Grumeti Game Reserve

Grumeti Game Reserve is a private wildlife reserve located in northwestern Tanzania, forming part of the Greater Serengeti ecosystem. As an extension of the western Serengeti, Grumeti offers an exclusive safari experience with a maximum of 60 visitors at any given time, providing an intimate alternative to the crowded national park. The reserve shares an unfenced border with Serengeti National Park's Western Corridor, allowing wildlife to move freely between the two areas. The landscape is characterized by classic savannah grasslands stretching to the horizon north of the Grumeti River, with riverine woodlands dominating along the riverbanks where vegetation can be quite dense—an ideal habitat for leopards. South of the river, visitors find a mix of open grasslands and light woodlands. The reserve is particularly renowned for hosting the Great Migration, when massive herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the Grumeti River from May to July, creating dramatic scenes as animals must navigate fast-flowing waters and Nile crocodiles before facing predators on the other side. Unlike Serengeti National Park, Grumeti functions as a private reserve accessible only through exclusive camps and lodges operated by Singita, ensuring a more personalized and less crowded wildlife experience. The reserve offers fantastic year-round wildlife viewing, but becomes truly incredible during the migration season when visitors witness one of Africa's greatest natural spectacles in relative solitude.

Classic savannah grasslands with scattered flat-topped acacia trees, riverine woodlands along the Grumeti River, and a mix of open grasslands and light woodlands south of the river. Rarely another vehicle in sight, offering a sense of vast, untouched wilderness.

Grumeti is located in an area with Maasai and other local communities. The reserve operates as a private concession with exclusive access through Singita camps, which employ local staff and engage with surrounding communities.

June-July migration crossings offer dramatic predator-prey action. Off-road driving allows closer approaches than national park. Early morning and late afternoon light ideal for photography. Fewer vehicles mean better positioning for shots. Bring telephoto lenses for distant wildlife and wide-angle for landscape shots.