My husband and I are planning a trip to Tanzania in late May 2010 and we will be doing the Northern circuit (Arusha-Lake Manyara-Ngorongoro-Serengeti). I am wondering if I could get some opinions about what you would consider to be the best area of the Serengeti to stay in during this time. At first, we had planned on staying in central Serengeti (at the Serena) for 2 nights and then in western Serengeti (Kirawira) for 2 nights. Our logic was that we would catch the migration one place or another. However, now we are thinking it might just be wiser to make central Serengei our base for all 4 nights and just do game drives out to the west if we need to. I feel like I am falling into the trap of trying to chase the migration (an impossible feat anyway) rather than just enjoying our time wherever we are. There will be animals wherever we choose to go so why obsess over it, right? Yet I continue to do so . . . I think I need a vacation from safari planning! Anyway, any advice you could give would be much appreciated!

I was in the Serengeti in May this year and the herds were definitely concentrated in the central area. Around May 22nd or so they were just beginning to move west but of course as you know it could be very different next year. To me the ideal way to do it is book one of the seasonal camps that attempt to move with the herds. Problem is in May almost all are closed and the ones that stay open are the real top of the line with &Beyond's Serengeti Under Canvas and I believe Nomad's Serengeti Safari Camp stays open too. I stayed at the Under Canvas (fantastic camp!) and they were near Seronera and packing up around the 23rd to move down near Mgablageti. Fortunately it is low season pricing making those camps much more affordable than the high season but still pricey. The real value though is if the herds push west early so will the camps. If they stall down south longer the camps can adjust so if going with a one camp strategy its a good way to hedge your bets rather than picking a static location.

The strength of the central area is it has the best resident game so plenty to see beyond the herds. I visited that area during February and it was so crowded, 20 vehicles lined up for a mythical leopard in the grass that no one ever saw but in May I did have 3 leopards and only shared one sighting with another vehicle. Likewise, great lion sightings with one other vehicle and then by myself the other time. It was outstanding to have that area almost as my own.

I stayed further west at Mbalageti Lodge that sometimes is prime in May but the herds had not arrived and it was very quiet. Saw very little resident game so would not personally want to be there for long without the migration. Also stayed at Grumeti Camp to do the far west. Herds of course were far away so this year late May was way too early at Grumeti but there was solid resident game, nothing close to the quantities and diversity of the Central area though. Big crocs in the river were for sure the highlight but did see lions, giraffe, topi, a smattering of plains game. It was also very wet in May so driving was limited a bit more in the Western Corridor than it was in the Central.

PredatorBiologist - thanks so much for your reply. Your information is great! Would love to be able to do Under Canvas, but that's not an option for us even in low season. It's funny - when I started planning this trip, I thought the tented camps would be the most affordable places to stay! How naive I was . . . Anyway, it would appear that the wisest move would be to just stay put in central Serengeti and branch out as needed. Serengeti Serena, here we come!

Novarra: pleasure to share. I understand, the Under Canvas is expensive, one of the priciest options in Tanzania, the more important piece is to make sure you get an excellent guide and then the base of the Serengeti Serena should serve you very well. The resident game is fantastic and you will surely be able to see the migration, will just be a matter of is it right there or will you need to take a box lunch and go for the day, either way you will love it.

The actual drive time (w/o game viewing) between Central and West is about 2/hrs. And, with end-May being uncertain, I'd stay with Central/Seronera. A good guide will know where the herds are (they can move back-'n-forth) and provide great game drives.

You might check into the Simiyu mobile camps. They're nice and probably more affordable than some of the other tented options.