Central Serengeti

Tremendous wildlife viewing opportunities exist at the Maasai Kopjes.The craggy hollows and smooth granite crests of these towering granite kopjes are home to one of the Serengeti Lion Project’s most studied prides, called the Maasai lion pride. The nearby swamp, where the rare Bohor reedbuck can be found, is also the famous hunting spot for the resident lion pride. Kopjes are remarkable in that they have their own little ecosystem with a range of vegetation and wildlife including hyrax, mongoose, lizards and birds.

Seronera Valley is the Big Cat Capital of Africa! There is simply no better place in Africa to observe large carnivores in action! Excellent encounters are available year round and it is not unusual to encounter all four large predators (lion, hyena, leopard and cheetah) during the course of a day along with a multitude of smaller predators (mongoose, serval, fox and jackal). Seronera is actually derived from the Maasai word ‘siron’ meaning the place of the bat-eared fox

Turner’s Spring is a magnet for wildlife during the dry season. The springs are named after Myles Turner, who was chief game warden from 1956 to 1972. Due to his anti-poaching efforts, the great herds of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuary still roam free today. There are three lion prides within a 10-mile radius, and each is studied by the Serengeti Lion Project. The game track also offers excellent leopard viewing as these elusive cats are often seen peering from the acacia trees that line the road.

The prey rich area of Makoma is a famous hunting ground for lions, cheetahs and hyenas. There is tremendous conflict in this area between lions, hyenas and cheetahs as they compete with each other for food in this small but prey rich area. The wooded Makoma Hill is a good spot to see giraffe, elephant and buffalo. Directly in front of the hill lies a small but idyllic plain, which is used extensively by cheetahs and hyenas. The centerpiece of this plain is the beautiful Thatch Kopjes, a den site for the local lion pride.

Excellent leopard and lion viewing can be found along the Seronera River. The Seronera River, with its seasonal swamps and deep pools of water, is ideal leopard and lion habitat and there is perhaps no easier place to see both these species of big cats in action. Large lion prides base themselves along the river where they ambush their prey. Leopards are commonly spotted in the branches of the sausage trees. A study found that a portion of the Seronera River boasts the highest concentration of leopards in Africa.