Serengeti Safari Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

The Serengeti is located in Tanzania and has fairly consistent, moderate temperatures year-round, with cool mornings and evenings and not-too-hot days, making for a fantastic year-round safari destination. While there are technically two rainy seasons, the “short rains” from November to December and the “long rains” from March to May, rains usually consist of a once-daily thunderstorm, and rarely a total washout.

Read more about the best time to go on safari

We can’t guarantee you’ll spot the Big 5, but you’d have to be seriously unlucky to see no animals at all. On our safaris, you’ll explore some of the best game parks and national reserves in the world. These protected areas are filled with a huge variety of species and your expert driver and local leader will be on hand to point you in the right direction (literally).

The “Big 5” used to refer to the five big game animals that were the most difficult to hunt. Now that most shooting is done on a camera, the Big 5 are the most exciting animals to spot while on safari: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

Loose, light layers in neutral colours are the best attire for a safari (dark colours will get hot in the sun and can attract the Tsetse fly). You’ll also want a sun hat, some good walking shoes, a camera, sunscreen and bug spray. For more details, check out our ultimate Africa packing guide. 

It depends on the trip style you've chosen. On our Basix trips, you’ll have a cook travelling with you who'll whip up a variety of local and Western-style dishes. Along your route, your cook will stop to purchase fresh, locally sourced food for your meals. You can expect a variety of things for breakfast like fruit, eggs, toast and cereal; lunch is often sandwiches and salads; and dinner is usually a hearty meal like pasta, curry or a BBQ.

On our Original and Comfort trips there'll be more meals at camps and lodges along the way. One thing's for sure: you definitely won't be going hungry on safari!

Most of the permanent tented camps will have private bathrooms with flushing toilets and showers with warm water.

Many of the campsites we stay at have communal facilities with flushing toilets and showers with warm water. However, in some of the more remote areas, there may only be basic facilities (toilets and cold running water).

Some of our hotels and campsites will have Wi-Fi, however, internet and phone access may be limited in more remote areas. But you won’t think twice about emails and social media when you’re watching a pride of lions prowl through long grass or enjoying a drink around the campfire with your group.

We are committed to making travel accessible to everyone, so we will work with you to assess whether you will be able to complete an existing itinerary, or whether we will be able to make reasonable adjustments to meet your needs before you book. Please see our accessible travel page for more information.