Can you self-drive in Serengeti National Park

Can you self-drive in Serengeti National Park?

Self-drive in Serengeti National park is very possible. The Serengeti is probably the most rewarding game park on the continent. However, it’s also a park best enjoyed when you’ve prepared well in advance.

The main road running from Naabi Hill gate to Seronera, the center of the action, and from Seronera radiating to the East and West, is notorious among tour guides in Tanzania for its rough driving conditions. It’s a challenging road, with a rocky surface and washboard ribbons. Drivers are advised to drive at least at a limited speed which is 25 km/h, or else you’ll lose control instantly, with a single-vehicle rollover as a result. 

From Arusha, the most accessible parts of the Serengeti are its southern plains, comprising of Ndutu and Seronera. The western corridor and Lobo are rewarding to explore, but far out. If you want to explore lesser-visited areas of the Serengeti, you are recommended to rent a safari vehicle along with a driver-guide. 

The driving times to Serengeti National Park are as follows;

Loduare gate (Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance) to Ngorongoro crater entrance takes about 1.5 hours. 

Naabi Hill gate to Seronera takes about 1 hour.

Seronera to Lobo takes about 2 hours.

Arusha to Seronera takes between 9 to 10 hours

Perhaps to arrange the Serengeti permits for a self-drive safari in Tanzania, the permits for all the Tanzania National Parks Authority managed parks are paid at the entrance gate by credit card. 

Serengeti National Park is part of a cross-border ecosystem including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), the Masai Mara in Kenya, and a number of smaller game reserves. 

For the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will need to obtain an entrance quote first, before going to the gate to actually pay for park entry. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area office is based in Arusha and Karatu and is open from Monday – Friday. Self-drive Tanzania can arrange the Ngorongoro quote on your behalf. 

Most travelers on Tanzania safaris arrange their visit to Serengeti during the annual wildebeest migration periods. The wildebeest migrate in a summarized migration cycle which is being dictated by local rainfall patterns on a fairly predictable pattern. The wildebeest movements are at their most predictable between December and April when the wildebeest and zebra congregate in the Ndutu area to the calf.  After the short rains of early November, the herds arrive on the short-grass plains feeding on the fresh, nutritious grasses. From May – July the wildebeest are in the Western corridor and July – September to the Mara River.

It is therefore advisable for travelers on self-drive safaris in Tanzania to prepare and drive in areas where the animals are expected to be based on the time of visit to the park. Travelers will also prefer to camp in an area that is safe and they are able to do this basing on the knowledge of the migration of the animals. Travelers that would like to have a self-drive in Serengeti are recommended to book a tour guide since Serengeti is vast and one can easily get lost. We can help you have your self-drive safari to Tanzania in a less stressful way by booking your our well-maintained safari vehicles as well as any other forms of necessary bookings as you would desire to have your trip successful.