Serengeti National Park (SNP) At A Glance, Home of Endless Plains and the Great Migration. Located in the Eastern Mara Area and the Northeastern side of the Simiyu region, Serengeti National Park is an extensive Tanzania National Park. It is situated in the Northern tourist circuit of Tanzania, occupying a vast area of about 14763sq.km/5700sq.m.
History
Serengeti National Park was founded as a National Park in Tanzania in 1951 and in 1981, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Serengeti National Park was initially declared as a Game Reserve in 1930 and it occupied an area of about 2286sq.km, approximately 883sq.mi.
Tourist Attractions in Serengeti National Park
Wildlife at Serengeti National Park -SNP
Serengeti National Park offers an enriching wildlife safari experience. This park hosts a diversity of wildlife including all the big five game – the buffaloes, African leopards, African bush elephants, lions, and rhinos.
Other wildlife includes the African wild dogs (introduced in 2012), striped hyenas, spotted hyenas, African golden wolf, aardvark, hippos, common genet, African wildcat, banded mongoose, cheetahs, black-backed jackals, ground pangolin, African civets, hyraxes, warthogs, jackals. The African wild dogs disappeared in Serengeti in 1991, till it was re-introduced in 2012.
The present primates include vervet monkeys, yellow and olive baboons, mantled guereza, etc. Reptiles at Serengeti include the leopard tortoise, Nile crocodiles, rainbow agama, serrated hinged terrapin, Jackson’s chameleon, black mamba, Nile monitor, black-necked spitting cobra, African python, and puff adder.
Birds of Serengeti National Park –(SNP) TZ
Over 500 bird species in Serengeti National Park include the red-billed buffalo weavers, yellow-billed stork, martial eagles, Southern ground hornbill, white stork, pink-backed pelicans, Masai ostriches, grey-breasted spurfowl, Abdim’s stork, African collared dove, crowned cranes, saddle-billed storks, spur-winged geese, and more.
The Great Migration
Serengeti National Park is referred to as a home of the wildebeest migration for a good reason. Embarking on Serengeti wildebeest migration is a lifetime opportunity to observe the wildebeest in huge numbers about 2 million while they move in search of pasture or water. They are often spotted while accompanied by thousands of zebras, elands, the Thompson’s gazelles, and many others.
The retina hippo pool
Huge schools of hippos can be spotted while swimming at the Retina Hippo Pool. They assemble at this pool to cool off from the heat in the Serengeti and this is the best spot for visitors on Tanzania safari to enjoy a close encounter even outside the vehicle. For photographers, it is a remarkable location to look out for to capture incredible pictures.
Seronera River Valley
Seronera River Valley is one of the attractions to explore on a Tanzania safari in Serengeti National Park. Here an abundance of wildlife will be at your display and you will also enjoy the breathtaking landscape. The possible animal sightings to enjoy include zebras, impalas, elands, jackals, and foxes. Between June and July, the wildebeest migration and the big five can be observed clearly.
Grumeti River
Located in the Western corridor of Serengeti National Park, nearby Lake Victoria lies the Grumeti River. This is one part of Serengeti where guests can observe wildebeest crossing the Grumeti River plus other wildlife that come here to bathe or graze along the river banks. It is one spot that is also full of Nile crocodiles and they often make it a little challenging for wildebeest to migrate as they keep hunting them.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
This is most popular for its huge species of wildlife including giraffes, lions, rhinos, zebras, and birds like ostriches. This conservation area is crossed by the Great Rift Valley and it is strategically lying at the border of Serengeti National Park.
Moru Kopjes
Moru Kopjes are typical of granite rock outcrops. They formed due to volcanic eruption action and several of these are key attractions in Serengeti National Park. They are ideal spots for viewing predators at Serengeti including lions plus other wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, Kobs, buffaloes, and more.
3 Sectors that makeup Serengeti National Park
- Serengeti Plains – this is an area with no trees except it is dominated by vast grassland in the South and visitors can enjoy the sight of kopjes.
- Western corridor – this features a pair of Rivers that is Mbalangeti and Grumeti, plus huge riverine forest cover.
- Northern Serengeti – an area largely dominated by open woodlands, and it extends from the Seronera in the South to the Mara River along the Kenya border.
Safari Activities in Serengeti National Park
The wildebeest migration
The wildebeest migration is a must-do while at Serengeti, a lifetime opportunity for you to observe large herds of wildebeest plus other grazers such as zebras, and elands, while they cross to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
Game drive
Serengeti National Park tour highlights include guided game drives. A game drive at Serengeti offers an incredible sight of diverse wildlife including the big five, antelopes, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, etc. There is a morning and afternoon, night game drive which all allow you to enjoy the amazing view of the park’s abundant wildlife.
Birding
Birding in Serengeti National Park is special and it is all about keeping an eye on the park’s diverse bird species. These include the rufous-tailed weavers, Fischer’s lovebirds, secretary bird, Kori bustards, grey-breasted spurfowl, black-headed gonoleks, green-backed woodpecker, grey-backed fiscal, Schawlow’s turacos, yellow-throated sandgrouse, Southern ground hornbill, Hildebrandt’s starling, red-capped robin chat, Ruppell’s vultures, Verreaux’s eagle, silver bird.
The best time to go on birding or bird watching tours in Serengeti National Park; is between November and April. During this period, the majority of birds can be spotted including migratory birds from Europe and North Africa. It is also breeding season for most resident bird species and if you are interested in the big five game, the dry season is the best to plan your Tanzania safari holiday to Serengeti.
Balloon tours
At Serengeti, there is an option of viewing diverse wildlife while on the air. Aerial view of wildlife at Serengeti NP allows you to capture sight of the park’s huge concentration of the big five game, plus other large and small mammals.
Cultural tours
Combining the big game or wildebeest migration and cultural safaris rewards you with an unforgettable African safari experience. You will be visiting the Maasai people to explore their daily way of life, traditions, and practices and also get entertained by the Masai dances, music performances, and so on.
When to visit
Normal game viewing in Serengeti is best done during the dry season – June to September/December to February. For the great wildebeest migration, consider visiting the park from June to July and most wildebeest will be observed along the Western corridor and in the Northern section around August, and September. January to February are ideal for watching newborn wildebeest – it is the birthing season.
Where to stay in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Luxury accommodation; Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge, Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Singita Mara Camp, Sayari Camp, Roving Bush Top Camp. Midrange accommodation, Melia Serengeti Lodge, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge, Serengeti Sopa Lodge ad more.
Getting to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
By road transportation
Driving from Arusha to Serengeti takes about 8 hours drive and a 4×4 drive vehicle is the best option for your road trip. Access gates to Serengeti; Naabi Hill Gate -45kms from Seronera, Klein’s gate in the North-east of the park, Ndabaka gate on the western corridor, Bologonya gate access gate located en-route to/from Kenya.
By air transportation
There is an option of flying from Arusha/Dar-es-salaam to the park’s Seronera airstrip and these usually receive small bush planes. Therefore, ensure that you carry small luggage for easy packing.