Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is a classic Tanzania Safari destination popular for its huge population of wildlife including the Big Five and the annual migration with more than 1.5 million wildebeests, ten thousand zebras and gazelles on their annual search for greener pasture and water.

Serengeti National Park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is undeniably one of the greatest wildlife – watching destinations in the world, the park’s name is derived from the Maasai word “Siringet” meaning “the Endless Plains” or “the place where the land runs on forever”.

Location and Size of Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park lies in northwestern Tanzania, bordered to the north by the Kenya border where it is continuous with the Masai Mara National Reserve, to the southeast of the park is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Maswa Game Reserve to the southwest and Ikorongo and Gumet Game Reserve to the west and the Loliondo Game Control Area to the Northeast and east.

These areas form to large Serengeti ecosystem – one of the oldest ecosystems on the planet.

Serengeti National Park covers an area of over 14,763 square kilometers of predominantly rolling grasslands, savannah, riverine forest and woodlands.

History of Serengeti National Park

According to history, Maasai people had been grazing their livestock in the open plains of the eastern Mara Region for around 200 years. This area was little known to outside political interests until 1913, at this time professional hunters started entering the region attracted by the vast herds of rare and valuable animals.

The first foreigner to enter Serengeti National Park was Stewart Edward White – an American, he recorded his explorations in the northern Serengeti in 1913. He return to the park in the 1920s and camped in the area around Seronera for three months. During this time, he and his companions shot 50 lions. Because of the tremendous hunting, lions became scare in the park which forced the British colonial administration to gazette a partial game reserve of 3.2 square kilometers in the area in 1921 and a full protected area in 1929. These actions were the basis for the establishment of Serengeti National Park in 1951.

After the area was declared a National Park, the Maasai people who were for centuries left peacefully with wildlife were evicted and resettled to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this move was questioned and still is as having been compulsion and deception by British administrators.

Serengeti gained fame after the intial work of Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael in the 1950s, together they produced the book and film “Serengeti Shall Not Die” widely recognized as one of the most important early pieces of nature conservation documentary.

Wildlife in Serengeti

Serengeti National Park is arguably the best destination for Tanzania wildlife safaris, the Great Migration of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles make the part an incredible wildlife watching destination. The constant annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest constitute the largest population of big mammal roaming the planet.

On their journey through the Serengeti – Mara Ecosystem by 250,000 plains zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles.

Serengeti National Park also hosts the entire Big Five, a variety of carnivores, reptiles and some primates. Wildlife in the park include thousands of topi, elands, coke’s hartebeest, giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, warthogs and abundant hippos.

Other animals include aardvark aardwolf, bat-eared fox, ground pangplin, crested porcupine, three species of hyraxes and cape hare.

Serengeti National Park is believed to host the largest population of lions in Africa due to the abundance of prey species, more than 3,000 lions live in the Serengeti ecosystem.

Birdlife in Serengeti

Serengeti National Park has more than 500 bird species recorded making the park an excellent destination for avid birds, birds in Serengeti include endemic species including the Fischer’s lovebird, Rufus-tailed weaver, Grey-breasted Spurfowl, and the Usambiro Barbet (endemic to only the Mara-Serengeti area) among others and the near endemics also include the Grey-crested Helmet-Shrike, and Hildebrandt’s Starling.

Other species include Black-headed Gonolek, the Secretary bird, Southern-ground Hornbill, Ruppell’s vulture, Schawlow’s turaco, African cuckoo, African jacana, Green-backed Woodpecker, African Darter, Rufous-tailed Weaver, pelicans, egrets, and storks among others.

Tanzania Safari Activities to Do in Serengeti

Game Drives

Game viewing is the highlight Tanzania safari activity to do in Serengeti National Park, game drives are done in four major areas of Serengeti that is Seronera and the South, Grumeti and the Western Corridor, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti.

Game drives in Serengeti National Park are conducted as morning game drives, afternoon game drives, full day game drives and night game drives.

Morning game drives – morning game drives are done either before or after breakfast based on the arrangement of tour operators with their guests. These are the most common and most rewarding in Serengeti, this is the best time to observe big cats on a hunting mission and sunbathing and various early morning birds.

Afternoon game drives – these are done after lunch commonly during transit on the first day from Arusha to Serengeti, this game drive is not as rewarding as morning game drive as the animals will be in hiding due to the hot sun. but still, you can enjoy as much as the morning ones.

Full day game drives – these are most done Serengeti Safari by the visitors on the second day of Tanzania Safaris in Serengeti National Park, visitors wake up early to explore most corners of the park. visitors get to see  a lot of animals for example lions, giraffes, zebras, leopards, elephants and many more.

Night game drives – they are not common in Serengeti National Park but they are offered upon request, Night game drives are only conducted by registered and authorized camps in Serengeti and authorized camps. Night game drives are the best drives for observing nocturnal species.

Bird watching

Serengeti National Park is one of the top birding destinations in Tanzania with more than 500 species , the park hosts different types of birds including raptors, water birds, songbirds and migrants from Europe, Afro-tropic and other region.

Bird watching in Serengeti National Park can be done throughout the year but the most recommended months from November to April which is the breeding period for most birds and there are a lot of migratory birds from Europe and Africa.

Some of the birds to lookout for on a bird watching safari in Serengeti include ostriches, cormorants, pelicans, African darters, little egrets, herons, storks, ibis, saddledbill storks, marabou storks, hammerkops, yellow-billed storks, African spoonbills, flamingos, ducks, Egyptian geese, teals, eagles, goshawks, buzzards, bateleurs, black kites, secretary birds, vultures, francolins and guinea-fowls, crowned cranes, bustards, black-winged slits, avocets, plovers, pigeons and doves, parrots, lovebirds, touracos, hornbills, bee-eaters, hoopoes, rollers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, ravens, starlings, shrikes, oxpeckers and weavers among others.

Balloon Safari

Conquer the skyline of Serengeti National Park on a hot air balloon, the hot air balloon rides leave from three sites. Wildlife gathers year-round in the Serengeti River Valley where there is permanent water.

The Serengeti Balloon Safari starts at 06:30 am when you arrive, you will meet your pilot and witness your balloon being inflated and prepare for launch. After a thorough safety briefing and demonstration of boarding and landing positions, you will board your balloon and take off.

The schedule has been designed to fit in with all standard safari itineraries visiting the Serengeti National Park hence the return at 9:30 am allowing visitors to continue with other planned activities for the rest of the day.

Each balloon can carry up to 16 people per flight and there are only two balloon fly each day that is why you need to book in advance.

Walking Safari

Guided walking safari are the most exciting Tanzania safari activity in Serengeti National Park, led by armed rangers and experienced guides. You will follow several trails running through the park and getting a close look at several animals including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, lions, elephants, buffaloes among others.

Cultural Tours

Cultural tours in Serengeti National Park offer you a chance to visit the Maasai tribe who were the early inhabitants of the area, this semi-nomadic tribe that has lived Tanzania and Kenya for many centuries. There are quite a few Maasai Villages in and near the Serengeti and they are the best places to visit to witness how the tribe engages in traditional ways of living.

On your visit, you will be entertained by local dances and drama, learn about Maasai customs, rituals and traditions, visit a few of their living space and even purchase handicrafts made using traditional methods.

Getting There and Around

From Arusha- the starting point to most safaris to Serengeti, it is an eight-hour drive (325 km/202 miles), because of the conditions of the roads it is important to use a 4×4 vehicle. It is also possible to drive to Serengeti National Park from either Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park or Ngorongoro Crater.

There are also an option of flying to Serengeti National Park from Arusha, these flights are operated from Arusha Airport to several airstrips serving the park including Seronera Airstrip, Serena Airstrip among others.

When to Go

The best time to visit Serengeti National Park for a safari is in the dry season (from late June to October), the dry period offers the best viewing of wildlife in Tanzania with the wildebeest migration as it is an absolute highlight.

Nonetheless, wildlife viewing is good throughout the year. The migration timing varies annually with the best chance of watching the epic animal migration around June to July, you can also witness the wildebeest calving from late January to February.

Where to Stay in Serengeti (Best Lodge and Camps in Serengeti)

There are several accommodations in Serengeti National Park ranging from budget, midrange to luxury found in different areas of the park. These include

• Grumeti River Camp
• Four Seasons Safari Lodge
• Singita Faru Faru River Lodge
• Klein’s Camp
• Singita Mara River Camp
• Olakira Migration Camp
• Sabora Luxury Tented Camp
• Sasakwa Lodge
• Serengeti Migration Camp
• Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
• Serengeti Under Canvas