Northern Serengeti Safaris : Safaris to Serengeti national park can be done in different parts of the destination including the northern area.
Serengeti national park is among the famous safari destinations found in the northern part of Tanzania to visit while on Tanzania Safaris Tours and it covers over 14,750 square kilometers which consist of vast savannah plains, acacia woodlands, riverine forests and also rock outcrops.
The northern part of Serengeti national park is made up of hills, savannah plains, open woodlands and also valleys. This part of Serengeti national park is also found close to Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya.
All year round wildlife species can be spotted during a safari around Serengeti national park and there are also different bird species found around the destination. The main river crossing point for wildebeests is also found in the northern part of Serengeti national park.
The wildebeest migration is among the highlights during safaris around Serengeti national park and it takes place around July to August when over 2 million wildebeests can be seen around the savannah plains in the northern part of Serengeti.
River crossings during the annual wildebeest migration in Tanzania take place along the Mara river in the northern part of Serengeti national park. This river is crossed by wildebeests as they move to the Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya.
Apart from wildebeests in the northern part of Serengeti national park, other wildlife species which can be seen during a safari include zebras, elands, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, oribi, elephants, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles among others.
During a wildlife viewing experience around the northern part of Serengeti national park, big cats can be seen around the Lobo valley. The best time to see these predators is around June to October when the wildebeests move through the northern plains of Serengeti. This is because the predators like lions prey on the wildebeests as they graze around the savannah plains.
Other parts of Serengeti national park
Serengeti national park is made up of other parts including the central part, the western part and also the southern plains.
In the western part of Serengeti national park safaris are best done during the months of June and also around July. This part of Serengeti national park is made up of savannah plains, floodplains, woodlands, hills and valleys. River crossings take place along the Grumeti river which is found in this part of Serengeti national park. Some of the wildlife species which can be seen during safaris around this part of Serengeti national park include wildebeests, zebras, colobus monkeys, lions, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, hippos, crocodiles among others.
Safaris around Serengeti national park can also be done in the central part of the destination which is also known as Seronera area. The Seronera area has many wildlife species and is also popular among tourists visiting Serengeti national park. The big five are among the wildlife species which can be seen in this part of Serengeti national park which also has many predators. Central Serengeti national park consists of rocky outcrops, rivers, swamps, kopjes and grasslands which act as habitat for the wildlife. The wildebeest migration in the central part of Serengeti national park can be seen around April and May.
Another part of Serengeti national park which can be visited during tours is the southern part. The southern part of the national park is made up of savannah plains, kopjes and also woodlands and it is known for the calving season and it is a time of the year when over 8000 wildebeest calves are born daily around the Ndutu area. This calving season takes place around December to March in the southern part of Serengeti national park where predators can also be seen during a safari.
Best time to visit the northern part of Serengeti national park
Safaris to Serengeti national park can be done at any time of the year but the best time to visit the northern part of the park is from June, July, August and September when the wildebeest migration is in the northern part of Serengeti.
June to September is also the dry season which is considered the best time of the year for Tanzania wildlife viewing. It is a time of the year when wildlife species can be spotted around waterholes and Mara river crossings can also be seen during the dry season from June to September.
Activities to do around the northern part of Serengeti national park
A number of activities are carried out around the northern part of Serengeti national park and they include the following;
Game drives around the northern part of Serengeti national park are enjoyable and can be done around the Lobo hills, around the Mara river area and the unspoiled wilderness of the destination while searching for wildlife species such as giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards among others. The game drives can be carried out in the morning or afternoon and also for a full day.
Guided nature walks can also be done when visiting the northern part of Serengeti national park and they can be done around the Kogatende area and also around the Mara river. This activity brings tourists closer to the wilderness and diverse scenery of Serengeti national park.
Hot air balloon safari rides are also done in the northern part of Serengeti national park during safaris. The activity is done over the plains of Serengeti and you can watch the sunrise and also spot wildlife species in the plains below from air. After landing from the balloon activity, a delicious breakfast is served.
There are different ways to get to Serengeti national park during a Tanzania safari and one of them is driving. The drive from Arusha town to the park takes about 7 to 8 hours and another option of accessing the northern part of Serengeti is by flights. Scheduled or charter flights can be got from Kilimanjaro international airport or Arusha airport to the different airstrips around Serengeti national park and in the northern part of the park, you can fly to Kogatende airstrip.
