Serengeti National Park

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🦁 Lion Prides on the Serengeti Plains
🌍 #10 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #7 in Africa #8 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Tanzania 1381 spp. recorded

Serengeti National Park lies in Tanzania’s eastern savanna belt, a sweeping landscape of golden grass, scattered acacia, and seasonal rivers. Its open plains contrast with the forested parks of the region, offering uninterrupted horizons where herbivores graze and predators roam.

-2.548° S   34.829° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely
Cheetah ★
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

60–70% · Likely
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely
Nile Crocodile ★
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

60–70% · Likely
East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

60–70% · Likely
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely
Lilac-breasted Roller
LC

Lilac-breasted Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias caudatus

60–70% · Likely
Topi

Topi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

50–60% · Likely
Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

50–60% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely
Cheetah ★
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

60–70% · Likely
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

60–70% · Likely
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely
Topi

Topi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

50–60% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely
Thomson's Gazelle
LC

Thomson's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eudorcas thomsonii

50–60% · Likely
Hartebeest
LC

Hartebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus buselaphus

40–50% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

60–70% · Likely
Lilac-breasted Roller
LC

Lilac-breasted Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias caudatus

60–70% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely
Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

50–60% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

50–60% · Likely
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
LC

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

50–60% · Likely
Common Ostrich
LC

Common Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio camelus

50–60% · Likely
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

50–60% · Likely
Marabou Stork
LC

Marabou Stork

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptoptilos crumenifer

50–60% · Likely
Grey-backed Fiscal
LC

Grey-backed Fiscal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius excubitoroides

40–50% · Likely
Secretary Bird
EN

Secretary Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sagittarius serpentarius

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Nile Crocodile ★
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama
LC

Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama mwanzae

40–50% · Likely
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

20–30% · Possible
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

20–30% · Possible
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

10–20% · With luck
Flap-necked Chameleon
LC

Flap-necked Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo dilepis

10–20% · With luck
Helmeted Turtle

Helmeted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelomedusa subrufa

5–10% · With luck
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

5–10% · With luck
Boomslang
LC

Boomslang

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dispholidus typus

5–10% · With luck
Gregory's Blue-headed Agama
LC

Gregory's Blue-headed Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Acanthocercus gregorii

5–10% · Rare
Black-necked Spitting Cobra
LC

Black-necked Spitting Cobra

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Naja nigricollis

5–10% · Rare
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

<5% · Rare
Southern African Python
LC

Southern African Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python natalensis

<5% · Rare

📊 Most Spotted

African Common Toad
LC

African Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data
Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog
LC

Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis petersii

Insufficient data
Common Reed Frog
LC

Common Reed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hyperolius viridiflavus

Insufficient data
Crowned bullfrog
LC

Crowned bullfrog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Hoplobatrachus occipitalis

Insufficient data
Shovel-nosed Frog
LC

Shovel-nosed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hemisus marmoratus

Insufficient data
Senegal Kassina
LC

Senegal Kassina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data
Red-Banded Rubber Frog
LC

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data
Mababe puddle frog
LC

Mababe puddle frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Phrynobatrachus mababiensis

Insufficient data
Sharp-nosed ridged frog
LC

Sharp-nosed ridged frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena oxyrhynchus

Insufficient data
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
LC

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data
Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦎

Crocodile breeding season

Jul

Adult Nile crocodiles gather on riverbanks to mate and build nests, increasing sightings of hatchlings later in the year.

Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Wildebeest calving season

Feb

Mass calving of wildebeest occurs, drawing predators and creating dramatic predator‑prey interactions.

Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely
🐦

Rainy‑season bird breeding

FebMar

Numerous bird species, especially the superb starling, breed during the early rains, filling the sky with displays.

Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Lion
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Cheetah
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
African Bush Elephant
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Nile Crocodile
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
Superb Starling
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
East African Giraffe
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Spotted Hyena
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
Common Hippopotamus
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Lilac-breasted Roller
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
Topi
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Cape Turtle Dove
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
Plains Zebra
50–60
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Blue Wildebeest
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
Leopard
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Crowned Lapwing
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
Egyptian Goose
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦎 Crocodile breeding season
🦌 Wildebeest calving season
🐦 Rainy‑season bird breeding

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🦁 Lion Prides on the Serengeti Plains

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
940
🐒 Mammals
269
🦎 Reptiles
129
🐸 Amphibians
43
1381 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
44 Threatened 8 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
64%
📊
Coverage (287 species at ≥5% of 1381 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
21%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 mammal, 3 bird)
46% Global avg
50%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
223
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
43
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
40

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Serengeti National Park?

The most likely sightings are Lion (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Superb Starling (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Cheetah (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), East African Giraffe (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Spotted Hyena (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1381 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Serengeti National Park for wildlife?

February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Lion in Serengeti National Park?

Yes — about 76% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 938 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Cheetah in Serengeti National Park?

Yes — about 66% of wildlife watchers report a Cheetah sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 617 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Serengeti National Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 569 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Nile Crocodile in Serengeti National Park?

Yes — about 54% of wildlife watchers report a Nile Crocodile sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 394 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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