What is the best time to visit Serengeti national park?
What is the best time to visit Serengeti national park? The most popular question that most visitors to Serengeti National Park have is when is the ideal time to visit. This is particularly typical among first-time visitors to Africa who are unfamiliar with Tazania’s weather. The Serengeti National Park is without a doubt Africa’s animal Mecca.
The popularity of the park is not only in Tanzania but throughout the world. Its premier national park that is located along the Northern Tourist circuit which is consist of great national parks like Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire national park and Lake Manyara national park.
The best time to visit Serengeti is dictated by the reason for your visit to the park although the Serengeti national park may be visited at any time of year though most people choose to visit during the dry season because of the park’s many activities such as the wildebeest migration and others.
The park has on several occation voted as the best national park in Africa. It is a home of the largest world animal migration that is wildebeest migration. The circle of the wildebeest migration happens within Serengeti eco system with 90% around Serengeti national park. The famous park also hosts the largest population of cat family especially the lions , leopards and Cheetahs. Other animals at the park include Rhinos, Elephants, buffaloes, topis, giraffes, zebras, hippos, jackals and many others.
Apart from the annually migrating wildebeests, other animals are permanent residents hence making game viewing at the park to be successful throughout the year. Due to this high population of animals at the park, Serengeti can be visited any time of the year. Its out of this reason that the tourists accorded that Serengeti never disappoints. Are you first time vistor to Africa especially Tanzania? Are you asking What is the best time to visit Serengeti national park? Please our team of experts are here to answer you in details.
Do you plan for birding safaris in Serengeti? All bird loving travellers must visit the famous park during the rainy season. Like any other national park of Tanzania, Serengeti national park has two rainy seasons. The first rains which are longer start from March to May while the second rains start from late October to November. They are short and are excellent for both birding and wildlife safari. The rainy months are the breeding months of birds, the park also receives migratory birds during this time who come to breed at the park. Serengeti is gifted with over 500 species of birds. The park records the highest number of raptors in Africa with around 13 raptor species recorded. Other bird species found at the park include: Ostriches, Black-headed gonolek, love birds, Grey-backed fiscal, common bulbul, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, Herons, red-capped robin-caht, Rufous-tailed weaver, Kori bustard, Secretary bird, Silverbird, Usambiro Barbet, Verreaux’s eagle, starlings mention but a few.
Birding is best during the rainy months also called the green season because the park is decongested. Hence to quite cool atmosphere makes birding excellently done. However the Serengeti birding safaris must be longer since it’s a no rush activity for the best results. Please check out on our Serengeti birding safaris. Our experts will advise you more on the birding safari packing lists for excellent results.
The second timing of Serengeti is for the popular wildebeest migration. Many guests ask What is the best time to visit Serengeti national park? Simply they want to know the best time to view the live wildebeest migration. The wildebeest migration is the largest animal migration on planet earth. Over 2 million wildebeests along side other grazers like zebras in thousands cross the Mara river annually. This is the only specific activity in Serengeti that needs specific timing when planning for your Serengeti safari. For guests who wish to witness the climax of wildebeest migration must time well. This is one week to two weeks activity in the climax. The migration starting time cannot be told by humans. This is simply because nature cannot be predicted correctly. This always happens between July to August depending on the climatic conditions of that year. We can say that the best time to visit Serengeti National Park is from June to October, which are Tanzania’s long dry season months. The grass will be short and the animals will be easy to spot from a distance, especially around the water pool areas, where the big cats use these water catchment areas to trap their prey.
It’s also wildebeest migration season, when enormous herds of wildebeest cross the Mara River from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve in search of greener forage.
Wildebeest migration also occurs in the southern Serengeti in the Ndutu area from January to February, crossing into the Ngorongoro conservation area for calving season. Millions of wildebeests cross there to give birth to their young. It is estimated that over 1000 calves are born every day. These months also draw more visitors to the Serengeti’s southern region, the Ndutu area where animals give birth to their young. On the other hand, predators keep an eye out for the day’s prey particularly male lions and cheetahs who are too lazy to hunt but take advantage of the newly born babies.
The other season is the dry season which is frequently referred to as the best time to visit the Serengeti National Park. The dry season is also divided into two parts: the first begins in June and ends in October, and the second begins in December and ends in February. Its during the dry season that the Serengeti national park is more lively. Every animal has to wake up early to look for something to eat for the day. As predators try their luck hunting for prey, the early bird awakens early for the warmth. During this season, the entire reserve is accessible, and wildlife viewing is excellent because to the ease with which species can be found along the water catchment regions.
Though many consider the dry season as the best time of visiting Serengeti national park, the safari during this time is expensive but worth its cost. The park is congested hence little privacy and that is why green season is my best time for budget guests.
