The Serengeti is synonymous with African wilderness at its most magnificent — a vast golden savanna stretching 30,000 square kilometers across northern Tanzania where the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth unfolds every year. The Great Migration sees over two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle sweep across the plains in a continuous circular journey driven by the rains, crossing crocodile-infested rivers in dramatic crossings that attract predators and photographers in equal measure. Even outside migration season, the Serengeti teems with life — prides of lions laze beneath acacia trees, leopards drape themselves over branches, cheetahs sprint across the open plains, and enormous herds of elephants move like grey shadows through the landscape. The sheer density and diversity of wildlife is unmatched anywhere on the planet, and a single game drive can reveal scenes that look like they belong in a nature documentary.

Pro tip: Invest in a stay at a mobile tented camp that follows the migration rather than booking a fixed lodge — these camps reposition throughout the year to keep you right in the heart of the action.