Best time to visit Serengeti

Going on a game drive is, of course, the top thing to do in the Serengeti. You can’t avoid it; wildlife is everywhere. You can choose between a luxury safari camping, hotels or eco lodges, a small group tour or a tailor made trip with your own driver guide. Most safari vacations to the Serengeti National Park include the neighbouring wildlife wonders of Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. One of the most exciting ways for the more adventurous to see the Serengeti is from a saddle, with wonderful cycling vacations on offer.

Meet with local Maasai communities and read up on the issues of their land rights and history of stewardship before you travel there. Some trips are guilty of adding on a token visit to a Maasai village at the end of a trip, after you have ticked off the Big Five, without acknowledging the fact that people are at the core of the Serengeti. There are also other tribes here, such as the Hadzabe, also known as the Hadza, who have been exploited for tourism purposes and also lost a lot of their land, although their legal rights have recently improved. Read more about the Hadza here. Support local people financially during your trip but also by respecting their cultures and reading up on their important heritage in advance.

Travel independently. This is not a thing in Serengeti National Park, as you can’t go off road, and you need to be accompanied by a licensed driver guide or tour operator. For self drive safaris, head to South Africa or Namibia.

Disrespect your Maasai guide or any indigenous people you meet along the way. They have been stewards of these great landscapes for centuries. However, there have been a lot of issues over displacement of people in order to create the national park, many of which are ongoing as the government considers expanding the park borders towards Lake Victoria, for better water access. Read more here.

Ignore your driver or guide’s advice when around wildlife, especially on walking safaris. And make sure you travel with a responsible vacation company, who practices all the responsible wildlife watching guidelines.

It may be a very popular tourist destination, but don’t overlook the fact that you will need to take some medical precautions. Visit your GP or travel clinic six to eight weeks before traveling to Tanzania as you may need to show a Yellow Fever certificate, get other vaccinations and get anti malarial medication. Always wear long sleeves and trousers, use mosquito nets and only drink bottled water.

“Book stays in tented camps. These are much more exciting than lodges and extremely comfortable too... We loved the Serengeti most... and the way Albert, our guide, helped us discover it. Also, Kirirumu camp was fantastic” – Catherine Hofman

"If you go during the dry season be prepared for dust on a grand scale! Having said that what you are seeing and doing overrides any discomfort. Don’t forget your lip salve and hair conditioner as the air is very dry! You need to be fairly fit as the game drives involve long days over very bumpy roads ...make sure you always have tissues/loo paper with you as most toilet stops are al fresco” – Linda de Zilva

“The best tips I could give is: - Pack lightly (water is in short supply so bring things you can wear more than once) - Bring lots of US dollars (you can use US dollars everywhere - even in the tribal communities) - Buy on the local market (if you plan to donate to a school or community, buy the supplies locally to support the community rather than bringing them from home)” – Teresa Vandenbosch

“Aim to enjoy every part of the vacation, whether it is the flight in a prop plane and landing on an air strip with elephants and giraffes standing to on either side (or in the middle), or hundreds of hairy caterpillars in procession. Big or small, take it all in and enjoy watching and listening. The animals will be doing something different every time you see them and remember that it is a privilege to be in their environment. Don't worry about dressing up for travel or evening meals, and forget make-up and hair styling too. I would also recommend taking a travel washing line and biodegradable washing liquid and doing regular washes- the clothes dry quickly. And ladies, wear a sports bra”- Joanne Davenport

“Be prepared - it's a different world and if you want total relaxation and comfort, safaris aren't for you. However if you can put up with insect bites and a sore bottom then you will see some truly awesome sights. We think our vacation was well worth the money as we knew we were supporting local people and eco projects. That's what makes this vacation unique. Talk to your tour operator about how you can help the local people. The operator gave us great advice to bring pens and paper for the school kids, balloons as well and they loved that, we just wish we'd brought more” – Clare Hewitt