THE Serengeti is getting into the holiday mood with its usual pattern. Dust rises behind the vehicles on safari tours, cameras are clicking at sunrise, and the lodges are slowly filling up with families and travelers looking to connect with nature again.
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The number of visitors coming to the park, both from within Tanzania and from other countries, has stayed steady.
This shows that the park is not only staying strong but also gaining more attention.
Susana Tesha, a Conservation Officer from Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), said this week that the number of tourists in the Serengeti is almost the same as last year at this time.
For the people working in the park, this consistency is very important.
Bookings are still happening, guides are busy, and the service providers—drivers, lodge staff, and others—are seeing that the season is likely to be stable instead of uncertain.
What brings visitors to the Serengeti at this time of year isn't just the chance to go on a safari, but the opportunity to see a key part of the park's story.
The Great Migration, especially the calving season in the southern plains, continues to draw a lot of attention.
Thousands of wildebeest give birth within a short period, creating a scene full of new life and survival.
Tesha explained that many tourists are interested in learning about the migration as a complete cycle, not just the dramatic crossing. This interest has led to longer stays and deeper engagement with the park.
Besides the migration, the Serengeti also appeals because of its diversity.
Game drives are still very popular, but walking safaris and balloon rides are becoming more popular as visitors look for more immersive experiences.
Seeing endangered species like rhinos adds another layer of importance to each visit.
During the festive season, the park becomes a shared space for families, with parents and children experiencing wildlife together, often for the first time.
Fabian Manyonyi, a Senior Conservation Officer at the Serengeti Tourism Unit, said the overall trend shows natural growth, not rushed expansion.
Tourism money is increasing, international visitors are confident, and the benefits are growing in nearby communities. This means more steady jobs, better local supplies, and stronger support for conservation in the area.
The park's recognition on the global level has also boosted its momentum.
Being named the World’s Best National Park at the 2025 World Travel Awards has done more than just bring prestige. It has supported what many on the ground already believe—Tanzania’s flagship park is thriving because it has stayed true to its values. Keeping the ecosystem safe, improving the facilities, and having a long-term view of sustainability are key to its success.
This has created a tourism economy that feels alive, thoughtful, and strong.
In the Serengeti, growth is measured not just by visitor numbers or money made, but by the confidence of guides with full bookings, families returning every year, and a landscape that continues to offer amazing experiences without being harmed.
Official data shows that between October 1 and December 14, 2025, the park made TSh 49.4 billion, which is a 6% increase compared to the same period last year, when the state-owned tourism agency made TSh 49.2 billion.
Michael Schlittenbauer from Germany visited Tarangire National Park before heading to the Serengeti.
He was expecting a great experience in Tanzania's main tourist attraction.
“The nature here is amazing, and the park is easy to get to,” he said.
After the Serengeti, he would go to Zanzibar for Christmas and plans to fly to Doha, Qatar, on December 29, 2025, for the New Year.
He heard about Tanzania through a friend who had a safari tour there.
Michael said he will never forget the friendly people he met in Tanzania.
“There is a lot more to experience here. Let’s see how it ends in Zanzibar. I will definitely come back and recommend friends to visit,” he promised.
Julia Moerer from the Netherlands said she saw many animals living together in Arusha and Tarangire national parks, calling it a lifetime experience.
She saw big herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, giant baobab trees, and other attractions.
“We are here on vacation because my parents-in-law are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary,” she explained.
Their guides assured them they wouldn’t regret the visit.
Julia had been to Kruger National Park in South Africa, but the experience in Tanzania was different.
They spent the whole day on a game drive, unlike Kruger, where they had game drives in the early morning, late afternoon, and at night.
“Here, the park is expensive but has a lot of animals,” she said.
“We will be in Zanzibar for Christmas.”
Talvindaer Virdee-Basra, who was born in Tanzania but moved to the UK at age 9 and returned after 30 years, said the experience in the Serengeti was fantastic.
She and her husband, two daughters, spent three days in the park.
“We saw so much wildlife. It has given us an appreciation of animals and how beautiful nature is,” she said.
After seeing lions, cheetahs, hippos, and many others, they planned to spend four more days in Zanzibar before flying home.
The family also visited the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before going to the Serengeti.
“I wish we could have spent Christmas in Tanzania, but my husband loves his Christmas dinner.
We are all the way home a day before Christmas to have dinner,” she said with a smile. She vowed:
“We will definitely come back, along with our two sons, for them to enjoy the experience.
I am going to convince my two sisters too. Two trips are already planned for next year,” she said.
Fidelis Fabian, a safari guide with 20 years of experience, said November is usually a slow time.
Tourists often start going to various attractions around mid-December, as is happening now.
As for his firm – World Serengeti Quest – bookings are fully booked, reflecting international tourists’ confidence in Serengeti and Destination Tanzania at large.
The Serengeti National Park was recently crowned World’s Best Park at the 2025 World Travel Awards, reaffirming its status as one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring wildlife destinations.
The park claimed the top spot ahead of other distinguished nominees, namely Kruger National Park in South Africa and Yellowstone in the United States.
It was also named Africa’s Best National Park, defeating Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, Etosha National Park in Namibia, Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda, and Kruger National Park in South Africa.
The Serengeti is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and the annual Great Migration, often hailed as the most incredible wildlife show on Earth. “We expect many more visitors as a result of the awards,” Manyonyi said.
Tanzania’s Serengeti consistently wins top honours at the World Travel Awards (WTA), being named Africa’s Leading National Park multiple times, including in 2024 and 2025, solidifying its status as a premier African tourist destination, alongside other Tanzanian gems like Mount Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Crater, often taking home multiple awards in the same year.
It is renowned for its vast savannahs, diverse ecosystems, and abundant wildlife, making it a prime safari destination. Tanzania’s focus on sustainable tourism and conservation efforts contributes to these global recognitions.