Northern Serengeti

The herds usually arrive in the Northern Serengeti around July and crossings of the Mara River continue through September and often into October, with the most intense activity typically late July through September. The exact timing shifts each year with the rains, so building some flexibility into your dates is wise.

Crossings are unpredictable and can happen anywhere along the Mara River, sometimes within minutes and sometimes after hours of waiting, so no operator can guarantee a sighting on a given day. Spending several days in the Northern Serengeti with a guide who tracks herd movements gives you the best chance.

It is the remote far-north sector of Serengeti National Park, bordering Kenya's Masai Mara and centred on the Mara River and the Kogatende and Lamai areas. Most guests fly in on a light aircraft to the Kogatende airstrip, though it can also be reached by a long game drive from the central Serengeti.

The north has resident wildlife year-round, including elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos in the Mara River and predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah around the kopjes and open plains. It is also far quieter than the central Serengeti, which makes for a more exclusive game-viewing experience.

Yes. As a TATO-licensed Tanzania and East Africa operator, Ecological Wilderness Adventure can tailor a Northern Serengeti itinerary and combine it with other Serengeti sectors, the Ngorongoro Crater or cross-border extensions into the Masai Mara, and will quote it on request.

Yes, the north remains excellent for resident game, birdlife and low visitor numbers outside the crossing months, and it pairs well with the rest of the Serengeti on a longer itinerary. If river crossings are your priority, though, plan around the July to October window.