Serengeti National Park Overview

Serengeti National Park is located in the Republic of Tanzania. It covers an area of about 5,700 square miles. The park is in the northwestern part of the country and extends into Kenya, where it is known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It is the oldest national park in Tanzania and attracts many tourists every year. The park is part of the Northern Safari Circuit, which includes other famous parks like Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park.

History and Establishment

The name “Serengeti” comes from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning “a place where the land stretches forever.” The Maasai people lived in the Serengeti plains for over 200 years before the first European explorer, Oscar Baumann, arrived in the area in 1892. At that time, the Serengeti had the largest number of big game animals in Africa, attracting hunters from Europe and the United States. Uncontrolled hunting of lions forced the British colonial administration to make it a partial game reserve in 1921. By 1929, it became a full reserve, leading to the establishment of Serengeti National Park in 1951. Initially, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was part of the Serengeti but became a separate reserve in 1959.

Regions of the Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is divided into three main regions:

The Serengeti Plains: This is the most famous part of the park, consisting of endless grasslands interrupted by rocky hills called kopjes. It is where most hoofed animals like wildebeest breed and feed. Predators like lions, pythons, and hyrax use the kopjes to hide and observe their prey.

The Western Corridor: This area consists of rivers and forests. It is home to martial eagles, crocodiles, hippos, and patas monkeys.

The Northern Serengeti: Dominated by hills and open woodlands, it is the best place to see giraffes, dik-dik, and elephants. It is also close to the Maasai Mara National Reserve and is the route for migrating wildebeest crossing to Kenya.

Wildlife in the Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is famous worldwide for its amazing biodiversity and abundant wildlife. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Category II protected area by the IUCN. Every year, over 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 gazelles, and 200,000 zebras migrate through different sections of the park and into the Maasai Mara National Reserve. This migration, one of the ten natural wonders of the world, attracts thousands of tourists.

The park is also home to the “Big Five” – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. It has the largest population of lions in Africa, with over 2,500 individuals, and about 1,000 leopards. There are also around 5,000 elephants and less than 50 black rhinos due to past poaching. Additionally, the park has over 53,000 buffaloes.

Apart from these, the park hosts many other animals like cheetahs, hyenas, serval cats, jackals, wild dogs, otters, honey badgers, mongoose, African golden wolves, hyraxes, ground pangolin, crested porcupine, cape hare, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, and aardvark. Primates in the park include baboons, vervet monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys, mainly found in forests near the Grumeti River.

Birds and Reptiles in Serengeti National Park

The park is home to over 500 bird species, including the yellow-billed stork, vultures, southern ground hornbill, secretary birds, oxpeckers, Maasai ostrich, martial eagles, marabou storks, lovebirds, lesser flamingo, kori bustards, helmeted guinea fowls, grey-breasted spur fowl, and crowned cranes.

The reptiles in the park include the serrated hinged terrapin, rainbow agama, puff adder, Nile monitor, Nile crocodile, leopard tortoise, chameleons, black-necked spitting cobra, black mamba, and African python.

Tour Packages

Flying over the Serengeti offers a bird’s-eye view of the adventure that awaits. You can spot some of the Serengeti’s resident wildlife as your plane lands at the Seronera Airstrip. After landing, you will transfer to a safari jeep and begin exploring the surroundings. This 5-day tour includes visits to Serengeti National Park and the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 1: Arusha City

After arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a guide will welcome you and drive you for about an hour to your accommodation in Arusha. Here, you can refresh and prepare for your safari adventure.

Main Destination: Arusha (City) Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge (Mid-range lodge in Arusha city) Meals: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks: Not included

Day 2: Arusha Airport to Serengeti National Park

A driver will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to Arusha Airport for your flight to Serengeti. After arriving at Seronera Airstrip, your guide will take you on a game drive.

The Serengeti covers a vast area with a rich and complex ecosystem. Every year, 1.5 million wildebeests migrate through the park, joined by zebras and gazelles. Giraffes, impalas, warthogs, and hippos live permanently in the park. You will also see carnivores like jackals, hyenas, servals, and mongooses. The most popular animals among visitors are the Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. After a picnic lunch and more game viewing, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Serengeti National Park Best Time To Visit: January to February and June to October (Different areas are best at different times) High Season: July to March (The Seronera area is crowded) Best Weather: June to October (Little to no rainfall) Accommodation: Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp (Mid-range tented camp inside Serengeti NP) Meals: All meals included Drinks: Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3: Full Day Game at Serengeti National Park

On this day, you will continue with game drives, focusing on finding the Big Five. We recommend an early start to witness one of the most beautiful sunrises.

The Serengeti is known for its almost treeless grassland in the south. It has kopjes, granite formations that predators use as observation posts. The Volcanic Grasslands grow on soils derived from volcanic ash from nearby volcanoes near the Grumeti and Mbalageti rivers.

Main Destination: Serengeti National Park Accommodation: Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp (Mid-range tented camp inside Serengeti NP) Meals: All meals included Drinks: Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Highlands

After an early morning game drive, you will return to your accommodation for breakfast. Then, you will depart Serengeti for Ngorongoro Crater, with game viewing on the way. You will have a picnic lunch and later transfer to your accommodation in the Ngorongoro area for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Serengeti National Park Accommodation: Rhino Lodge (Mid-range lodge on the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater) Meals: All meals included Drinks: Not included

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

Start early to visit the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. It is a natural paradise and home to nearly 25,000 large animals, including black rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, and big cats. The crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a picnic lunch by a lake, you will continue with a game drive before returning to Arusha for your departure.

Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater Best Time To Visit: June to October (Best wildlife viewing) High Season: Most of the year (July to March) Accommodation: None (End of tour) Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinks: Not included

End of tour (Additional accommodation and airport transfer can be arranged at extra cost).

Conclusion

Serengeti National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in experiencing Africa’s rich wildlife and stunning landscapes. Whether you’re drawn by the Great Migration, the Big Five, or the park’s diverse ecosystems, Serengeti offers an unforgettable safari experience. With various tour packages available, you can explore this incredible park in a way that suits your schedule and interests