Serengeti Wildlife Guide: Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs and the Migration

Its 14,750 square kilometres span short-grass plains, woodland, kopjes and rivers, each hosting different animals. Where you stay shapes what you see.

This guide maps wildlife to regions and seasons.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Habitats and Animals

Big Cats

Seronera's trees give leopards daytime perches, and open plains suit cheetahs. Lions rest on kopjes. See African big cats.

Herds and Migration

The Great Migration moves in a loop through the ecosystem. See Serengeti migration calendar.

Other Wildlife

Elephants roam the north, hippos fill pools, giraffes browse acacias and buffalo graze in herds. Smaller animals include servals and bat-eared foxes.

Resident Wildlife Outside the Migration

Even when the herds are elsewhere, the Serengeti teems with resident animals. Seronera's lions and leopards, the central plains' topi and impala and the northern hills' elephants keep drives rewarding. Hippo pools, crocodile-filled rivers and kopje communities offer extra variety. Resident wildlife makes the Serengeti a year-round destination rather than a single-event trip.

Predator Dynamics

The Serengeti's long-term research has revealed how lions, hyenas and cheetahs interact with prey and with each other. Hyenas often steal kills from cheetahs and lions, while lions kill hyenas given the chance. Watching these relationships adds depth to sightings, and guides who know individual animals can tell stories about family histories.

Smaller Wonders

Look for dwarf mongooses on termite mounds, rock hyraxes on kopjes, agama lizards on rocks and dung beetles rolling their treasures. Birds such as secretary birds, ostriches, lilac-breasted rollers and vultures add colour. Take time to watch the details.

Birds of the Serengeti

More than five hundred bird species have been recorded, from ostriches and kori bustards on the plains to lilac-breasted rollers, secretary birds, vultures and waterbirds near rivers. Raptors patrol thermals, and weavers build nests in acacias. Migrant species add to the list from November to April. See birding guide.

Predators and Their Strategies

The Serengeti is famous for its predators. Lions live in prides on the plains and around kopjes, hunting mainly at dusk and dawn. Cheetahs rely on speed and use termite mounds and low rises as lookouts, while leopards hide in trees along the Seronera River. Spotted hyenas are skilled hunters as well as scavengers, and jackals and wild dogs are occasionally seen on the plains. Watching how each predator hunts adds depth to a game drive, and your guide can explain behaviour such as stalking, chasing and sharing kills. Sightings depend on luck and season, but the abundance of prey means that a patient visitor is usually rewarded with something memorable.

Birds

Look for ostriches, secretary birds, lilac-breasted rollers and raptors. See Serengeti guide.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team