The Serengeti Ecosystem: A Complete Guide – Serengeti National Park is a top bucket list destination for adventure African safaris, the park is a must visit if you are planning to visit East Africa. A safari to Tanzania is incomplete without a visit to Serengeti National Park as it is one of the most scientifically significant and oldest ecosystems on Earth.
The park’s astonishing flora, fauna and weather patterns have remained intact for millions of years,
If you are planning on making everlasting memories on an African safari, Serengeti National Park is the best place to visit. But before you are taken through why you should visit Serengeti Ecosystem, it is important to understand why the Serengeti holds an important place in Tanzania as well as the while of Africa.
The History of the Serengeti Ecosystem
There are multiple reasons why the Serengeti is unique, the Serengeti ecosystem located in Tanzania is a protected area spread over 30,000 square kilometers including the Serengeti National Park covering around 14,763 square kilometers and other prominent game reserve.
The Serengeti hosts one of the world’s largest mammal migrations – the Great Wildebeest Migration, the Serengeti was voted one of the seven natural wonders of Africa.
Taking a look back at the history of the Serengeti plains gives you an insight into how it came to its present day, long before the Maasai people stepped foot here, the Serengeti ecosystem was wild Africa land. Later, the Maasai people started using the plains of the Serengeti as their main grazing land. The plains were highly fertile and filled with wildlife.
The first visitors into this area arrived in the late 1920s when the first group of professional hunters entered this region, the first photographs of the Great Migration also dated back to the same time. Hunting activities were allowed until 1937 and in 1940, the area was given the status of protected area and the Serengeti National Park was established in 1951. The original Serengeti National Park also included the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), only 1959 was the NCA separated from the Serengeti National Park and extended to the Kenyan Border.
In 1965, the Lamai Wedge was established. The addition of this place to the Serengeti National Park helped create a natural corridor for the wildebeest migration from the Serengeti Plains to the Loita Plains. In 1981, the Serengeti National Park became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Another unique fact about Serengeti Ecosystem is the Olduvai Gorge often known as the “Cradle of Mankind”, it is a paleoanthropological site located in the southern Serengeti ecosystem (now part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area). Ancient human fossils are found in the region depicting the continuous lineage of human evolution dating back 2.1 million years. In 1979, Olduvai Gorge became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
DISCOVER THE SERENGETI’S MAJESTY
The Serengeti National Park: A Tourist Destination
Serengeti National Park is the most well-known part of the Serengeti Ecosystem, the national park is home to thousands of animals and bird species – around 1.5 million blue wildebeests, the largest lion population in Africa, more than 250,000 zebras, 150,000 gazelles and 500 bird species. Other animals found in Serengeti are elephants, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, hippos, baboons and giraffes among others. Elephants moved into the Serengeti National Park 30 years ago. Population of wild dogs was present until 1991.
The Serengeti – Mara ecosystem is one of the most well- known endemic bird areas in Africa, this region consists of a restricted bird species area and habitat – based bird conservation. The birds are easy to locate in species area for example you can easily find grey – breasted spurfowl in the Seronera Area. Like the Great Wildebeest Migration, you can also witness a great number of bird migrations from the month of November to April. Some of the prominent birds endemic to the Serengeti are the grey – crested helmet shrike, the Schalow’s turaco and the Schalow’s wheatear.
The unique Serengeti ecosystem stems from the living of prey and predators in the same habitat and their interrelationship in a particular place.
The question is, what is the best season to visit the Serengeti National Park?
BEST SEASON TO VISIT THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
With every season, conditions in the Serengeti National Park change. The best season to visit the park is during the dry season (from late June to October), this season allows you to view the wildlife at its best along with the spectacular river crossings of the wildebeest migration. But, let’s look at all the seasons you can visit the Serengeti.
June to October (Dry Season)
The place indeed become crowded during this season as it is a peak season, it is one of the best seasons to visit the Serengeti National Park. During the months of June and July, you can see the wildebeest herds migrating through the western corridor near the Grumeti River and during August and September, they congregate in the north of the park, crossing the mighty Mara River. And during August and September, they congregate in the north of the park crossing the mighty Mara River. During this time, the plains are full of wildlife and seeing the wildebeest migration in their full glory is a life-changing experience.
Late December to March (Calving Season)
The season starts with a short rainy season, indicating the return of the wildebeest to the southern plains of the Serengeti. The best place to stay during this season is in the Southern Serengeti and the Ndutu plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (southern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem).
The months of January and February are the calving and predator season, the scenery of the plains is filled with lush vegetation and thousands of new babies. The months of April and May are the least visited months of the Serengeti ecosystem. Apart from the wildebeest migration and other mammals, the plains offer excellent opportunities for bird watching.
HOW TO REACH THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK?
The best way to start your journey to Serengeti National Park is from Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about 56 kilometers outside of Arusha. From the domestic Airport in Arusha, you can either fly to several different airstrips in the Serengeti National Park or you can slowly drive up there, covering other national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area long the way. You can also reach Arusha from Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.
Serengeti National Park has four main entry points which are Naabi Hill Gate, Ndabaka Gate, Klein’s Gate and Ikoma Gate.
Upon entering the national park through any of the above gates, you must pay entry fees. The entry fees will be included during this safari booking package, there are various types of accommodation options available throughout the national park.
Depending on which season you are visiting, mobile camps and permanent camps and lodges. Mobile camps move along with the wildebeest migration and allow you to see all stages of the great migration depending on the month of the year you are choosing to visit. The permanent camps and lodges offer something for every budget.
Depending on your budget and duration of stay, there are a variety of options to choose from, we at Explore Eco Safaris curate tailor-made family, solo and couple safaris for you which let you experience Tanzania to its fullest.
In conclusion, Tanzania is one of the most culturally diverse and wildlife – rich countries in Africa. The Serengeti is the crown jewel of Tanzania and visiting the national park will create memories for a lifetime. The vast plains filled with lush flora and fauna, incredible sunsets and game drives will fill your adventurous spirit with happiness.
Start making your safari plans to visit this wildlife haven. Contact us for more information.
