Grumeti Game Reserve

Introducing

Grumeti Game Reserve

Grumeti has all the virtues of Serengeti National Park but offers a more exclusive experience with no more than 60 visitors there at any one time. It shares an unfenced border with the Serengeti’s Western Corridor and wildlife is free to wander between the two. However, unlike the national park, Grumeti functions as a private reserve and can only be accessed by guests at one of the exclusive camps or lodges operated there by Singita. It’s fantastic year-round, but incredible when the great migration passes through, usually in June and/or July.

Experience the Grumeti Game Reserve

Grumeti offers an incredible wildlife experience. All the Big Five are present following the reintroduction in 2019 of the eastern black rhino (a critically endangered subspecies). It is one of the best places in East Africa to see large lion prides. There’s also a good chance that you’ll see cheetah, elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and black-and-white colobus monkey, as well as hippo and crocodile. During the migration, countless wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle swarm across the landscape with hungry predators following close behind.

Grumeti is an extension of the western Serengeti, with classic savannah grasslands stretching to the horizon north of the Grumeti River, and rarely another vehicle in sight. Riverine woodlands dominate along the riverbanks, and the vegetation can be quite dense in places; look for leopards. South of the river is a mix of open grasslands and light woodlands.

Locate the Grumeti Game Reserve

Discover: Grumeti Game Reserve

Grumeti Game Reserve, set in the heart of Tanzania's Serengeti ecosystem, offers an unparalleled safari experience in one of Africa's most iconic landscapes. This vast conservation area is renowned for its role in the annual wildebeest migration, diverse habitats, and significant populations of Africa's Big Five. The reserve combines luxury tourism with effective conservation practices, aiming to preserve the region's natural heritage while providing guests with exclusive encounters with wildlife. Visitors can enjoy guided game drives, walking safaris, and hot air balloon tours, all while staying in some of the most luxurious lodges and tented camps that blend seamlessly into the natural environment.

Getting There

There are two main ways to arrive in Grumeti. The first is by road: you’ll be transferred to the reserve and your accommodations in a comfortable 4WD vehicle. Otherwise, many travelers arrive on a charter flight in a small plane flown into one of Grumeti’s airstrips from elsewhere in Tanzania or southern Kenya.

Best time to visit

Undoubtedly the best time to visit Grumeti is when the migration passes through, which is usually in June and/or July: while everyone else is following the massed herds of wildebeest and zebra in a convoy of safari vehicles, you’ll have them all to yourself here. Otherwise, the best months (for both the weather and non-migration wildlife watching) are from August through to March. For birding, the ideal months are November to April; many of the Serengeti’s more-than-500 species are also found here in the reserve.

Wildlife Experience

Grumeti is well worth considering as a safari destination. The spectacular Great Migration of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles passes through in May and June. These huge herds attract all the big cats – lion, leopard, and cheetah – and the Grumeti river certainly sees its fair share of bloody encounters thanks to the resident crocodiles! All the properties in the reserve have a great team of guides available, so you are guaranteed fantastic sightings of all the wildlife.

Even outside the Great Migration months, we really rate Grumeti. All Big Five are in residence here! As far as predators are concerned, you can look out for cheetah, hyenas, jackals, wild dog, serval, and caracal. The herbivore count includes wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, eland, kudus, bushbuck, waterbuck, and a fine assortment of antelopes overall.

Birdlife

The birdlife of Grumeti is also pretty amazing. From raptors to waterbirds, songbirds to owls, there is no shortage of feathery friends here! Avocets, bee-eaters, canaries, doves… bring your binocs and see if you can find a bird for every letter of the alphabet. And don’t forget your camera too!

Where to go in Tanzania