East Serengeti – Home of Africa’s Highest Cheetah Concentration

The East Serengeti transforms into a lush green paradise each year between November and May. This 3,200-square-mile expanse stretches from Naabi Hill toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Because the plains stay dry and barren the rest of the year, this seasonal shift creates one of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife theaters.

At the heart of the region sits Gol Kopjes Cheetah territory, often called the Cheetah Capital of Africa. These ancient granite outcrops serve as prime hunting ground for the continent’s highest cheetah concentration. Unlike resident cats elsewhere, these cheetahs follow migratory Thomson’s Gazelle herds across the open plains.

Beyond cheetahs, rich East Serengeti Predators dominate the wet season landscape. Massive hyena clans, sometimes 30 strong, commute here from Central Serengeti dens. Meanwhile, nomadic lion prides, roughly 20% of the population, follow the migration toward the Gol Kopjes.

The region also hosts a distinct segment of the Salei Plains Migration. Herds gather here because volcanic ash has enriched the soil with phosphorus and minerals. This nutrient boost proves essential for lactating mothers and growing calves during the critical breeding season.

Timing matters greatly for this East Serengeti Green Season experience. Visitors arriving between November and May witness the plains at their wildlife-rich peak. Set against the dramatic Gregory Rift Wall backdrop, this remote region delivers Northern Tanzania’s best off-the-beaten-track game viewing, far from the crowds of the central circuits.