Big five safari in Serengeti national park : The big five are among the wildlife species which can be spotted during a safari around Tanzania in destinations like Serengeti national park.
Serengeti national park is found in the northern part of Tanzania and the big five which can be seen during a safari around the destination include elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalos and rhinos which are the most difficult wildlife species to hunt on foot.
During different months of the year, the big five and many other wildlife species can be seen around Serengeti national park. The national park consists of the north, southern, western and also central parts where safaris are carried out.
Serengeti national park covers over 14,750 square kilometers and is made up of vast savannah plains, acacia woodlands, rock outcrops among others which act as habitat for the wildlife species at the destination.
During this safari, elephants can be spotted in big herds during game drives around the destination. They are considered to be the largest land creatures and can be identified by their tusks, giant ears and trumpet sound which they make.
Lions and leopards are the predators which are part of the big five in Serengeti national park. The national park has many other predators and during a safari around the destination, tourists can enjoy seeing as they hunt for their prey.
Serengeti national park has many lions and the best time to spot the lions is during the morning hours when they are on the hunt. The lions can be spotted in their prides as they move around the national park.
Leopards can also be spotted when exploring Serengeti national park on a big five safari. These leopards can be a little difficult to spot due to their ability to camouflage. Some of the characters of the leopard include that they are fast runners, they can climb trees, and leopards are solitary animals.
During a big five safari in Serengeti national park, buffalos can easily be spotted when exploring the destination on a wildlife viewing experience. Buffalos can be seen as they graze around the endless plains of the Serengeti and a group of buffalos is known as a herd.
Activities which are carried out when searching for the big five includes game drives at different times of day such as in the morning and during the day, walking safaris, hot air balloon safaris over the savannah plains of Serengeti national park.
In Tanzania, Serengeti national park is among the destinations famous for wildlife viewing and the park has numerous wildlife species apart from the big five and they include wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, kudu, waterbucks, impalas, dik dik, giraffes, hippos, hartebeests, elands, cheetahs, hyenas, warthogs and many others.
When engaging in wildlife safaris in Tanzania, the time of the year which is considered the best for wildlife viewing is the dry season around June to October which is a time of the year when wildlife species can be seen around water sources.
Even in the rainy season however, wildlife species can also be spotted during a safari around Serengeti national park. The rains are received around March, April and May and also in November which is the green season and also a good time for photography during a safari.
How to get to Serengeti national park for a big five safari
Serengeti national park can be accessed by different means of transport such as driving and also by flight.
During safaris to Serengeti national park, the destination can be accessed by driving from Arusha which takes about 7 hours. Another way to get to Serengeti national park is by flying to the airstrips around the park such as Kogatende airstrip, Seronera airstrip, Kirawira airstrip, Sasakwa airstrip, Lobo airstrip, Grumeti airstrip.
A safari to Serengeti national park in search of the big five can also be combined with a tour to other destinations in the northern part of Tanzania such as the Ngorongoro conservation area, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park among others.
What to see around Serengeti national park during a safari
The wildebeest migration can also be seen during a safari to Serengeti national park and over 2 million wildebeests can be spotted grazing around the savannah plains. This migration takes place every year across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Wildebeest herds can be seen in different locations through the year such as in the southern plains of Serengeti national park around December to March when the calving season takes place, around April and May around the central part of Serengeti before the wildebeests continue to the western and northern parts of Serengeti national park around June, July and August.
There is a lot to see when visiting Serengeti national park for a safari such as the Seronera valley, Mara river (a crossing point for the wildebeests in the northern part of Serengeti national park), the Lobo valley, the Moru kopjes and Simba kopjes and so much more.
Game drives around Serengeti national park in search of the big five and other wildlife species are exciting at the destination and involve exploring the vast savannah plains and looking out for the wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalos, hippos, waterbucks, wildebeests, antelopes among others from the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle with the help of an experienced guide.
During a big five safari in Serengeti national park, tourists or visitors are charged park entrance fee of 70 USD in the peak season and 60 USD in the low season (excluding 18% tax) for nonresidents above the age of 16 years while Tanzanians and east African citizens are charged park fee of 10,000 Tanzania shillings.
Children aged between 5 and 15 years on safari to Serengeti national park are charged park entrance fee of 20 USD for nonresidents, 10 USD for residents and 2,000 Tanzania shillings for Tanzanians and East Africans.
Other fees charge during big five safaris around Serengeti national park include concession fees and camping fees.
