The Serengeti National Park is one of the world’s greatest wilderness areas, home to an extraordinary range of animals. All of the Big Five are present – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the rarely seen black rhino – alongside giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, topi, and eland. The Serengeti is especially famous for its predators: lion and cheetah sightings are common, dramatic lion kills are frequently witnessed, and leopards are seen more often here than in most African parks.

The Great Migration

The standout feature of Serengeti wildlife is the annual circular movement of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle north into neighbouring Kenya’s Masai Mara and back onto the Serengeti plains. This mass movement is shadowed by predators picking off the weak, while the dangerous crossings of the Mara River make for dramatic survival scenes as animals battle strong currents and giant Nile crocodiles. If you are planning your trip around this spectacle, see our month-by-month guide on how to plan and book a Wildebeest Migration safari.

The Big Five

Witnessing lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and Cape buffalo roaming free in their natural habitat is the ultimate African safari experience. The term “Big Five” was coined by big-game hunters and refers not to the animals’ size but to how difficult and dangerous they were to hunt on foot. Today the Serengeti’s Big Five are far better “shot” with a camera, and your guide and tracker will help you tick each one off your list.

Leopards

Elegant and elusive, the leopard is the shyest of the Big Five. Superbly camouflaged, it is most often spotted draped along the branches of a sausage tree, where it hauls its kills out of reach of lions and hyenas – so always remember to look up.

Buffalo

With few natural predators, the Cape buffalo is one of Africa’s most dangerous animals. Lions may target a calf but often pay the price when the herd retaliates. Buffalo need water daily and are usually found near waterholes, frequently in herds of a thousand or more.

Birdlife in the Serengeti

The park hosts around 500 bird species, including Tanzanian endemics such as Fischer’s lovebird, grey-breasted spurfowl, and rufous-tailed weaver. Other highlights include the kori bustard, secretary bird, usambiro barbet, yellow-throated sandgrouse, and Hildebrandt’s starling.

Plan your Serengeti wildlife safari

Wildlife viewing is the main reason to visit the Serengeti, and you will not be disappointed. For a smooth, well-paced itinerary, read our guide on how to plan the best Serengeti safari, or combine the plains with the coast on our 9 Days Serengeti & Zanzibar Safari. Ready to go? Start planning your Tanzania safari with our team today.

Recommended reading: The Weather and Climate of Serengeti National Park.