Everything to Know About Serengeti National Park : The Serengeti is unquestionably one of the most well-known and significant national parks in Africa. Here, wildlife events like the great wildebeest migration are treated with the same pomp and circumstance as major international athletic events. As a result, it’s no wonder that this location is regarded as a priceless gem by Tanzanians and visitors alike. It’s not just about the natural wonders for the latter, but also about the spectacular safari tours and world-class accommodations.
When you think about Africa and safari, the Serengeti is almost always the first thing that comes to many people’s mind. Serengeti National Park is a Tanzania safari destination where millions of wildebeest migrate from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve via the Mara River. Serengeti National Park, at 14,763 square kilometers, is one of the Tanzania’s largest park, bordering Kenya’s Masai Mara and extending nearly to Lake Victoria.
A safari in Tanzania would be incomplete without a visit to the stunning Serengeti National Park. In Maasai, the phrase “Serengeti” simply means “endless grasslands.” The park’s richness and beauty will make you want to come back as soon as possible after your visit.
THE HISTORY OF SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti ecosystem had been unaltered for millions of years when the first European explorer, Oscar Baumann, discovered the area west of the Ngorongoro crater in 1892. Stewart Edward White, an adventurer and hunter, investigated the area in 1913. More hunters followed and shot at will because of the large number of lions, which were considered “vermin” and trophy prizes. The lion population was substantially diminished throughout the 1920s. During a safari, it was not uncommon for up to 50 lions to be slaughtered.
The British colonial administration, which was in charge at the time, intervened to put an end to the hunting. A succession of laws were created between 1921 and 1930 to safeguard the Serengeti’s animals. The shooting of lions was outlawed in the Serengeti’s Banagi and Seronera districts in 1935. In 1951, the region was designated as a national park, a game reserve, and a protected conservation area.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE OF SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti has a dry season from June to October, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 27 degrees Celsius. There are two wet seasons as well. Temperatures range from 15 to 27 degrees Celsius during the short rainy season, which lasts from November through December. Long rains, on the other hand, fall between March and May, with no temperature fluctuation.
WHAT MAKES SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK UNIQUE/SPECIAL?
Serengeti national park is unique and special national park not only in Tanzania but in all Africa, Serengeti is distinguished by a number of factors. It is, first and foremost, one of the world’s seven wonders. This park is famous among nature aficionados since it houses some of the most unusual flora, birds, and animals.
Next, the Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s largest and oldest. The flora and fauna, as well as the weather patterns, have seen very minor changes. Finally, this location is the Maasai tribe’s ancestral territories, and a visit here will allow you to experience Swahili culture, Everything to Know About Serengeti National Park.
WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK FOR TOUR/SAFARI/ VACATION?
The Serengeti National Park is worth visiting for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, when you visit this park, you will have the rare opportunity to see some of the most unusual wildlife and birds. The Great Wildebeest Migration can also be seen depending on the season. You’ll find all of the big five, as well as uncommon birds and carnivorous reptiles like the Nile crocodile.
The Serengeti’s second most spectacular feature is its hot-air balloon safaris. Visitors may receive a bird’s eye view of the Serengeti grasslands’ wildlife. Third, with so much wildlife around, it’s a fantastic opportunity for photographers.
Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to meet the Maasai tribe and learn about their culture firsthand. Finally, the stunning sunrises in the early mornings will keep you thoroughly enthralled with the location.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK’S WILDLIFE
The Serengeti National Park is known for its wide variety of animals and birds, which is why it is regarded as Africa’s best national park. Large buffalo and elephant herds, antelopes, warthogs, zebras, majestic wildebeests, giraffes, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, hippos, leopards, and, if you’re lucky, black rhinoceros can all be seen in the park. The park is also home to approximately 500 different bird species. The rufous-tailed weaver, Kori bustard, grey-breasted spur fowl, Fischer’s lovebird, and a variety of other attractive birds are among them.
WHAT ARE COMMONLY SEEN ANIMALS IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK?
Blue wildebeests, iconic gazelles, zebras, hyenas, buffalos, and the magnificent lions mentioned in the famous Lion King’ are among the common species of the Serengeti National Park. Cheetahs, giraffes, baboons, hyraxes, warthogs, honey badgers, golden wolves, porcupines, and foxes with bat-ears are among the other popular creatures. Chameleons, agama lizards, and Nile lizards are some of the more unusual species, Everything to Know About Serengeti National Park.
The repeated droughts and diseases in the Serengeti throughout the 1890s had a significant influence on the animal population. At this stage, the wildebeests have taken the worst of the damage. The number of wildebeest and buffalo gradually recovered by the mid-1970s, thanks to good conservation initiatives and efforts made by Tanzania government.
REGIONS OF SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti National Park is divided into five distinct areas which are the southern Serengeti, the northern Serengeti, the eastern Serengeti, the western Serengeti and the central Serengeti.
The Southern Plains are a series of flat, open grassland plains that run from southern Seronera to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Serengeti is recognized for its classic landscape. The Central Seronera Valley is a network of river valleys with the highest concentration of species in the region due to its abundant grazing grounds.
The Western Corridor: continuing west to the margin of Lake Victoria, the Western Corridor follows the Grumeti River’s route, where the Great Migration’s first difficult river crossing occurs. The Northern Serengeti is the most remote part of the Serengeti National Park, and it’s the ideal site to see the famed Mara River crossings that run along the Serengeti-Masai Mara National Park border.
THE GREAT MIGRATIONS IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Great Migration is an annual migration that takes place in a clockwise route from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains to Kenya’s Masai Mara, and then back down.
The months of January and February, Herds assemble on the boundary of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the park’s southern perimeter at the start of the year to eat the nutrient-rich grasses of the Southern Plains. It’s also the time of year when most of Serengeti animals give birth. Around half a million wildebeest calves are born over a three-week period, generally in February.
From April to March, As the Southern Plains become drier, the herds migrate westward, along the Western Corridor, and into the copious rains of the north.
The months of May and June, The migration continues north along the Serengeti’s western edge, eventually reaching the Grumeti River. The month of June is ideal for visiting the national park and experiencing this horrific yet majestic fight for existence.
The herds must cross the treacherous Grumeti, home to massive Nile crocodiles and hippos, in order to reach the lush grasses of the Northern Serengeti. Thousands of wildebeest line up along the river’s banks, preparing to attack the ravenous crocodiles lurking beneath the surface.
However, the danger isn’t over yet. Those who make it across the Grumeti River are weak and tired, making them easy prey for the predators waiting for them on dry land. While spotted hyenas and vultures struggle over the scraps, lions lie in wait, ready to spring.
The months of July to October, The herds can now be found in the Serengeti’s northern reaches. However, when the dry season progresses and the grass turns yellow, they follow the rains north, towards Kenya’s Masai Mara. They must bridge the Mara River, which is a mass of deep, violent currents, steep, slippery banks, and home to enormous, ravenous crocodiles, before they can leave the Serengeti and reach the Masai Mara National Park.
The Mara River crossing, as gruesome and terrible as it is, is a beautiful exhibition of survival of the fittest. Most tourists to the Serengeti National Park come particularly for this dramatic, yet awe-inspiring occurrence, which takes place from July to October.
The months of November and December, As the Serengeti’s rain begins to fall, the herds begin to make their way back down the eastern side of the national park. Most of the herds are back on the Southern Plains by late December, pregnant and relaxed. They’ll stay here till the cycle repeats itself.
WHEN ARE THE BEST TIMES TO VISIT SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK?
The Serengeti National Park is an outstanding all-year-round safari destination due to the number of animals and the sheer expanse of the territory. Some seasons and regions, however, are better than others, depending on what you wish to view. Keep in mind that you’re watching a natural event, so the weather and animals may be unpredictable. Seasons, on the other hand, are separated into two categories as a general rule:
During the dry season (May to October),
The dry season is the ideal time to witness wildlife. Making reservations ahead of time is advised for the busiest season, July through October. This is the busiest season, with the biggest number of visitors. The ideal months to witness the river crossings are June and July (Grumeti River) and August to October (Mara River).
The best months to see animals in the Western Corridor are June and July. In the Northern Serengeti, August and September are the ideal months to spot them. The grass is shorter, and the animals are more visible. The dry season also means that more animals will congregate around waterholes and rivers to drink.
The dry season has fewer mosquitoes, so the risk of malaria is reduced. It’s a great time to bring the kids. Despite the fact that it is dry, temperatures can be high at this time of year. Early mornings and nights can be very cold, yet by midday and throughout the afternoon, it can be exceedingly hot. Bring warm clothes for early morning safaris, as well as hats and sunscreen for later in the day.
During the Rainy/wet season (November to May)
From November to March, rainfall is irregular and normally only lasts a few hours in the late afternoon, so it is unlikely to interfere with your enjoyment. A lightning storm over the Serengeti, in fact, simply adds to the whole experience. The Southern Plains burst with color in January and February, when lush green grasses and wildflowers convert the environment into a serene and tranquil grazing zone, Everything to Know About Serengeti National Park.
If you want to see births in the Southern Plains, February is the best month to visit. Because the defenseless infants attract predators, you’ll be able to see lions in action. During the rainy season, you can see a wide variety of native and migratory birds. It’s a great time to go Serengeti birding Safari, especially near water holes.
The wettest months are March and April. The severe rains have made it difficult to see wildlife, and some of the routes and roads have become inaccessible. Because there are more mosquitoes at this time of year, there is also a larger risk of malaria. The Serengeti is the least visited at this time of year.
WHAT TOURIST ACTIVITIES CAN YOU DO IN THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK?
On your safari in the Serengeti National Park, you can participate in a variety of tourist activities. As previously noted, you can go on a daytime safari to see both common and uncommon wildlife. If you are a birdwatcher, you can search for the region’s unique birds. A hot air balloon safari in the Serengeti is highly recommended if you are not afraid of heights. With a bird’s-eye perspective of the Serengeti and wildlife, balloon safaris gave the ultimate game-viewing experience.
Before the sun rises, go for morning game drive/walking safari and see lion prides seeking for breakfast, herds of wildebeest, or pods of hippos returning to the water. Finally, after receiving an “African massage” on your safari game drive, you can unwind with a proper massage at your lodge or camp site, or enjoy a sundowner while watching the African Serengeti sunset.
In short, Traveling through the Serengeti plains, whether by car, hot air balloon, or spectacular flights in and out of the Serengeti, is an once-in-a-lifetime experience , Everything to Know About Serengeti National Park.
HOW SAFE IS THE SERENGETI?
The park is very safe to visit as long as you obey your guide’s and the park’s recommendations and rules. Animal attacks on visitors are almost unheard of, especially when guests are visiting to observe wildlife in their native habitats while safe in the confines of a safari vehicle.
WHERE TO STAY IN YOUR SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK SAFARI?
If you’re looking for a spot to stay for the night or a few days, the Serengeti has plenty of options. There are world-class lodging options available, including magnificent campgrounds, wilderness lodges, and villas, to satisfy your discerning tastes. This is the place to go if you want to enjoy breakfast with giraffes or dinner with hyenas stalking around. The Nasikia Camp is one of the most renowned lodging facilities, with beautiful unbroken views of the surrounding bush and wildlife. For more accommodation and safari experience the four season lodge is another best and world class accommodation in the Serengeti national park to enjoy your wildlife safari tour.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
- Cats are unquestionably the Serengeti’s kings. Cheetahs favor the Southern Plains, but lions can be found throughout the National Park. Leopards, on the other hand, like the serenity of the Seronera River’s woods.
- The Northern Serengeti’s wide woods are home to larger herds of elephants and giraffes.
- Around 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebra perish during the Great Migration due to predators, drownings, hunger, thirst, or weariness.
- Giant volcanic granite rock formations known as kopjes dot the Southern Plains, providing excellent vantage points for predators as well as hiding spots for lizards and pythons.
- The Lion King, one of Disney’s most popular films, is set in the Serengeti National Park’s Southern Plains.
- The Serengeti contains more biodiversity than any other location on the planet. As a result, it has been designated as a substantial ecologically significant region and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Historically, the Masai coexisted with the Serengeti’s wildlife, subsisting on the meat, meat, and blood of their herds.
- The Serengeti ecosystem, which dates back millions of years, has remained relatively unchanged. Plants, rivers, and the environment are substantially unchanged from a million years ago.
- Paleontologists discovered the oldest human remains, believed to date back 2 million years, between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park, leading scientists to assume that the first humans evolved in East Africa.
- Since the 1960s, the Great Migration has been taking place. A severe illness took out virtually all of the Serengeti’s wildebeest population in the late nineteenth century. Inoculations were used to boost their numbers, which then skyrocketed. By the 1960s, their numbers had grown to the point where the land could no longer support them, so they began to travel north in search of food and water, following the rains.
- The Serengeti National Park gives an incredible opportunity to see the beauty and savagery of nature at its best, whether you wish to see the Big Five, witness the Great Migration firsthand, or simply see wildlife in general.
