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Grumeti Game Reserve: Serengeti's wild private frontier
Grumeti Game Reserve at a glance:
Location: Western boundary of Serengeti National Park, northern Tanzania | Size: 140,000-hectare private concession within the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem |
Managed by: Singita, in partnership with the non-profit Grumeti Fund | Established: Gazetted 1994; Grumeti Fund conservation management from 2002 |
Best time to visit: June–July (Grumeti River crossings); September–October (post-migration herds) | Signature feature: Wildebeest migration river crossings across the Grumeti River |
Predators: Lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, serval and crocodile present year-round | Accommodation: Seven Singita properties, including three exclusive-use villas |
Why visit Grumeti Game Reserve?
Bordering the western Serengeti, Grumeti Game Reserve forms part of the vast Serengeti-Mara ecosystem and lies directly along the ancient path of the wildebeest migration. As the herds move north each year, they pass through this stretch of savannah, riverine forest and the crocodile-infested Grumeti River on their onward journey to the Maasai Mara. This privately managed 140,000-hectare reserve, cared for by the non-profit Grumeti Fund, offers a rare kind of safari: exclusive, uncrowded and deeply tied to conservation. Predators are abundant year-round, with lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, serval and crocodile all frequently encountered, while elephant, buffalo, zebra, topi and Thomson's gazelle move freely across the plains. Guides may drive off-road for closer sightings, and activities extend beyond drives to guided walks, night drives and hot-air ballooning. The reserve has been transformed from a landscape once degraded by illegal hunting and wildfire into a thriving wilderness, including the successful reintroduction of critically endangered eastern black rhinos in 2019. A stay here rewards travellers with front-row access to one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles, away from the crowds.
5 Reasons We Love Grumeti Game Reserve
The Great Migration crosses the crocodile-infested Grumeti River here, offering front-row seats to one of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles.
Exclusive access: just a handful of Singita properties share 140,000 private hectares, ensuring uncrowded wildlife viewing.
Off-road driving: night drives and hot-air ballooning are permitted here, activities restricted in the neighbouring national park.
The Grumeti Fund's conservation work has restored buffalo, elephant and wildebeest populations, and reintroduced eastern black rhino.
Predators thrive year-round, with lions, leopards, cheetahs, servals, hyenas, and crocodiles regularly encountered across the plains and riverine forest.
All you need to know about Grumeti
About Grumeti Game Reserve
Grumeti Game Reserve lies immediately west of Serengeti National Park, forming part of the wider Serengeti-Mara ecosystem spanning northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The reserve was created by the Tanzanian government in 1994 to protect the migratory path of the wildebeest and the ecosystem's indigenous biodiversity. In 2002, the non-profit Grumeti Fund was granted the right to manage and conserve 140,000 hectares of this landscape on behalf of Tanzania and the world. Four years later, Singita took over management to develop low-impact, luxury tourism. When conservation efforts began, the area faced uncontrolled illegal hunting, wildfires and spreading invasive vegetation; today, buffalo, wildebeest and elephant populations have recovered substantially, and eastern black rhinos have been successfully reintroduced.
Things to do in Grumeti Game Reserve
Game drives: Explore vast private plains with expert guides permitted to drive off-road for closer wildlife encounters.
Night drives: Search for nocturnal species after dark, an activity not permitted in the neighbouring national park.
Hot-air ballooning: Drift silently over the plains at dawn for sweeping views of wildlife and the wider ecosystem below.
Guided walking safaris: Experience the reserve on foot, reading tracks and small signs invisible from a vehicle.
Great Migration viewing: Witness wildebeest herds as they cross the crocodile-infested Grumeti River en route to the Maasai Mara.
Birdwatching: Discover the ecosystem's rich birdlife - about 750 species - across savannah, riverine forest and open plains habitats.
What wildlife can I see in Grumeti Game Reserve?
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, servals, and crocodiles are all found in abundance throughout the reserve year-round.
Wildebeest and zebra: Vast herds pass through Grumeti during the annual Great Migration, with many remaining throughout the year.
Elephant and buffalo: Both species have recovered strongly under Grumeti Fund conservation efforts since the early 2000s.
Eastern black rhino: Critically endangered rhinos were reintroduced to the reserve in 2019 after decades of absence.
Plains antelope: Topi and Thomson's gazelle are especially plentiful in the post-migration months of September and October.
About 750 bird species are found, including regional endemics such as Jackson’s widowbird, grey-crested helmetshrike, Usambiro barbet and rufous-tailed weaver.
Where to stay in Grumeti Game Reserve
Singita offer these exclusive accommodation options:
Sasakwa, built in the style of a stately Edwardian manor house, sits on a hill with sweeping views across the plains; its nine cottages and a villa each have private infinity pools, wraparound verandas and antique furnishings, with tennis and wellness treatments on offer.
Faru Faru takes a more contemporary approach, with airy suites overlooking a busy waterhole on the Grumeti River, complemented by a café-style bar and a fire pit.
Sabora, a luxury tented camp, blends modern design with traditional canvas safari style, featuring private meditation decks, outdoor salas and a curated 'Guest Deli' of gourmet treats.
Explore offers a solar-powered, vehicle-free camp deep in the reserve's western reaches, reached on foot from a distant vehicle drop-off, where comfort is pared back to a cosy bed and bucket shower.
For groups seeking total privacy, three exclusive-use villas are available.
Serengeti House, on the slopes of Sasakwa Hill, has four suites sharing a central living space and a full staff complement.
Kilima, also on Sasakwa Hill, sleeps up to ten guests across five individually designed suites, with an infinity pool, media room and personal chef.
Milele, the largest of the three, accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 suites, complete with a boma, a 10-person cinema room, and an extensive wine cellar.
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Frequently asked questions
Grumeti Game Reserve lies on the western boundary of Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, forming part of the wider Serengeti-Mara ecosystem that extends into southern Kenya.
The privately managed Singita Grumeti concession covers 140,000 hectares. It is one of several protected areas bordering Serengeti National Park along the wildebeest Great Migration route.
The non-profit Grumeti Fund was granted management and conservation rights to the reserve in 2002. Singita took over the tourism operation in 2006, developing low-impact luxury lodges across the concession.
June and July are prime months when massive herds arrive to cross the crocodile-infested Grumeti River on their journey north towards the Mara River and the Maasai Mara.
Yes. September and October are considered by many as the best overall months, when large herds of zebra and wildebeest remain in the area alongside elephant, topi and Thomson's gazelle, and predators are easy to spot in the short grass.
Lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, serval and crocodile are all abundant, with excellent sightings possible throughout the year.
Yes. Hot-air ballooning is offered within the reserve, along with night drives and guided walking safaris, none of which are permitted in the adjacent national park.
It was gazetted by the Tanzanian government in 1994 specifically to protect the migratory path of the wildebeest and safeguard the ecosystem's biodiversity.
Substantially. Since the Grumeti Fund began managing the area, buffalo, wildebeest and elephant populations have recovered from historic depletion caused by illegal hunting, wildfire and invasive vegetation and eastern black rhino have been reintroduced.
Yes. In 2019, the Grumeti Fund carried out the largest single relocation and reintroduction of nine critically endangered eastern black rhinos into the reserve.
Singita operates seven properties: Sasakwa, Faru Faru, Sabora and Explore lodges and camps, plus three exclusive-use villas - Serengeti House, Kilima and Milele.
Yes. The reserve's three villas - Serengeti House, Kilima and Milele - offer full staff complements and private game vehicles for groups seeking total privacy.
As a privately managed concession rather than a national park, Grumeti permits off-road driving, night drives and hot-air ballooning, and its limited number of lodges ensures a far less crowded safari experience.
Singita lodges in Grumeti Game Reserve typically cost from US$2,200 per person per night, depending on the accommodation comfort level, time of year, and activities. This price usually includes accommodation, all meals, game drives, experienced guides, airport transfers, and 24/7 support from our team.
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