Serengeti

Travel Notes Serengeti

Serengeti

Together with the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti is the crown jewel of Tanzania’s safari circuit. Vast open plains, endless horizons, golden sunsets, and incredible animal wildlife make every game drive feel like a live nature documentary.

Covered on this page:

  1. Tips
  2. Driving times from Seronera Visitors Centre
  3. To: Engare Sero (Lake Natron)
  4. To: Karatu / Mto wa Mbu

Tips

  • Hire a TANAPA ranger – For around USD 40 per day (plus tip), a ranger can join your safari. They’ll help spot wildlife and share insights. Arrange this at the gate. (Note: Rangers cannot drive the car.)

  • Hot air balloon safari – For an unforgettable experience, float above the plains at sunrise. We recommend Miracle Experience or Serengeti Balloon Safaris.

  • Fuel up – The last petrol station before Serengeti is in Karatu. There’s an emergency station in Seronera, but prices are higher.

Driving times from Seronera Visitors Centre

We’ve listed the lodges alphabetically. Times are estimates and depend on game drive detours and road conditions.

  • Africa Safari Ikoma – 45 km | 2 hrs

    • Drive to Ikoma Gate (signposted, also on navigation apps). Exit, continue straight, and look for the Africa Safari sign on your right.

  • Africa Safari Serengeti Kusini

    • From Seronera Visitors Centre:

      1. There are two main routes. The first option is to head straight up towards Naabi Hill Gate.
      2. From Naabi Hill Gate, look for the “Ndutu” mark on the right-hand side. Take this road and continue for approximately 10 kilometres until you reach the Ndutu forest and the bridge.
      3. Continue forward with the forest to your left. You’ll soon see a poster indicating that the right turn leads toward Hidden Valley-take the left-sided road (not that of Hidden Valley), but ensure the Ndutu forest remains on your left.
      4. Shortly after, you will encounter a broken bridge. Here, take the path to the right and continue straight; you’ll cross a valley and soon see the Kusini forest ahead.
      5. After a short distance, you’ll start to notice numbered marks. Please follow these number marks-our Africa Safari Serengeti Kusini camp is located at the 14th mark.

    • Alternative route via Moru Road:

      1. Follow Moru Road directly to Simiyu, and continue straight towards Kusini Airstrip, which will be on your left.
      2. Go around the airstrip to find the number marks-once again, count these on your right side up to the 14th mark, which is where you’ll arrive at Africa Safari Serengeti Kusini.

  • Africa Safari Maasai Boma – 100 km | 2.5–3 hrs

    • Located outside the park near Kleins Gate (northeast/Lobo area). Road choice depends on the season.

    • Ask a Seronera ranger (not a guide) for the best route. The most direct is following the B144 north to Kleins Gate.

  • Ang’ata Seronera Camp – 3 km | 10 min

  • Hippotrails – 19 km | 45 min

    • From Seronera, take the B144 for approximately 18 km until a junction. Turn right; the lodge is signposted.

  • Lobo Public Campsite – 77 km | 2.5 hrs

    • TANAPA campsite in the northeast, near Lobo Wildlife Lodge and Lobo Airstrip.

    • Accessible only in the dry season.

  • Mawe Tented Lodge – 30 km | 90 min

    • Located at Ngarenanyuki 1 Seasonal Campsite (Seronera area).

    • Lodge is not signposted — look for Ngarenanyuki 1 signs.

    • Camp manager: +255 698 056 928 / +255 753 181 516

  • Serengeti Pure Luxury Camp – 80 km | 2 hrs

    • From Seronera, follow B144 for approximately18 km to a junction.

    • Turn left toward Robanda/Fort Ikoma.

    • At Fort Ikoma junction, turn right toward Ikongo Game Reserve.

    • The lodge is signposted along this road.

  • Thorn Tree Camp – 11 km | 25 min

  • Zawadi Tented Lodge – 25 km | 1 hr

    • From Seronera, take the B144, passing Shine Balloon Safaris.

    • At the next junction, turn left (NW).

    • Pass the junction to Serena Lodge, then after 600 m turn right.

    • Follow for 2 km, then turn left northwards.

    • Continue 5 km to Zawadi Camp.

To: Engare Sero (Lake Natron)

Distance & time (from Kleins Gate)

  • 160 km | 4–5 hrs

Route

  • Exit Kleins Gate and drive to Ololosokwan.
  • Continue to Soitosambu, then Wasso, Sale, and finally Engare Sero.

Navigation

  • Google Maps does not show these roads.
  • Use maps.me and plot the route step by step (e.g., Kleins Gate → Ololosokwan, then Ololosokwan → Soitosambu, etc.).

To: Karatu / Mto wa Mbu

Distance & time

  • 200 km | 6–7.5 hrs

Driving times (segments)

  • Seronera → Naabi Hill Gate (Serengeti): 60 km | 1 hr
  • Naabi Hill Gate → Ngorongoro Crater Gate: 85 km | 2–3 hrs
  • Ngorongoro Crater Gate → Loduare Gate (NCA): 15 km | 1 hr
  • Loduare Gate → Karatu: 15 km | 30 min
  • Mto wa Mbu → Karatu: 35 km | 1 hr

Warnings & practical notes

  • Rough road: Seronera → Naabi Hill Gate (B144) is rocky and badly corrugated. Drive slowly (<25 km/h) to protect your vehicle.
  • Peak season queues (Jul–Sep & Dec–Jan): allow extra time — approx. 30 min at the Ngorongoro gate and another 30 min at the Serengeti gate.
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