Grumeti Game Reserve Travel Guide
A private reserve offering exclusive access to the Great Migration
Situated along the western edge of Serengeti National Park, the Grumeti Game Reserve is part of the broader Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, offering an exclusive safari experience in one of the world’s premier wilderness destinations.
Home to just a handful of luxury lodges, this 350,000-acre reserve was created to support conservation and community development while providing travellers with a more immersive wilderness experience.
Grumeti lies directly in the path of the renowned Great Migration, making it an ideal location for witnessing this unforgettable natural spectacle far from the busy corridors of the central Serengeti.
Grumeti is best known for its remote location and uncrowded landscape, as well as its prime position along the route of the Great Migration, where vast herds of wildebeest and zebra traverse the reserve from May to July en route to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The forest-fringed Grumeti River is home to large populations of hippos and crocodiles, becoming a focal point during the migration as must face the perilous river crossing.
Even outside of migration season you can still look forward to excellent game viewing, with healthy populations of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard and cheetah resident throughout the year. With no public access, game drives are conducted in open vehicles with low visitor density, ensuring an unhurried and deeply immersive experience. Additional activities include guided bush walks, night drives, horseback safaris, community visits, and hot air ballooning.
Grumeti is a private reserve and you’ll enjoy all meals within the lodge, as talented chefs whip together a feast of local and international flavours on inspired seasonal menus. With sufficient advance notice, dietary preferences and allergies can be easily accommodated.
Lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing suitable for warm days and cool nights is best, and a fleece or jacket is advisable for early morning game drives. Comfortable walking shoes, a sun hat, sunglasses, insect repellent, and sunscreen are essential. Most lodges offer laundry services and provide basic amenities, but travellers should pack sufficient quantities of all personal medications.
The dry season from June to October is the best time to visit the Grumeti, and it coincides with the peak of the Great Migration through the reserve. Short rains occur in November, while the long rains fall from March to May. During this time the landscape is lush, but access may be affected by muddy roads, and some lodges close during the long rains.
Grumeti is located in a malaria-prone area, and anti-malarial prophylaxis is advised. Use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing in the evenings to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. For additional advice, consult your travel doctor at least three weeks prior to departure.
The reserve is best accessed by air, with scheduled and charter flights operating from Arusha and other safari hubs to the Sasakwa or Grumeti airstrips. The flight time from Arusha is approximately 90 minutes. Grumeti does not permit self-drive visitors.
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