and only a few hearty Grant's gazelles and Thomson's gazelles survive.

The green season is a wonderful time to be on safari in the southern Serengeti and the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Rain means game in the Serengeti and wildlife should be prolific on the southern Serengeti Plains. The southern plains encompass a massive area so it's best to locate yourself in more than one area if time allows. The wildebeest migration will most likely be spread across the green plains of the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the southern Serengeti from December to May.

Game Viewing

Game viewing is spectacular during wet season in the southern Serengeti, as over two million animals will be spread across the open plains. In addition to the large migratory herds, predators will be abundant and easily seen. Cheetah densities will be at their highest as many have followed the migratory Thomson's gazelles onto the southern and eastern plains.

Lions should be easily visible, both resident prides and the nomads which have followed the wildebeest and zebra onto the plains. The most abundant predator, the hyena, will be in large numbers as many clan members will have commuted to the plains from their den areas located along the woodland/plains border. However, the game-viewing highlight in the wet season will undoubtedly be the immense herds of migratory animals.

During the dry season (June to November) many of the animals have indeed dispersed but the southern Serengeti still remains a fascinating place. There are several resident herbivores in this area that are seen year round including Grant's gazelle and giraffe. Elephant and impala are also seen year round but mainly in the wooded Ndutu area. Predators are certainly not as prolific in the dry season but there are a few resident lion prides in the southern and eastern plains including Ndutu, Naabi Hill and Gol Kopjes. As the southern plains do support a few resident gazelles, a few cheetahs can usually be seen in the dry season anywhere from Ndutu to Nasera Rock and around the Gol Kopjes .

Lodging Near South Serengeti

Seasonal Highlights

For the South Serengeti

Recommended Month to Visit

Month Season Recommended Weather Wildlife Sightings
Jan Green Season YES 60 - 85 F
Mostly sunny with few showers
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant
Feb Green Season YES 60 - 85 F
Mostly sunny with few showers
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Wildebeest Calving
Mar Green Season YES 60 - 83 F
Mostly sunny with few showers
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant
Apr Green Season YES 60 - 83 F
Mostly sunny with few showers
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant
May Northward Migration YES 56 - 81 F
Mostly sunny
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant
Jun Beginning of Dry Season YES 56 - 81 F
Mostly sunny
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant (early June only)
Jul Dry Season NO 60 - 83 F
Mostly sunny
- - - - -
Aug Dry Season NO 55 - 81 F
Mostly sunny
- - - - -
Sep Dry Season NO 55 - 81 F
Mostly sunny
- - - - -
Oct Dry Season NO 60 - 83 F
Mostly sunny
- - - - -
Nov Southward Migration YES 60 - 83 F
Mostly sunny with few showers
Giraffe, gazelle, Walking Safaris and Cultural Interactions
Dec Beginning of Green Season YES 60 - 83 F
Mostly sunny with few showers
Wildebeest Migration and Zebra Migration, Lion, Cheetah, Elephant

Attractions Near South Serengeti