Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
Game Drive in Serengeti National Park : The game drive is the most unique and action parked experience on an African safari. Encountering the juggle with open safari cars early in the morning gives you chance to be an eye witness of the live actions in the wilderness. Like any other African national park or protected areas, Serengeti and here in Serengeti National Park, it is truly off-the-beaten-path activity that can be adventured in open savannah grassland, acacia trees on an off-road safari vehicle with open proof guided by an armed guide who must be holding a caller radio for easy location of mammal species. However, due of its high population of elephants and spectacular views of magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro outside Tanzania’s borders, the Serengeti is Tanzania’s second most popular tourist attraction. The excellent observation of the park’s hills also provides a fine panoramic picture of the peak, the park’s plains, and wetlands.
The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s oldest national park as well was the premium park not only in Tanzania but entire African continent. Its located in the northwestern section of the country adjacent to the Kenya Tanzania border. The Serengeti eco system is the oldest and the largest in the world cutting across to Kenya Masai mara national reserve of Kenya. The national park is one of the most popular protected places in the country. It’s a home of the world’s largest animal migration that is Great Wildebeest Migration, which sees millions of wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, and other antelopes cross the Mara River each year in pursuit of greener pastures in Kenya’s Masai Mara. The Serengeti National Park provides day game drives, in which guests ride in a luxury safari vehicle through the savannah shrubs, woods, and grasslands.
Game drives in Serengeti National Park are meant to get you near to the park’s animal hotspots. This allows you to see wild creatures as they go about their everyday routines in their natural surroundings. It is advised that you hire a local driving guide who is knowledgeable with the region and can provide you with a wealth of information about the animals and their environment, as well as where they can be located and how to approach them. However, a self-drive safari is possible if you are conversant with the Serengeti National Park’s restrictions and regulations.
Game drives in Serengeti national park are conducted in 4WD safari vehicles with a professional driver guide and begin very early in the morning, around 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m., when nocturnal animals are most busy hunting and other animals are most active seeking for food. In Tanzania, game drives may also be done in the afternoon, about 2:00 p.m., which is the optimum time to see animals returning to their resting spots. Tanzania also provides night game drives, in which guests explore national parks at night with an armed park ranger with spot light torches to see nocturnal creatures that become active at night.
The large size of the endless plains of Serengeti national national park hosts a large population of animals. In fact it has the largest population of large cats not only in Tanzania but entire world. Animal populations are in thousands and millions hence making game drives at the park more rewardable. The park hosts all the African big 5 family those are Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes and Rhinos. Other games visible at the park include Giraffes, Wildebeests, Topis, Hyenas, Zebras, Cheetahs, and many others.
Game drives at Serengeti are done any time of the year this is due to favorable weather conditions throughout the year. The park is one of the few national parks that never disappoints in regards to game viewing. However much the park experiences wildebeests migration but not all animals move. Some of the animals are permanent residents especially the big five and the cat family. The animals movement is done within the park sections following the weather climatic conditions. This calls for good timing, choosing the right lodge at the right timing. The park is large and sub divided in to four sections.
The Central section which is the most famous also called the Seronera area. This is the heart of Serengeti national park. Here the game drives are done throughout the year due to the availability of water catchment areas. This is the most developed part of the park with more accommodations and an airfield. It hosts a large population of animals with big hippo pools and rivers. There is also the tourist information center where nature walks are organized.
The western region also known as the Grumeti area. This is where the animals move around June, this is the deadlest wildebeest migration corridor. This is the first crossing of the wildebeests as the head to the Northern part to Mara river. This region is best visited around June when millions of the wildebeests are in this area. The place also has large herds of Buffaloes which take more time along the swamp of Grumeti.
The Southern part commonly known as the Ndutu area. This is the martenity ward of the wildebeest. This is where the wildebeests settle to give birth after returning from Kenya Masai Mara national reserve. This is found in the border between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti national park. This is best visited around march to April, Game drives are excellent during that period.
The last one is the Northern sector which is dominated by the Mara area. This is the climax of the wildebeest migration. This is where millions of the wildebeests cross the majestic Mara River to Masai mara national reserve. Game drives in this area are best done during July to August when the migration is live. Other popular game is the Rhinos, this is the area where you can see the shy rhinos in Serengeti national park.
With the above sectors, Game drives in Serengeti are all year around due to this sub divided sectors that form the endless plains of the park. Game drives can be done very early in the morning. This are the most rewarding game drives when nature is more active. You will catch more live actions at the park. Another set of game drives can be done in the afternoon this is to catch up with game that might have been missed during the morning game drive. This is also good to catch up with nocturnal animals which will start coming out of their hide in the evening. You can also explore the park with full day game drive moving with your packed food so that you have bush breakfast and bush lunch.
Serengeti game drives are excellent that is why Serengeti safaris never disappoints. Please check on the weather of the park for your guide and more information about weather and the best time to visit the park.
