Game drives are the heart of any Serengeti visit. The standard pattern is two drives daily — early morning when predators are most active, and late afternoon as the heat breaks. What you see depends on timing and where you are in the park: migration herds in the south from January to March, the Grumeti crossings in June, the Mara crossings from July to October, and resident year-round wildlife in Seronera regardless of season.
Walking safaris are possible with a ranger in certain areas and add a completely different dimension to the park — you notice insects, plants, and tracks that are invisible from a vehicle. Hot-air balloon flights over the plains are a splurge but extraordinary: the silence, the light, and the scale of what's beneath you. Night drives are offered by some private camps.