Is it safe to visit the Serengeti?
Is it safe to visit the Serengeti?
In the Serengeti, the wildest moments—say, lion hunts and the biggest mammal migration ever—make visitors keep visiting this wonderful park. The Serengeti is home to the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—and the world’s largest population of predators.
As for any safari-goer, staying safe while on your Tanzania safari is very important. With recent reports on tourists being killed by elephants (in Zambia) and buffalo (in South Africa), you might be worried about your safety while in the Serengeti. And as we said earlier, this park harbors some of the wildest moments, but tourist deaths (due to animal kills) are extremely rare. We discuss how to stay safe while in the Serengeti in this article.
Climate
Speaking of climate, the Serengeti has one of the best. The weather varies from month to month. That’s it—it’s cool and dry from June to August. These months see less frequent rainfall, with extremely cold mornings and evenings. If your safari falls into this period, don’t forget to bring some layers for the mornings, evenings, and nights.
September and October are still dry but warmer than June-August. Taking into consideration that these are shoulder months, you will enjoy not only pleasant weather but also secluded safari drives. The road conditions are still perfect for drives, and so is the vegetation.
As November sets in, short rains begin and may continue through December. These short, occasional rains rarely interfere with safari activities. But roads may be slippery, making it so difficult to penetrate. The Serengeti is very hot from January to February, with daily temperatures rising to 37°C near Lake Victoria and 15°C in the highlands.
From March to May, the Serengeti receives heavy downpours. It may rain throughout the day, making it harder to navigate through the rough roads. With the vegetation being thick, it might be hard to see wildlife. There’s a high malaria risk during this time.
- Plan your visit between June and August for better weather conditions. Be aware of the crowds.
- September and October are the best alternative months to avoid the crowd. But they may be a little bit warmer.
- January and February are perfect for wildlife viewing, but they are very hot.
- November to December and March to May are wet. Plan your visit if you’re okay with getting rained on.
Malaria
Most guests are concerned with malaria in Africa, particularly when visiting destinations like the Serengeti. They would ask, “Is Serengeti free from malaria?” Of course not. Malaria exists in the Serengeti. But the risk of contracting this disease is very low because of the high elevation of the Serengeti, which lies between 920 and 1800 meters above sea level. This elevation makes the Serengeti cold and hostile for the Anopheles mosquitoes, which thrive in hot conditions and at elevations below 600 meters above sea level.
However, we encourage visitors to protect themselves from malaria despite the risk being low. Some parts, like rivers, swamps, and streams, have stagnant water, which is the best breeding site for mosquitoes. The chances of contracting malaria during the dry season (June to October) are very low. This is because water dries out, and the vegetation thins out. The risk becomes high during the wet season because of frequent rains, which, in turn, lead to stagnant water.
- Visit your doctor before traveling for the best advice to avoid malaria.
- Bring mosquito repellents to avoid bites from mosquitoes.
- Pack your antimalarial drugs. Ask experts for recommendations.
- Never ignore setting a mosquito net before sleeping.
How to stay safe from animals.
The Serengeti is a park where wildlife thrives at its prime—it is not a zoo. Therefore, you have to exercise much attention while interacting with animals in this park because some animals are aggressive. And you may also annoy them without knowing it. Here’s how to stay safe while in the wilderness of the Serengeti.
Listen to your guide.
Your guide knows a lot about wildlife. He’s your best companion for not only explaining ecological concepts and animal behavior but also protecting you from dangerous creatures. So, avoid stepping out of the vehicle without notifying him because in some places, aggressive venomous snakes live.
Never turn your back when you face a predator.
This is a protip old-school hunters used when searching for big game to hunt. Lions, for example, may ambush from the back. To avoid this, maintain eye contact and slowly back away.
Avoid wearing perfumes.
Nature has its smell. Sometimes, wearing fancy perfumes can make you a target for some animals and insects. Bees, for instance, can’t tolerate unusual smells: you may end up being their target.
Never get too close to animals.
Getting too close to animals triggers their survival instincts. As a result, they may try to avoid you or launch an attack. Stay at least 20 meters away from the animals.
The bottom line.
Yes, it’s safe to go to the Serengeti. What you need is to obey the park rules, protect yourself from malaria, and plan your visit at the right time. We can reduce all the stress for you. Just allow us to plan your trip.
