How to get there

By Air

• International air travel

The international air travel recommended entry is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) which lies between the towns of Moshi and Arusha. The airport is located about 200 miles from the park’s southern entrance.

There are a couple of international flight options such as KLM (daily), Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines.  Kilimanjaro International Airport also has daily connections with Nairobi (NBO) in Kenya, which offers more international flight possibilities.

• Regional Air travel

Another route for a Serengeti fly-in safari is by flying from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). From here it will take approximately 1 to 5 hours to fly to one of seven airstrips within the Serengeti National Park.

All flights are operated by local airlines such as Air Excel, Coastal Aviation or Regional Air. Once you land at the airstrip, the lodge staff will pick you up and transfer you to your final destination where a cold drink will be ready and waiting.

It is also possible to fly from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) or Wilson Airport (WIL) directly to one of Serengeti’s airstrips. When traveling from the Lake Victoria area, the favored airport is Mwanza Airport (MWZ).

There are also direct flights from the Serengeti to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and other national parks in Tanzania such Lake Manyara and Tarangire.

• Serengeti fly in safaris (private airstrips)

There is also a scheduled or private charter flight. Some of the more exclusive lodges have their own airstrip and are able to arrange direct scheduled and/or private charter flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) to their airstrip.

Park by road

• Serengeti drive-in safaris

The most popular way to travel to Serengeti National Park by road is by booking a drive-in safari. In general the drive-in safaris start from the town of Arusha.

As it will take approximately eight hours to travel from Arusha to the Serengeti National Park, an overnight stay at one or more wildlife sites en route is usually part of your safari itinerary.

• Serengeti self-drive safaris

Serengeti National Park is accessible when traveling by (rental) vehicle. Please keep in mind that careful planning is necessary when driving by you through the Serengeti National Park.

A 4×4 vehicle is required to be able to access all roads throughout the year. Petrol is sold at Seronera in the Southern Serengeti Area but driving is not permitted in the park after 19:00.

You are welcome to explore Serengeti National Park by car, but it’s not recommended. While the roads are well traveled, they’re not always clearly marked, which can make finding your way difficult. Drivers are required to pay an extra $5 fee every day per vehicle.

Also, the park is relatively devoid of fuel stations, so unless you are familiar with the area, you may find yourself in a sticky situation. You can rent a car at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

• Serengeti access gates

There are four main entry and exit points:  

Naabi Hill Gate (06:00 – 18:00): Main and most heavily trafficked access gate if coming from Arusha; 45km from Seronera.

Ndabaka Gate (06:00 – 18:00): Main gate for Western Corridor; 1.5 hour drive from Mwanza and 145km from Seronera – last entry at 16H00.

Klein’s Gate (06:00 – 18:00): In the far north-east, it allows a loop trip combining Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Natron – the latter just 2 to 3 hours from the park, last entry at 16:00.

Bologonya Gate: en route to / from Kenya, but the border is closed and unlikely to open soon.