Frequently Asked Questions About Serian

Planning a safari with Serian? Here are answers to some of the questions we are most often asked about our camps, locations, wildlife and the Great Migration.

About Serian

Where is Serian located?

Alex Walker’s Serian operates intimate safari camps in the prime wilderness areas of Kenya and Tanzania. Our camps span Kenya’s Masai Mara and Mara North Conservancy, and the Serengeti in Tanzania, from the northern Serengeti to the southern Serengeti.

Our camps are positioned to make the most of two of the great spectacles of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem: the wildebeest river crossings and the birthing season.

What does “Serian” mean?

The word “Serian” comes from the Maasai language and means serene, calm and tranquil — qualities that lie at the heart of the Serian safari experience.

What makes a Serian safari different?

Serian is about experiencing the wilderness rather than simply ticking animals off a list. Our intimate camps give guests access to the bush in a rich variety of ways, including private game drives, walking, flycamping, night drives and photography.

Every Serian guest has exclusive use of their safari vehicle at no extra cost, together with their own dedicated guide and spotter.

Serian’s Camps

What camps does Serian have in Kenya?

Serian’s Kenyan camps include Serian “The Original” and Ngare Serian in the Mara North Conservancy, and Nkorombo in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Serian also operates Kimya Kimya and The Nest in the Mara area.

What camps does Serian have in Tanzania?

Serian’s Tanzanian camps include Serian’s Serengeti Lamai and Kidimbwi in the northern Serengeti, together with Serian’s Serengeti South and Serengeti Kusini in the southern Serengeti.

How many tents does Serian “The Original” have?

Serian “The Original” consists of five spacious marquees, one of which is a family suite. The tents are perched on hardwood decking and have open bush bathrooms overlooking the Mara landscape.

How many tents does Ngare Serian have?

Ngare Serian consists of four tents. The camp sits directly on the banks of the Mara River, with the tents set on hardwood decking above the river and views towards the Oloololo Escarpment.

How many tents does Nkorombo have?

Nkorombo consists of five spacious Selous-style tents. The camp has a traditional tented feel and sits on a private riverside site in the Masai Mara National Reserve.

How many tents does Serian’s Kidimbwi have?

Serian’s Kidimbwi has just three tents. It is an intimate camp in the Lamai Wedge of the northern Serengeti and is available for exclusive bookings or groups accompanied by private guides.

How close is Kidimbwi to the Mara River?

Kidimbwi is in the Lamai Wedge, just a stone’s throw from the banks of the Mara River in the northern Serengeti.

What is Kimya Kimya?

Serian’s Kimya Kimya is an intimate, exclusive-use camp in the Mara North Conservancy. It is situated on a private riverside site with views over the Mara River and is designed for a very private and intimate safari experience.

What is Kidimbwi?

Kidimbwi is Serian’s intimate three-tent camp in the Lamai Wedge in the northern Serengeti. Its location puts guests close to the Mara River and the wildlife of the northern Serengeti.

What is The Nest?

The Nest is Serian’s private treehouse in the wilderness near the Mara River. It offers a secluded and atmospheric way to experience the bush and can be incorporated into a Serian safari as a special overnight stay or wilderness experience.

The Mara River

Which Serian camps are close to the Mara River?

Several Serian camps are positioned directly on or very close to the Mara River. Ngare Serian hugs the banks of the river, while Nkorombo is situated on a private riverside site. Kimya Kimya is also positioned on a riverside site in the Mara North Conservancy, while Kidimbwi is just a short distance from the river in Tanzania.

Can I see the Mara River from Serian?

Yes. The river is an integral part of the experience at several Serian camps. Ngare Serian sits directly on the riverbank, while Serian “The Original” has views over the Mara River and the surrounding Mara landscape.

What wildlife can I see around the Mara River?

The Mara River and its surrounding wilderness support an extraordinary variety of wildlife. Depending on the season and location, guests may encounter hippo, crocodile, elephant, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and many other species.

Wildlife

What wildlife can I see at Serian?

Serian’s locations offer exceptional year-round wildlife viewing. Depending on where and when you travel, you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, crocodile, hyena and many other species.

Can I see the Big Five at Serian?

The Mara and Serengeti are home to the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros. Sightings are never guaranteed, as Serian is a wild environment, but the combination of habitats and expert guiding offers excellent opportunities to encounter a wide variety of wildlife.

What predators can I see at Serian?

Lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena are among the predators that can be encountered around Serian’s camps. Predator activity can be particularly dramatic during the Great Migration, when huge numbers of wildebeest and zebra move through the ecosystem.

Can I see wildlife outside the Great Migration?

Absolutely. The Mara and Serengeti support abundant resident wildlife throughout the year. The Great Migration is one of the ecosystem’s spectacular seasonal events, but it is only one part of a much larger and constantly changing wilderness.

The Great Migration

When is the Great Migration at Serian?

The Great Migration is a year-round cycle rather than a single event. The herds move through the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem in response to rainfall, grazing and the changing seasons.

Serian’s camps are positioned to experience two of the migration’s great spectacles: the Mara River crossings between June and November, and the wildebeest birthing season in the southern Serengeti from December to April.

When are the wildebeest river crossings?

The Mara River passage generally takes place between June and November. During this period, the migrating herds move back and forth across the Mara River between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara.

What months are best for seeing the river crossings?

The river-crossing period runs broadly from June through November. The exact timing varies from year to year because the migration responds to rainfall, grazing conditions and the natural movement of the herds.

Are the river crossings guaranteed?

No. River crossings are a completely natural event and cannot be guaranteed on a particular day or date. The herds may gather at the river for hours or days, cross and then return, or move elsewhere depending on conditions.

Does the whole migration cross the Mara River at once?

No. The Great Migration is not a single procession. Different groups of wildebeest and zebra move through the ecosystem at different times, and the herds may cross the Mara River in multiple movements.

Is the Great Migration just the river crossings?

No. The famous river crossings are only one part of the annual migratory cycle. The migration also includes the birthing season, the rut and the movement of the herds through the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem.

The Birthing Season

When is the wildebeest birthing season?

Serian’s migration map identifies the birthing period as December through April, with the main birthing activity taking place in the southern Serengeti.

Where is the wildebeest birthing season?

The principal birthing grounds are in the southern Serengeti, where the short-grass plains provide the conditions that attract the herds during this part of their annual cycle.

What happens during the birthing season?

The southern Serengeti becomes a vast nursery as thousands of wildebeest calves are born. The abundance of young animals also attracts predators, making this one of the most dramatic periods of the migration.

Can I see predators during the birthing season?

Yes. The arrival of large numbers of newborn calves creates abundant opportunities for predators, and predator activity is an important part of the southern Serengeti’s birthing-season experience.

Experiencing Serian

Do Serian guests have their own safari vehicle?

Yes. All Serian clients have exclusive use of their safari vehicle at no extra cost, together with their own dedicated guide and spotter. This gives guests the freedom to shape their days around their interests and the wildlife they encounter.

Can I go on a walking safari at Serian?

Walking is an important part of the Serian experience. Depending on the camp and location, guests can explore the wilderness on foot with experienced guides and scouts, experiencing the smaller details of the landscape as well as its larger wildlife.

Does Serian offer night drives?

Night drives are available at selected Serian locations. They provide an opportunity to experience the bush after dark and encounter nocturnal wildlife and behaviour that cannot be seen during a daytime game drive.

Is Serian suitable for families?

Yes. Several Serian camps are particularly well suited to families and private groups. Serian “The Original”, for example, has a dedicated family suite, while Ngare Serian’s intimate four-tent setup makes it particularly suitable for families or groups of friends.

Can I book a Serian camp exclusively?

Yes. Some of Serian’s smaller camps, including Kimya Kimya and Kidimbwi, are designed around exclusive-use bookings. This makes them particularly suitable for families, groups of friends and private safari experiences.

Planning Your Safari

What is the best time to visit Serian?

The best time depends on what you most want to experience. For the Mara River crossings, the migration passage is generally between June and November. For the wildebeest birthing season, the focus moves south to the Serengeti from December through April.

However, there is excellent resident wildlife throughout the year, so a Serian safari can be rewarding outside these headline migration periods too.

Can I see the Great Migration outside the river-crossing season?

Yes. The Great Migration is a continuous annual cycle. The river crossings are just one stage of the movement. At other times of year, the herds are moving through different parts of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem, including the southern Serengeti during the birthing season.

Can I visit Serian outside the migration season?

Yes. Several Serian camps are open throughout the year, and the Mara and Serengeti have abundant resident wildlife outside the main migration periods.

Why choose Serian for a safari?

Serian offers an intimate approach to the wilderness, with small camps, private vehicles, dedicated guides and the freedom to experience the bush in different ways. From the Mara River and the Great Migration to walking, night drives and quieter moments around camp, the emphasis is on experiencing the wilderness rather than simply ticking animals off a list.