70+ Mammals · 500+ Bird Species
Wildlife Guide
The Serengeti supports one of the greatest concentrations of large mammals on Earth. Here is what you will see — and how reliably.
Mammal Viewing Status
What You Will See
Lion
Open prides, reliably seen at Seronera
Elephant
Northern woodland and river areas
Cheetah
Southern plains, Africa's best population
Leopard
Seronera fig trees, patient morning drives
Buffalo
Large herds, western corridor and central
Wildebeest
1.5 million during migration cycle
Zebra
300,000+ in the migration column
Giraffe
Acacia woodlands throughout
Hippo
Seronera and Grumeti river pools
Hyena
Large clans, 70+ individuals, very active
Black Rhino
Very small population, SE corner only
Wild Dog
Small population, Lobo Valley & east
Topi
Termite-mound sentinels, western & central
Eland
Largest antelope, shy, in small groups
Thomson's Gazelle
Key cheetah prey, 500,000+ in ecosystem
Warthog
Diurnal, bold near vehicles, entertaining
Crocodile
Grumeti and Mara rivers, some enormous
Serval
Grassland edges, early morning — often missed
Birdlife
Notable Birds of the Serengeti
500+ species recorded. Here are the ones that define a Serengeti safari.
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Kori Bustard
World's heaviest flying bird
Secretary Bird
Eagle on legs, hunts snakes
Lilac-Breasted Roller
Most photographed bird in Africa
Bateleur Eagle
First to locate carcasses
African Fish Eagle
The call of Africa
Ground Hornbill
Deep booming call before dawn
Ostrich
World's largest bird, open plains
Martial Eagle
Africa's largest eagle
Grey Crowned Crane
Graceful, wetland edges
Flamingo
Soda lake fringe areas
Big Five
Africa's Iconic Species
African Lion
Panthera leo
3,000+ in wider ecosystem. Best viewed at Seronera. Early morning when prides are active.
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Most reliably found along the Seronera River. Patient targeted game drives produce better results than covering distance.
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
4,000–5,000 in the ecosystem. Found in northern Serengeti, western corridor, and around Seronera river systems.
Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
Very small population in south-east. For dedicated rhino viewing, Ngorongoro Crater offers substantially better odds.
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Common year-round across the Serengeti. Large herds of several hundred regularly encountered in the western corridor.
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
1,000+ in the ecosystem. Open short-grass plains of the south are near-ideal habitat — Africa's best cheetah destination.
Editorial Guide
Predator Capital of Africa
The Serengeti has a claim to be the greatest predator watching destination in the world. The volume and diversity of large predators here is exceptional, driven by the abundance of prey that the migration cycle provides.
Lions
Pride sizes in the Serengeti can be extraordinary. Groups of 20 to 30 individuals are not uncommon in the best areas. Seronera and the central plains are particularly productive, and lions are often seen at kills, especially in the cooler morning hours.
Cheetahs
The open plains of the southern and central Serengeti are among the best cheetah habitat on the continent. Cheetahs need uninterrupted sight lines and the flat grasslands provide exactly that. Mother cheetahs with cubs are regularly found in the Ndutu and southern Serengeti areas during the calving season.
Leopards
As noted above, the Seronera river system is one of the most productive leopard-watching areas in Africa. Patience and local knowledge of specific tree sites makes a significant difference.
Spotted Hyenas
Hyena clans are present throughout the park in substantial numbers. Often seen as secondary characters in wildlife narratives, hyenas are in fact highly social, intelligent, and effective hunters in their own right. The Serengeti offers some of the best hyena-watching in Africa.
African Wild Dogs
African wild dogs are one of the continent's most endangered large carnivores, and sightings in the Serengeti are not frequent but do occur. The eastern Serengeti around Lobo and the northern areas offer the strongest possibilities. A wild dog sighting here should be considered exceptional rather than anticipated.
Serval Cats
Serval cats, smaller, spotted felines with distinctive large ears, are regularly encountered in grassland areas, particularly in the early morning. They are easily confused with young cheetahs at a distance but are a genuinely different and rewarding sighting.
Photography
Capturing the Serengeti
Flat terrain, large animals in open country, excellent natural light. The Serengeti rewards any level of camera skill.
Best Months
- ›Feb–Mar: Calving · green landscape · dramatic action
- ›Jun–Sep: Dry season gold light · crossings
- ›Aug: Peak crossings · highest intensity
- ›Nov–Dec: Soft overcast light · dramatic skies
Best Locations
- ›Ndutu plains: Cheetah hunting · calving action
- ›Seronera river: Leopards in fig trees
- ›Mara River (Jul–Oct): Crossing sequences
- ›Lamai Wedge: Elevated viewpoints over river
Lens Guide
- ›70–200mm: Versatile for ground encounters
- ›400mm+: Essential for river crossings
- ›24–70mm wide: Green season landscape
- ›600mm prime: Dedicated wildlife work
Practical Tips
- ›Shoot 6–8am and 4:30–6:30pm for golden light
- ›Overcast = flat ideal portrait light
- ›Protect lenses from dry-season dust
- ›Drones: NOT permitted in national park
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