Serengeti National Park

Serengeti national park is the largest and most iconic national park in Tanzania, the park is also ranked as one of the best places in Africa wildlife viewing and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Serengeti national park is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and a bucket list destination for many travelers and safari enthusiasts, the park is located in the Northern Tanzania and lies in the Northern Tanzania safari circuit. Serengeti national park is one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet and together with the Masai Mara national in Kenya form the Mighty Mara – Serengeti Ecosystem.  For the past million years, climate, plants and animals in this ecosystem hasn’t changed making it one of the oldest and least disturbed ecosystems on earth.

Top highlights

• One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The annual Great Migration of more than 1.5 million wildebeest across the plains of the Serengeti to the Masai Mara.
• One of the best destinations in Africa to spot wildlife, home to all of Africa’s Big Five as well as rarer species.
• Hot air balloon safaris at dawn.

• Stunning, diverse geography and scenery.
• Some of Tanzania’s best luxury camps and lodges.

Quick facts

• Number of annual visitors: Approximately 400,000
• Size: 14,750 km²
• Common Animal Sightings: Elephants, giraffe, all three African big cats (lions, leopards and cheetah), zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, eland, spotted hyenas.

Size and Location of Serengeti national park

Serengeti national park covers an area of over 14,763 square kilometers encompassing of rolling grasslands, savannah riverine forest and woodlands. The park lies in the Northwestern Tanzania, bordered to the north by the Kenya border where it is continuous to Maasai Mara national reserve. Serengeti national park is borders by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Southeast, Maswa Game Reserve to the South west and Ikorongo and Gumet Game reserve to the west and Loliondo game Control Area to the northeast and east.

THE GREAT MIGRATION IN SERENGETI

Serengeti national park hosts to world’s greatest wildlife spectacle – the Great Migration, the annual wildebeest migration begins around July with over 1.5 million wildebeests accompanied by ten thousands of zebras, Thomson and grant’s gazelles crossing from Serengeti national park to Maasai Mara national reserve in search for greener pastures and water. The movement of the animals is dictated by the rains which set in around October or November, the herds then embark on 1,000 kilometers return back to Tanzania. From December to April the wildebeests remain in the Serengeti.

Wildlife in Serengeti national park

Serengeti national is a wildlife lover’s dream as it is a home to abundant wildlife including all the Africa’s Big Five that is elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos.

Other animals hosted in the park include giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, hippos, coke’s hartebeests, waterbucks, warthogs, impalas, common elandsm klipspringer, roan antelope, bushbucks, greater kudus, fringe-eared pryxes, 3 species of hyraxes, cape hare, bat eared fox, ground pangolin, crested porcupine among others.

Birds in Serengeti national park

Serengeti national park is a haven to bird watchers with over 500 species of birds including 3 Tanzanian endangered species – the Grey – rumped spur fowl, Fischer’s lovebird and the babbler-like Rufous tailed weaver, other birds found in Serengeti national park include The great African Ostrich, vultures, Black-headed Heron, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Decken-Toko Tockus, Grey-breasted spur fowl, Grey-headed sparrow, Purple Grenadier, Red-backed scrub, Rufous-tailed weaver, Secretary birds, The Kori bustard, Variable Sunbird, White-bellied go-away bird, White-crowned shrike and Yellow-throated sandgrouse.

Serengeti national park has a beautiful scenery comprising of grassland plains in the southeast, cross valleys, rivers, forests in the west and the rocky, hilly northern section the park

 Tanzania safari activities to do in Serengeti national park

Game drives

Serengeti national park is the most ideal Tanzania wildlife destination for game drives, this activity are offered in 3 sessions that is morning, afternoon and evening game drives. This activity offers visitors an opportunity to explore the endless plains of Serengeti and spot a huge population of animals from the comfort of your safari vehicle with a pop – up roof and open windows.

Serengeti national park is a home to the largest lion population in Africa and is considered to be a lion Conservation Unity with a huge population of lions can be spotted at the Moru Kopjes rocks. In additions to lions, other animals you will be able to spot include leopards, cheetahs, spotted and stripped hyenas, wild dogs and many birds.

Bird watching

Serengeti national park is a birder’s haven with over 500 bird species including migratory and resident bird species making it a great  destination for Tanzania birding, on bird watching safari in Tanzania lookout for beautiful and colorful bird species such as the Grey – rumped spur fowl, Fischer’s lovebird and the babbler-like Rufous tailed weaver, other birds found in Serengeti national park include The great African Ostrich, vultures, Black-headed Heron, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Decken-Toko Tockus, Grey-breasted spur fowl, Grey-headed sparrow, Purple Grenadier, Red-backed scrub, Rufous-tailed weaver, Secretary birds, The Kori bustard, Variable Sunbird, White-bellied go-away bird, White-crowned shrike and Yellow-throated sand grouse among others.

Hot air balloon

Hot air balloon is one of the exciting and great safari activities to do in Serengeti national park, this adventurous safari activities offers an opportunity to explore the park from the sky. Hot air balloon offers aerial views of the Serengeti plains and its animals and is a great experience for photographers and those interested in seeing the annual Great wildebeest migration.

Nature walks and hiking

Serengeti national park is gifted with impeccable nature and stunning landscape worth exploring and this can best be done by foot and guided by an experienced and armed ranger for protection purposes. Nature walks and hiking are done following several trails running through the park and will offer you an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful nature and landscape and also spot a variety of wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, hippos, cape buffaloes and many birds such as Grey-headed Sparrow, Red – backed shrub, Variable Sunbird, Ostrich, White – crowned Shrike among others. The Retina Hippo Pool is the highlight spots to visit during nature walks and hiking experience.

Visiting the Maasai Community

The area known today was initially a home and grazing plains for the Masai people, following the gazetting of area as a national park, these people live in large communities found along the boundaries of the park. the Masai people poses the authentic traditions and culture which has been protected from technology and modernity, your visit will offer you an insight into the life of the masai people, their traditions and culture through traditional dances and drama, traditional foods and traditional briefs which you will learn through interaction with the local people.

Best time to visit Serengeti National Park

Serengeti national park is a year round destination, however the best time to visit is during the dry season (June to October). In this period of the year the vegetation cover is thin and the animals gather around waterholes making them easier to spot.

If you are interested in witnessing the Great Migration, the herds can be seen in the Western Corridor from May to July. However the main event of the migration is the Mara River crossing which happens in July and August and again in October to November when the rainy season begins.

Serengeti national park receives heaviest rain fall in April and May and some of the lodges and roads close due to flooding, there are also a lot of mosquitoes. This is why you should avoid visiting the park in this period.

How to get to Serengeti National Park

As travelers, the best way to get to Serengeti national park is by road and air means of transport. By road – it is best to use a private vehicle transfer and you can access the park by using many gates such as the Naabi Hill Gate situated in the Southeastern corner of the park.

By air – chartered and domestic flights are offered from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to several airstrips serving the park including Seronera Airstrip, Kogatende Airstrip, and Grumeti Airstrip among others.

Where to stay

There is a variety of accommodation options situated inside and along the boundaries of the park, these accommodation options are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget.

• Serengeti Simba
• Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp
• Grumeti Migration Camp
• Ikoma Tented Camp
• Lobo Wildlife Lodge
• Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
• Serengeti Sopa Lodge
• Melia Serengeti Lodge
• Serengeti Serena Lodge
• Sayari Camp
• Singita Mara Camp
• Siringita Serengeti Camp
• Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge