How one arrives to Serengeti National Park?
Though Tanzania is situated in a far-off area, Serengeti national park is the most well-known wildlife safari location worldwide. Nevertheless, the park is easily reachable regardless of its distance. Usually beginning in Arusha city’s Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport, most Tanzania safaris.
From Arusha City, visitors can get to the park by domestic or chartered airplane or by car.
Serengeti national park is reasonably easy to get and among the few sites on Earth where the ancient riles and seasonal cycles of nature have been fairly untouched. One of the most practical ways to reach Serengeti national park is by flying from Arusha to one of the airstrips in the park; driving to Serengeti national park in a 4×4 safari vehicle is another.
Arriving at Serengeti by air
International Air Travel
About 200 miles / 320 kilometers from the southern gate of Serengeti national park, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) between the towns of Moshi and Arusha is the advised point of admission to Serengeti national park.
Among the various foreign flying firms available are KLM. Daily flying Royal Dutch Airlines; few times of the week operating Kenyan Airways and Ethiopian Airlines. Kilimanjaro International Airport offers greater international flight options since daily connections with Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International airport) allow.
How one arrives at Serengeti National Park?
kLM Fly into Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam (DAR), Royal Dutch Airlines including British Airways, Emirates and others.
Note: Arriving at Dar Es Salaam can call for you to have a domestic trip on a small regional carrier with luggage limits and an extra night.
Regional travel in aviation
For Serengeti fly-in safaris, flying from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) is the most preferred means of transportation; from these airports you will travel to one of the seven airstrips serving S, which takes 1 to 5 hours.
Local airlines like Grumeti Air or Coastal Aviation run all domestic flights; once you land at the airfield, staff from Focus East Africa Tours will pick you up and transfer to your resort and also tour the park.
One can also fly from Wilson Airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).
Mwanza Airport (MWZ) is the most chosen airport one uses when leaving the Lake Victoria region. Direct flights from Serengeti national park to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and other national parks in Tanzania include Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park among others.
Private airstriks used for Serengeti fly-in safaris
Some of the more exclusive lodge in Serengeti national park, have their own airstriks and are able to arrange direct scheduled and private charter flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to their airstriks if you are looking for a quicker and more handy means of getting to Serengeti national park.
Approaching Serengeti National Park by road
Drive-in safaris at Serengeti
Booking a drive-in safari is the most common approach to reach Serengeti national park; Serengeti drive-in safaris depart Arusha town and travel around seven to eight hours to reach Serengeti national park.
Serengeti self-directed safaris
The park is reachable from a safari company or from your own car using a safari car rental. If you are driving by yourself, most of the time safari firms like Focus East Africa Tours have expert safari guides included in their vehicles. Note that entrance to Serengeti’s roads requires a 4X4 vehicle; likewise, gasoline is sold at Seronera in Southern Serengeti.
Access gates of Serengeti National Park
Naabi Hill Gate, Ndabaka Gate, Klein’s Gate and Bologonya gate are four key points of access and egress from the park.
Naubi Hill Gate
Located roughly 45 kilometers from Seronera and open between 06 hours and 18 hours daily, Naabi Hill entrance is the main entrance used in Serengeti national park and thus the busiest gate in the park.
Gate Ndabaka
About 1.5 hours drive from Mwanza and 145 kilometers from Seronera, Ndabaka point is the main access point for the western corridor area. Every day, Ndabaka Gate is open between 0600 and 18 hours; however, note that the last access is at 1600 hours.
Klein’s gate
Klein’s Gate is open everyday between 0600 and 1800 hours, situated in the far north-east of the Serengeti. Note: 1600 hours makes the last entry on this gate.
How one arrives to Serengeti National Park?
Arriving There Bologonya Gate
En-route to or from Kenya is Bologonya Gate.
Fee policies of Serengeti National Park
One of the above indicated gates grants admission; each person must pay park fees nonetheless. Serengeti park entrance fees are always included in the planned safari packages whether you reserve a safari through Focus East Africa Tours.
The entrance fees are listed here.
Fee policies of Serengeti National Park
The fees always vary depending on the timeframe as indicated here.
Category:Fees per person, every 24 hours
For an adult ( sixteen plus years old)-$US 82.60
Based on child (between five and fifteen years old)-$23.60 USD
Young children under five years old pay nothing.
laws and guidelines
Reduced prices apply only to EAC member stat citizens-that is, citizens of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda-who must show current passports upon arrival.
Every guest approaching the entrance gates must show proof of identification.
Only Mastercard, Visa or Tanapa (Tanzania national parks) smart card can pay Serengeti park fees. Not accepted are cash or other cards.
Every charge is for single access.
Paid Serengeti park fees cannot be refunded.
Residents and dependents of expatriates living in Tanzania must have one of the documentation resident permits Class A, B, C, exemption certificate, temporary pass attached with government receipt plus acknowledgement letter, diplomatic passport or ID.
Note: The above Serengeti park rates are subject to change.
Related reading: Photographing the Best of Serengeti Wildlife and Understanding Serengeti’s Big Five Safari.
Ready to see it for yourself? Explore our Tanzania safari tours, including the 5 Days Tanzania Safaris itinerary, or get in touch with our safari experts to start planning your trip.
How to Prepare for Climbing Kilimanjaro
Preparing well is the single most important factor in successfully summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. Unlike technical mountaineering peaks, Kilimanjaro requires no ropes or climbing equipment – but it does demand cardiovascular fitness, mental resilience, and proper acclimatization. Start your preparation at least three months before your climb.
Begin with regular cardiovascular training including hiking, running, cycling, and stair climbing. Aim to hike with a loaded backpack on uneven terrain at least once a week. Strength training focusing on legs and core will help significantly on the steep sections, particularly the Barafu or Stella Point approaches to the summit.
Sleep at altitude before your climb if possible. Even a weekend at a mountain lodge at 3,000m will help your body begin to adapt. On the mountain, the golden rule is “pole pole” – slowly, slowly. Rushing is the most common cause of altitude sickness and failed summits.
Kilimanjaro Routes Compared
There are seven official routes up Kilimanjaro, each with different scenery, difficulty levels, and summit success rates. The most popular routes are:
- Machame Route (6-7 days): Known as the “Whiskey Route” for its challenging terrain, Machame is the most scenic and has a good acclimatization profile. Success rate: ~85% on 7-day itinerary.
- Lemosho Route (7-8 days): Starting from the west, Lemosho offers the most diverse scenery and the best acclimatization profile. Fewer crowds. Success rate: ~90%.
- Marangu Route (5-6 days): The only route with hut accommodation. Called the “Coca-Cola Route,” it is the shortest but has the lowest success rate (~65%) due to insufficient acclimatization time.
- Rongai Route (6-7 days): The only route approaching from the north, near the Kenyan border. Drier and less crowded, with good wildlife sightings in the lower zone.
- Northern Circuit (9 days): The longest route with the highest success rate (~95%). Circles the entire northern hemisphere of the mountain before the summit push.
Recommended Tours: 7 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame Route | 8 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
