Serengeti national park is a natural wonder that lies in the Northern Tanzania established in 1952 covering an area of about 14,763. The park adopted its name from Maasai people “Serengit” which translates “Endless Plains” an accurate term to explain the great Serengeti. Serengeti national park is among the national parks in Tanzania that make the Northern corridor thus enabling tourist Northern circuit of Tanzania.
Other national parks that make up a Northern circuit are; Ngorongoro Conservation Crater, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and the mighty Serengeti national park and these parks have made Tanzania famous and one of the most visited destination in the world. Serengeti national park initially was one block with Ngorongoro conservation crater, however it was later split because the Masai people were facing a threat of eviction.
Masai Mara national park is a home to Africa’s Big 5 and these are; leopards, lions, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants. Other wildlife that you can find in Serengeti national park are; warthogs, hyenas, vultures, marabou storks and wildebeests and these are known as the Africa’s ugly 5 animals in the jungle. The park however is famous for hosting other wildlife for example giraffes, zebras, gazelles, elands, painted dogs or call them wild dogs, the park is a home to over 530 bird species, plant life and also Serengeti national park is composed of different rock out crops known as Kopjes.
Spending a night in Serengeti national park is so rewarding especially when you engage yourself in game drives where you will be discovering amazing hidden gem of Serengeti especially seeing the skies painted in the amber of rose, you start imagining what waits for you in the wilderness, the roaring of a distant lion starts calling you, the birds invite you to the wilderness and you start preparing your cameras to take that first shot in Serengeti national park.
Initially there were no elephants in Serengeti national park, the elephants came from the reserves near the present Serengeti national park and this was because of the encroachment on the reserves and also the growing population of elephants in those reserves, pushed elephants to look for new home and they ended up in Serengeti national park. Serengeti is so unique that it harbors about 10 types of antelopes, over 530 bird species, olive baboons and black-faced monkeys, among other amazing wildlife that the park stomachs.
Serengeti national park is composed of three sections and these are;
- The Seronera Valley also known as the central and southern part and this is what the Masai people call Serengit meaning endless plains. It is covered with golden savanna short grasses which are dotted with high wildlife concentration, both herbivores and carnivores.
- The western corridor which comprises of River Grumeti and this is covered mostly by forests and expect more birds and primates in this section.
- The north Lobo and this connects to Kenya’s Masai Mara national reserve.
Serengeti national park is believed to have one of the oldest ecosystems where a skull of an old man featured at Olduvai Gorge about 2 million years ago and also patterns of life, death and adaptation and the migration are old as the Serengeti hills themselves and this confirms the theory.
Attractions in Serengeti National Park
Serengeti national park is composed of a variety of wildlife, birds and sceneries. The wildebeest migration, the Masai Culture, birds, Olduvai Gorge, River Grumeti, Moru Kopjes, Retina Hippo pool and Seronera River.
Wildebeest migration in Serengeti national park
Wildebeest migration in Serengeti national park is a world’s natural wonder that attracts travelers from all over the world to come and experience this great movement. Wildebeest migration is the world’s largest animal movement where millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles traverse the western plains of Serengeti to cross river Grumeti to the North Lobo to connect to Masai Mara national reserve and this is during July and August and this movement attracts savanna predators which are lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, vultures among others and if you join our Serengeti safari during these months, you will be lucky to have a mighty encounter when the lions and cheetahs are taking down their preys.
The calving season among wildebeests happen between January and March and about 8000 calves are born daily and this has ensured the continuity of life and growth of wildebeest population. Around April and May, wildebeests are seen in the western part of Serengeti and in August to September they cross to Masai Mara through Mara River and it is confirmed that not all wildebeests make it to the other side of Mara because of the predators especially the savanna predators and crocodiles that live in Mara River and this movement is caused by draught in Serengeti national park and in Masai Mara, the pastures can be green and the also a plenty of water holes than in Serengeti.
Tourist Activities in Serengeti National Park
Game drives in Serengeti national park
Engaging is game drives in Serengeti national park is one of the self-reward and game drives can be done in morning hours, evening and night game drives. You will be pursuing wildlife that Serengeti national park accommodates. Morning game drives start from 6:30am or 7am to around 10, evening game drives start at 2pm to 5pm and night game drives start at 6:30pm to around 9pm.
Birding Experience
This is another magical experience in Serengeti national park that has attracted millions of bird lovers from all parts of the globe to come and have a touch of Serengit or call it Serengeti national park. The park is a home to over 530 bird species and some of the birds you expect to encounter in Serengeti are; ostriches, marabou storks, hornbills, starlings, herons, vultures, bustards to mention but a few.
Cultural Experience
Cultural experience in Serengeti national park involves visiting Masai people who will take you through their ancient life and surely you will be blown away by the way they do their things and how they believe.
Hot Air balloon in Serengeti national park
Hot air balloon in Serengeti is an amazing experience where you will have an eagle sight to explore the park’s wildlife from above. You will start with a briefing in the morning about the dos and the don’ts while you take up this experience.
Photography and Film Coverage in Masai Mara
The park being a UNESCO heritage, it has attracted a number of film stars and photographers and great writers have taken part in exposing this natural wonder to the world.
What is the best time to visit Serengeti national park?
You can visit Serengeti national park throughout the year however, the best time should be in between June to October this is when the vegetation is short, animal tracks are dry thus enabling you to navigate the jungle seamlessly.
