Tanzania’s Serengeti Roars into the Festive Season as Tourist Numbers and Revenue Surge
By Adonis Byemelwa
The Serengeti is easing into the festive season with a familiar rhythm, dust rising behind safari vehicles, camera shutters clicking at sunrise, and lodges quietly filling with families and travellers eager to reconnect with nature.
The flow of visitors, both local and international, has remained steady, reflecting a park that is not only holding its ground but quietly building momentum.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Conservation Officer Susana Tesha said earlier this week that tourist arrivals in the Serengeti are almost identical to those recorded at the same time last year. For operators on the ground, this consistency matters.
Bookings are still coming in, guides are busy, and service providers, from drivers to lodge staff, are seeing signs of a season that promises stability rather than uncertainty.
What draws visitors at this time of year is not just the promise of a safari, but the chance to witness a defining chapter of the Serengeti story. The Great Migration, particularly its calving phase in the southern plains, remains a powerful magnet.
Thousands of wildebeest give birth within a short window, turning the grasslands into a theatre of new life and survival. Tesha explained that many tourists are keen to understand the migration as a complete cycle, rather than a single dramatic crossing. That curiosity has translated into longer stays and deeper engagement with the park.
Beyond the migration, the Serengeti’s appeal lies in its variety. Game drives continue to be a staple, but walking safaris and balloon excursions are gaining popularity among visitors seeking a more immersive experience.
Sightings of endangered species, including rhinos, add another layer of significance to each visit. During the festive period, the park increasingly becomes a shared family space, with parents and children experiencing wildlife together, often for the first time.
Fabian Manyonyi, TANAPA’s Senior Conservation Officer at the Serengeti Tourism Unit, said the broader trend points to growth that feels organic rather than rushed. Tourism revenue is rising, confidence among international visitors is firm, and the benefits are spreading beyond park gates. For nearby communities, this translates into more consistent work, stronger local supply chains, and renewed faith in conservation-driven livelihoods.
Recognition on the global stage has amplified this momentum. The Serengeti’s recent crowning as the World’s Best National Park at the 2025 World Travel Awards has done more than boost prestige.
It has reinforced a narrative that many on the ground already feel, that Tanzania’s flagship park is thriving because it has stayed true to its core values. Protection of ecosystems, investment in infrastructure, and a long-term view of sustainability continue to shape its success.
The result is a tourism economy that feels alive, measured, and resilient. In the Serengeti, growth is not just counted in visitor numbers or revenue figures, but in the confidence of guides fully booked, families returning year after year, and a landscape that continues to deliver wonder without being compromised.
Official data indicates the park had registered TSh 49.4 billion between October 1 and December 14, 2025, marking a 6 per cent increase compared to TSh 49.2 billion the state-owned tourism agency garnered during the same period last year.
Tourist from Germany, Michael Schlittenbauer, who sampled Tarangire National Park before heading to Serengeti, was expecting a spectacular experience in Tanzania’s flagship tourist attraction.
“The nature here is amazing, accessibility to the park is well prepared,” he said. After sampling Serengeti, he would go to Zanzibar for Christmas. He is scheduled to fly to Doha, Qatar, on December 29, 2025, for the New Year.
He heard about Tanzania’s tourist attractions through word of mouth from a friend who took a safari tour to the natural resource-rich East African country.
Michael said he would never forget the friendly people he saw in Tanzania. “There is a lot more to experience here. Let us see how it ends in Zanzibar. I will definitely come again and recommend friends also to visit,” he pledged.
Julia Moerer from the Netherlands admitted seeing many wildlife animals living together in Arusha and Tarangire national parks, calling it a lifetime experience.
“We saw big groups of elephants, giraffes, zebras, giant baobab trees, and many other attractions.
“We are here on vacation because my parents-in-law are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their marriage,” she explained. Their guides had assured them that they would not regret visiting Tanzania.
Julia had been to Kruger National Park in South Africa, she said, but the trip was different. They spent the whole day on a game drive in Tanzania, unlike in Kruger, where they had game drives early in the morning, late in the afternoon, and at night.
“Here, the park is costly with a lot of animals. “We will be in Zanzibar for Christmas,” she said.
Talvindaer Virdee-Basra, who was born in Tanzania, immigrated to the UK at the age of 9, only to return after 30 years, said the experience she had in the Serengeti was absolutely fantastic.
Her husband, two daughters and she spent three days in the national 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 were scheduled to spend four more days in Zanzibar before flying back home. The family also visited the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before heading to the Serengeti.
“I wish we spent Christmas in Tanzania, but my husband loves his Christmas dinner. We are all the way home a day before Christmas to dinner,” she quipped, as she vowed:
“We will definitely come back, along with two sons, for them to also enjoy the experience. I am going to convince my two sisters as well, two trips planned already, as soon as next year,” she said.
Fidelis Fabian, a Safari Guide with 20 years of experience, says November is usually a low season. Tourists often begin flocking to various attractions mid-December, as is the case 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.
