Airstrips in Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is a famous national park in Tanzania that is known for its amazing sights and special features that attracts visitors from everywhere. Serengeti National Park is the most visited park in Tanzania famous for the massive migration of Wildebeests and large herds of animals including Zebras, Elephants, and towers of Giraffes. Serengeti remains the best place in Tanzania and East Africa to film Lions and Wildebeests. Many times, it has been called the Africa’s best park, and its widely considered one of the top places in Africa and the world for wildlife safaris. The park has been improved a lot, with better places to stay and easier ways get around, so visitors can enjoy their safari. You can travel to the Serengeti by road or by air and there are many small airstrips to land different planes bringing guests to the park. The following are the airstrips in the Serengeti national park where you can land if you are traveling to the Serengeti by plane
- Kirawira B Airstrip
Kirawira B airstrip is situated in the western part of Serengeti National Park, right next to the Grumeti River. It’s about 3 hours from Mwanza, the second largest city in Tanzania, and just a quick half- hour trip from Ndabaka gate. The airstrip is about 4 kilometers from the Kirawira migration crossing point, 8 kilometers from Grumeti Game Reserve, 8 kilometers from Handajenga gate, 2 kilometers from Ndabaka gate, and 7 kilometers from Balili observation point. It’s a great choice for visitors flying in from Mwanza, making it easy to start their safari adventures.
- Seronera Airstrip
Seronera Airstrip is the biggest airstrip in Serengeti national park when it comes to size. It mainly handles small regional planes flying to nearby spots and private chartered flights heading into Serengeti national park.
Seronera Airstrip is located in the heart of Serengeti National Park, the airstrip is in the village of Seronera. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Naabi Hill and Ndabaka Gates. Several lodges are close by, including Four Seasons, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, One Nature Nyaruswiga, Lemala Ewanjan Camp, Siringit Camp, Lemala Nanyukie, Ehlane Plains, and Namiri Plains. If you’re staying at nay of these places or going on a game drives in the Seronera section of the Serengeti National Park, transfers from and to the Seronera airstrip is more advise and recommended.
The Seronera airstrip is also near the Serengeti tourist information center, two fuel stations, shops, pubs, and a pharmacy. It’s just 1 km from Pimbi campsite, 5 km from the visitor’s center and Seronera settlement, 6 km from Tumbili campsite, 7 km from Nyani camping, and 1 km from Nguchiro campsite.
- Fort Ikoma Airstrip
Fort Ikoma Airstrip is a small and rarely used airstrip because it’s close to Seronera airstrip. It’s situated in Serengeti National Park, with Serengeti to the south, Grumeti to the west, and Ikongoro to the east. The airstrip is about 3 kilometers from Fort Ikoma. It’s also just 1 kilometer from Fort Ikoma Gate and Nyabogati Hippo pool.
- Kogatende Airstrip
Kogatende Airstrip is a key point for travelers visiting the Serengeti. It is situated on the southern side of the Mara River in the northern Serengeti national park. many well-known lodges and campsites like Singita Mara River Tented Camp, Lemala Kuria Hills, Serengeti Bushtops, Nomad Lamai, and Kimondo Migration Camp are all easily reached from this airstrip. Nearly, you’ll find the Larelamangi salt lick just 2 kilometers away, the Bologonja gate is 7 kilometers away, Klein gate is only1 kilometer away, and the Lobo Kopjes are about 3 kilometers away from the airstrip. Visitors who want to go on game drives or stay overnight in the northern Serengeti often use this airstrip as their starting point.
Kogatende Airstrip is the best choice for reaching this remote part of the Serengeti National Park with its stunning scenery. Kogatende Airstrip is located just south of Kenya’s border with Tanzania, on the banks of the Mara River. This area becomes especially busy during the annual wildebeest migration when millions of wildebeests and thousands of zebras, along with Grant’s and Thomson gazelles, cross from Serengeti into the Maasai Mara in a famous event called the Mara River Crossing.
- Serengeti Kusini Airstrip
The Serengeti Kusini Airstrip is situated in a perfect spot where the yearly wildebeest migration begins. Travelers flying into this airstrip might even get a chance to see the migration happening right below them. It’s a well-known airstrip in Serengeti national park, located close Kusini Kopjes and just a few kilometers south of Maswa game reserve. The airstrip is also near Mawe Ya samba Kopjes (2km away), Kusini Kopjes (1 km away), Maswa game reserve (9 km away), Soito Kopjes (9 km away) and Itiganya Kopjes (8km away).
When the wildebeest migration is in full swing, nearby lakes like, Lake Masek, Lake Elemeti, and Lake El Dabsh become important calving spots for wildebeests and zebras. The location of Serengeti Kusini Airstrip makes it easy for visitors to reach several nearby lodges and camps such as Sanctuary Kusini Camp, Kimondo Migration Camp, Serengeti under Canvas, and Nomad Serengeti Camp, among others.
- Sasakwa Airstrip
Sasakwa Airstrip is located within the Singita Grumeti Reserves, which are on the western edge of Serengeti National Park. The Sasakwa Airstrip is situated just north of the Western Corridor. The Airstrip sits on a 400-acres piece of wilderness that is part of the famous migration route, were, hundreds of thousands of animals each year. The area features a variety of landscapes including wide open plains, rocky hills, river forests, and woodlands, typical of the Serengeti. Because of its size, the region has a steady population of different animal species all year round.
Several lodges are nearby, making the Sasakwa Airstrip a convenient wat t start or end your safari. These include Singita Sabora Tented Camp, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Singita Faru Faru, and Andbeyond Grumeti Tented Camp. If you’re staying at any of these places and planning to go on game drive, flying or transferring from Sasakwa airstrip is often the best choice since they are only a few kilometers apart.
- Lobo Airstrip
Lobo Airstrip is an important airstrip that helps visitors reach both Serengeti National Park and other nearby places. It is situated in the quite north-eastern section of Serengeti National Park, in the Lobo area. From here, travelers can easily get to lodges like Andbeyond Klein’s Camp, Beyond Serengeti under Canvas, and Taasa Lodge.
The Lobo airfield is close to the eastern edge of Serengeti, just a short drive south of the Lobo communities. This area is known for having many lions and is both public and private camping spots. It’s also close to several key locations: about 6 kilometers from Lobo Kopjes, 6 kilometers from Lobo campground, 6 kilometers from Klein’s gate, 7 kilometers from Bologonja springs, and 8 kilometers from Ngare Naironya airstrip.
The lobo airstrip is used by visitors who want to explore the lobo area of Serengeti National Park’s north-eastern zone, as well as people who want to spend their nights in Serengeti national park’s facilities in this area.