Serengeti National Park 

There are few places on Earth that stir the imagination quite like Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Stretching across the vast plains of the northern Tanzania safari circuit, the iconic Serengeti National Park is one of the richest wildlife destinations on the planet, hosting the famous Great Migration and the iconic African Big Five Animals (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, & elephant), making it a prime destination for Tanzania Wildlife Safaris/Tanzania Safaris. The wildebeest migration in Serengeti alone involves more than two million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and gazelles that follow ancient seasonal routes in search of fresh grazing ground. Witnessing this natural spectacle unfold in real time is a must do during your African Safari however, Serengeti is more than just the Wildebeest Migration/Great Migration.

For every sunrise over the iconic Serengeti, you get to witness the stunning landscapes alive with wildlife. Expect to see from lions surveying the golden grasslands, elephants wandering beneath iconic acacia trees, and cheetahs sprinting across the open savannah. A safari in this park is truly rewarding.

Besides being famous for its incredible wildlife (the African Big Five and Wildebeest Migration), Serengeti National Park in Tanzania also has one of the most remarkable ecosystems in the region. It encompasses the endless plains that give way to rocky kopjes, winding rivers, woodlands, and secluded valleys that all support the large numbers of wildlife in the park throughout the year. A Serengeti Safari or a Trip to Serengeti is second to none, whether you’re dreaming of witnessing the dramatic river crossing, photographing the Big Five, floating above the plains in a hot-air balloon at dawn, or simply soaking in the silence of Africa’s untamed wilderness, Serengeti Safaris/Tanzania Wildlife Safaris with Nirvana Safaris guarantee unforgettable experiences of the beautiful Africa.

All you Need to Know about Serengeti National Park (Facts, Etymology, Location, & Size)

Serengeti National Park was named by the local Maasai people who have inhabited this region for centuries. The name “Serengeti” is as a result of the Maasai word “siringet”, that means “a place where the land runs on forever.” Due to the endless plains in the Serengeti National Park, the locals refereed to it as a place where the land runs endlessly. This is so evident during safaris in the park, when you take a look from any point, you’ll witness as far as the eye can see and just seems endless every time you have a look.

The Serengeti is one of the largest National Parks in northern Tanzania, stretching over 14,763 km2 (5,700 sq mi). This National Park is located in eastern Mara Region and northeastern Simiyu Region where it encompasses over 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi) of savanna. The vast and endless plains of Serengeti inhabit over 3 million animals, including all the top species that you must see during your African Safari Tour/African Wildlife Tour.  

Although generally known for its endless savannas, especially on the southern part of the park, the Serengeti ecosystem is also made up of dense riverine forests, acacia woodlands, granite kopjes (rocky outcrops), swamps, and seasonal rivers. The kopjes or rocky outcrops are popular for their striking beauty as well as attracting lions that use them as watch towers for scanning the landscapes and to be able to spot prey even at a distance. The Granite Kopjes in Serengeti are one of the oldest features in the park, estimated to be 2 – 3 billion years old.

Serengeti National Park is said to have inspired the movie “The Lion King,” one of Disney’s most famous films. Although most of it was just fictional the movie drew much of its visual inspiration from East African savannahs, including landscapes resembling the Serengeti’s plains and kopjes.

Known to protects one of the world’s last intact large mammal ecosystems on earth, Serengeti National Park is truly a remarkable destination for a wildlife viewing safari in Africa. Explore Tanzania with Nirvana Safaris and experience the best wildlife viewing experience in some of the best destination in country.

History of Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti is one of Africa’s oldest and most celebrated protected areas, renowned for its large wildlife numbers, especially for the remarkable population of the African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant), the great wildebeest migration and other mammal species. It is part of the popular Northern Tanzania Safari circuit, one of the most visited circuit for wildlife viewing in Tanzania/Tanzania Safaris. This National Park is contagious with Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, forming one of the largest ecosystems in East Africa that supports large numbers of wildlife.

For centuries before this area become a national park, it used to be inhabited by the local Maasai people, who grazed their livestock across its grasslands while coexisting with wildlife. However, in the early twentieth century, European explorers and hunters who visited this region brought international attention to it due to the abundance of animals. As a result, more unregulated hunting happened in the areas that later brought up a decline in wildlife populations in the region. As a result, the British colonial administration declared the area a Game Reserve (Serengeti Game Reserve) in 1929, paving the way for its protection.

It was later upgraded into a National Park in 1951, making it Tanzania’s oldest National Park and one of the pioneering conservation areas in Africa. Initially, the area covered by the Serengeti Game Reserve included the Ngorongoro Highlands, but in 1959 the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was separated from the Serengeti National Park. This was an attempt to accommodate the local people (Maasai people) who inhabited the region and to allow them to continue their traditional pastoral lifestyle while at the same time conserving wildlife in the region. Due to the separation, the Serengeti National Park was focused primarily on wildlife conservation, with attempt like the protection of the endangered species like rhinos initiated and still ongoing up to date. Although they are officially different safari destination in Tanzania now, the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area remain connected by the larger ecosystem of the region.

This National Park received further international recognition in 1981 when it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was done in recognition and acknowledgment of the remarkable biodiversity, ecological significance, and the annual Great Migration in Serengeti National Park. As of Today, Serengeti protects one of the world’s last intact ecosystems making it one of the most successful conservation places in the word and perhaps the best destination for wildlife viewing in Africa.

The management of this National Park is a sole responsibility of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), a government agency entrusted with conserving the country’s National Parks.

More about the History of Serengeti National Park

After visiting Tanganyika on a mission from the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire (SPFE) in 1930, Major Richard Hingston proposed that the Serengeti Game Reserve should be designated as a National Park. According to Major Richard Hingston, there was increasing pressure from the growing population and that posed a great threat to the wildlife in the region.  It was finally established as a National Park in 1940. In 1948, it was granted strict protection during the formation of the Serengeti National Park Board of Trustees who were tasked with the administration of the park and its management.

The local people (Masaai People) were then restricted from grazing and moving in the park boundaries once they were finally gazetted in 1951. During 1959, an area of 8,300 km2 (3,200 sq mi) was split off in the eastern part of the park to form the present day Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

By 1966, further conservation efforts were made in the park with the establishment of the Serengeti Research Institute at Seronera, in order to monitor and research the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park. By the end of 1981, the Serengeti National Park only covered 12,950 km2 (5,000 sq mi), which was less than half of the initial designated areas before the split off of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and encroachment by the local population. Despite the reduction in the total land area, Serengeti National Park remains one of the few places that protect an intact ecosystem in Africa. Thanks to several conservation efforts from all stake holders and well-wishers like Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael who produced a book and documentary titled Serengeti Shall Not Die in 1959, the iconic Serengeti lives on today as one of the most celebrated protected areas and safari destinations in Africa.

Attractions in Serengeti National Park – What to see during Safaris in Serengeti?

The Wildebeest Migration – Great Migration in Serengeti

It is almost impossible to talk about Serengeti and not mention the largest annual animal migration in the world, the Wildebeest Migration/Great Migration.  Annually, over 1.5 million western white-bearded wildebeest and 250,000 Grant’s zebra, along with between 400-500,000 Thomson’s gazelle and smaller herds of common eland move across the vast Serengeti in search for fresh grazing grounds. The migration is one of the top highlights of a Safari to Tanzania, a must see during your African Safari Holiday/African Tour.

Each year, every wildebeest covers almost 1,000 kilometres of journey as they follow their migratory route, mainly guided by instincts. There is no fixed timetable for the migration however, it is known to follow seasonal rainfall patterns that are usually associated with fresh grass for grazing.

You might wonder how the animals know when and where to go? Just like I mentioned earlier, the Wildebeest don’t follow a leader or a fixed map. These animals basically rely on a combination of instinct, environmental cues, and collective behavior of those around them. It is also believed that the wildebeests are capable of detecting distant rainfalls and thus this influences their movement since the rains are usually associated with fresh pastures. Once the ones Infront start moving, the whole herd ends up following and thus during safaris in the Serengeti, you’ll be able to see them marching or even running in large herds. Once the ones at the front stop, the whole herd is likely to slow down and eventually stop.

Their movement is continuous and happens all year round. At the start of the year, the great migration usually begins in the southern part of Serengeti National Park in the Ndutu Area, near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After the wildebeest have given birth to thousands of calves that replenish the circle of life, they start journeying northwards toward the central Serengeti Areas.

Some herds usually move westward through the western corridor as others move directly though the central part of the park. By July most herds arrive at the northern part of Serengeti National Park where the gather temporarily before proceeding with their journey to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. At the northern Serengeti, the wildebeest face the most life challenging part of the migration. As they congregate here, the grazing grounds become dry, the predators keep increasing and the need to cross the river increases. The crocodiles lay in wait in the river waters for the migrating wildebeest.

Taking a leap of faith, one wildebeest usually starts the river crossing and once the rest of the herd sees it, they all follow. The fight against the strong river currents and the crocodiles that lay in wait in the water is known to take more lives of these mammals. The drama does not stop here, they are usually welcomed by prides of lions and other top predators that lie in small bushes ready to ambush the mammal at their most vulnerable time, especially since the crossing itself makes them exhausted and weak.

The river crossing is one of the iconic highlights of the wildebeest migration, referred to as one of the sights to behold in Africa. After the wildebeest finally reach in Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, they will graze on the lush pastures northward but by November, they will start their journey back to Tanzania, where they move circularly until they reach the southern part of Serengeti where they settle until the calving season again.

The migration circle repeats itself again and again each year.

Wildlife in Serengeti – Animals to see during safaris in Tanzania

Although generally, Serengeti is renowned for the Great Wildebeest Migration, this safari park is also home to other 70 mammals species including the famous African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, and buffalos). Most Safaris packages to Serengeti or Tanzania in general are wildlife focused, with most of them including the traditional game drives.

The game drives in the park take visitors to some of the best wildlife viewing spots in the park, especially places where they congregate during the hot hours of the day, the open savannas where they graze in the early mornings and evening.

The Serengeti is also know to host one of the largest lion in Africa, with an estimated 3,000 lions said to live within the park. This makes it one of the best places to see lions during an African Safari tour. Lion sighting in the park are popular in the open plains and rocky kopjes. The other top wildlife sighting in Serengeti National Park is the leopard. Although mostly elusive in nature, leopards can be sighted during safaris in the park, especially in areas with the acacia trees. They are known to rest on the acacia tree branches and hunting along riverine forests. This safari park is also home to large herds of the African buffalo that graze across the grasslands. Also expect to see the African elephants, during game drives in Serengeti.

Although worldwide the rhinos are an endangered species, this National Park is one of the places you can see their remaining population.

Beside the famous African Big Five, this safari park also supports  populations of cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals, and African wild dogs that are all other predators you can see during Tanzania wildlife Safaris.

The herbivores in the park include; wildebeest, zebras, impalas, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, elands, hartebeests, topis, waterbucks, warthogs, and several species of antelope.

Birdlife in Serengeti National Park – Birdwatching in Tanzania

Although generally not one of the famous Bird watching destinations during Tanzania Safaris but rather the best wildlife viewing destination in Africa, Birding Safaris in Serengeti are less popular. Despite being less popular, it is still one of the destinations in Tanzania with large number of species recorded in the park, over 500 bird species.

Birding safaris in the park take visitors to its diverse habitats including the open grasslands, acacia woodlands, riverine forests, and wetlands.

Some of the most commonly spotted birds in the park are the ostriches, raptors like the martial eagles, tawny eagles, African fish eagles, bateleurs, and several species of vultures soaring overhead or scanning the landscape for prey. Other species in the park include the lilac-breasted roller, starlings, bee-eaters, hornbills, kingfishers, crowned cranes, herons, egrets, and storks, among others.

 

Top Activities to do in the park – What to do during Tanzania Wildlife Safaris?  

Game drives – Wildlife viewing in Tanzania

Game drives in Serengeti or during Tanzania Wildlife Safaris are the most popular and rewarding way to explore the country’s iconic National Parks.  Game drive during an African Safari are conducted in custom made 4×4 safari vehicles, designed for the tough terrains in the National Parks. They are usually conducted by experienced guides, that are knowledgeable about the park and its wildlife. During the game drives you get to explore various sections of the park including the grasslands, and acacia woodlands.

Game Drives in Serengeti are popularly conducted during the morning hours and the evening hours when the temperatures are cool. Morning game drives are rewarding, during this time of the day, most animals are active and even the elusive nocturnal can be spotted as they are heading back to their hide outs. The morning game drives are also usually associated with predator activity as most predators hunt during this time.

 Morning game drive offer excellent opportunities for spotting lions, leopards, and cheetahs before they retreat from the midday heat. Game drives in Serengeti are also conducted in the afternoon hours of the day. Afternoon game drives also give visitors exciting experiences, as they will have opportunities to see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, and numerous bird species.

Hot Air Balloon Rides – Balloon Safaris in Tanzania

Although popular for wildlife viewing safaris that are mainly done on safari game drives in customized 4*4 safari vehicles, Serengeti is also a renowned destination for hot air balloon safaris in Tanzania. A Hot air Balloon Safari/ Hot air balloon flights in Serengeti are an ultimate way of exploring the endless Serengeti plains with their incredible inhabitants.

Balloon safaris in the Park offer a unique and rare opportunity to witness the iconic wilderness from above, a perspective that is not experienced by many visitors. The thrills of a balloon safari in Serengeti are unbeatable! Imagine floating above the park’s vast plains, skimming treetops in complete silence whilst seeing herds of wildebeests, elephants, lions, and buffalo below.

There are daily balloon safaris in in the park that run daily at 06h00 from four launch sites within the Park: The first site is located near the Seronera and runs all throughout the year. Another site is located in the Ndutu area and operates from 25 December to 15 March. The other two sites are located in the Western Corridor (from June to October) and in northern Serengeti (from July to October). Regardless of where you choose to do your hot air balloon safari from, you are guaranteed a top safari experience during the flight over the vast expanses of Serengeti National Park.