Serengeti West, extending towards the Grumeti River, is a less explored yet spectacular part of Serengeti National Park. This region is particularly famous for the dramatic Grumeti River crossings, where thousands of wildebeests navigate crocodile infested waters during the Great Migration (May to July). The area features lush riverine forests, rolling hills, and open savannahs, creating a rich habitat for diverse wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rare black and white colobus monkeys.
Unlike the heavily visited central Serengeti, Serengeti West offers a more exclusive safari experience with luxury lodges and tented camps nestled along the Grumeti River. The region is also home to the Grumeti Game Reserve, a private concession adjacent to the national park, offering guided walking safaris and night game drives, activities not allowed in most parts of the Serengeti.
Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti West
Between May and July, Serengeti West becomes a hotspot for the Great Migration as vast herds of wildebeests and zebras cross the Grumeti River. Unlike the dramatic Mara River crossings in the north, this event is less crowded, making it an incredible experience for visitors. Large Nile crocodiles lurk beneath the surface, waiting for their chance to strike, while predators like lions and leopards stalk the banks for weakened prey.
The migration patterns depend on rainfall, but typically, herds move from Serengeti Central (Seronera) to the Grumeti area in late May and June, pausing before making their way further north toward the Mara River in Kenya.
