African Serengeti national park

Serengeti national park
African Serengeti National Park

About Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous parks in Africa and is certainly Tanzania’s most famous and visited park. Established in 1951, it is also Tanzania’s oldest national park. Measuring around 14,763 km² or 5700 miles², it is over six times the size of its contiguous park in Kenya—the ​Masai Mara.  The Serengeti and Masai Mara are very similar in terrain and in the types of wildlife sightings, but off-road driving is severely limited in the Serengeti whereas it is freely allowed in the Masai Mara. By restricting where the safari vehicles can travel, the wildlife of the Serengeti are less accessible to tourists and can live in a wild environment. 

A Tanzania Safari to Serengeti National Park is a dream come true for safari lovers! Not aware of where to visit, or what to look around. Here are a few Amazing facts about Serengeti National Park. Read and plan your next Tanzania Safari Tours.

  • GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:


The Serengeti National Park is a famous National Park of Tanzania located in the Serengeti vast ecosystem in the Mara and Simiyu regions, which is in north-western Tanzania. It is about 14,763 sq. km and is derived from the Maasai language which means endless plains, so it is also called Serengeti Plains. It includes Savannah, riverine forests, and woodland. To the south of the park, you can find the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Maswa Game Reserve. The main Serengeti Plain facts are; that it is almost treeless grassland of the south and is the conceptual scenery of the park. The other Tanzania Safari Facts here are; the altitudes here range from 3,020 feet to 6,070 feet. You should visit here around July and August for wildebeest migration across Mara River, February for Wildebeest calving, and February to May for Bird watching.

  • HISTORY OF SERENGETI:

The Serengeti Plains or the Endless Plains was named by European Explorer when he visited the area around 1892 and found the Maasai people leading their life in the open plains for almost 200 years. Serengeti National Park is one of the oldest and most popular world heritage sites, which was recently proclaimed as the 7th wonder worldwide. The Serengeti gained more name and fame after the book and movie “Serengeti Shall Not Die” was released. One of the main Serengeti Plain facts is that; it was explored by many visitors and the main reason for the exploration was the abundant count of lions and other large cats.

  • SERENGETI ANIMALS:


One of the Main Serengeti Fact and attraction are the abundance of Animals found in the Serengeti National Park, which includes the migration of a million wildebeests into the Serengeti Plains in search of fresh grassland. You will need to visit the place in February to witness more than 8000 wildebeest calves are born each day. The Tanzania Safari will give you a wonderful experience as you can watch most of the predators, especially the Lions. Apart from Lions, you can also spot Cheetahs, Leopards, Hyenas, and Jackals. The other animals you can find here in the Serengeti plains are; Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Topis, Elands, Impalas, and many more. The best time to visit is between January to March.

  • SERENGETI BIRDS:


The Tanzania Safari Tours will make you witness an incredible bird-watching destination as the Serengeti plains have more than 500 species of Birds. The secretary birds are seen here, which walk up to 30km searching vipers, cobras, and other snakes. You can also find, African Fish Eagle, White Backed Vulture, Lesser Flamingo, Ostrich, and many more species of Birds. , Bird watching is good year-round, but the best time to visit is between November and April as it is the nesting time for resident species.

  • Regions of the Serengeti

The Serengeti is generally divided into four sections:     

  •  Central Serengeti
  •  Eastern and Southern Serengeti
  •  Northern Serengeti
  •  Western Serengeti

Central Serengeti


The central region of the Serengeti is a very fertile area with year-round water supplies. At the heart of the Serengeti is the Seronera Valley, with its lush green grasses and rivers. The year-round water results in resident pride of lions and other predators that do not need to follow the migration as they’ve adequate prey around the water supplies. Almost any safari to the Serengeti will include a few days in the central region as there is always ample wildlife to be seen. 

Eastern and Southern Serengeti


The eastern and southern regions are where the short grass plains are, which makes for an excellent viewing locale for cheetahs. The area is more open here and one can see a large number of elephants and, during the migration, pride of lions. 

Northern Serengeti


As one heads north, the land becomes more rolling and is dotted with trees. The migration passes through this area on its way up to Kenya and must cross two rivers in the north: the Grumeti River and the Mara River. Both rivers are home to the Nile crocodile and crossings are a sight to behold. This region is also home to the largest population of elephants. 

Western Serengeti


The western corridor is the least visited but has much to offer. The Grumeti River also runs through here and makes for excellent game viewing when the migration passes through. This area tends to be more open than that of the north and central regions.

  • SERENGETI WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

Again, Tanzania Safari is ready to make you experience one of the earth’s most spectacular natural dramas. Keeping all the theories aside, time seems to stand still in this superlative park, as millions of wildebeest migrate every year to Serengeti in search of fresh grasslands crossing the Grumeti River and the timings vary from year to year, anywhere from May to July. To witness one of these Serengeti Facts, follow the migration.

When to see the annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti

Month

Wildebeest location in the Serengeti

January

Central Serengeti, Eastern and Southern Serengeti

February

Eastern and Southern Serengeti

March

Eastern and Southern Serengeti

April

Central Serengeti, Eastern and Southern Serengeti

May

Central Serengeti. Western Serengeti

June

Central Serengeti. Western Serengeti

July

Western Serengeti, Northern Serengeti

August

Northern Serengeti

September

Northern Serengeti

October

Northern Serengeti

November

Northern Serengeti, Central Serengeti

December

Central Serengeti, Eastern and Southern Serengeti

 

SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS OF AFRICA:

The world-famous Serengeti migration is one of the seven natural wonders of Africa.

  • The other natural wonders of Africa are:
  • Red Sea Reef
  • Mount Kilimanjaro
  • The Sahara Desert
  • The Serengeti Migration
  • The Ngorongoro crater
  • The Nile River
  • The Okavango Delta

The Tanzania safari makes you witness one of the Serengeti facts which is “The Serengeti Migration“. It crosses Tanzania and Kenya, and pans 18,641 sq miles. It is one of the longest and largest overland migrations.

  • HOME OF THE HIGHEST NO OF AFRICAN LIONS :


Living in the grasslands, the Tanzanian Serengeti lion population is the largest in Africa. If you want to see lions, book a tour with Tanzania Safari Tours and witness the reality, as Serengeti has the world’s greatest Lion sanctuary with around 3,000 Lions, so the Serengeti is a glorious and ideal place for Safari. The pride requires a huge territory to flourish and Serengeti has huge grassland and the roar of a lion can be heard up to 8 km in Serengeti. Watching Serengeti’s lion is festive to your eyes and you can find a dozen lions in a single day Tanzania Safari Tours. Yes! The lions await you to visit them, don’t disappoint them.

  • MAASAI TRIBE:


The Maasai Tribe of Serengeti is the one who has been herding cattle for years together. They believe that cattle and children are their wealth. Maasai people neither harmed any wild animals nor did they harm the environment. When you go on a tour with Tanzania Safari, you will receive a grand welcome from the Maasai people as they have taken their place as guides, drivers, cooks, assistants, and even managers; they now generate revenue for their government.

They are friendly and generous hosts, sharing their native traditions and rituals who seek to enrich their experience.

QUICK BONUS FACTS:

Why Go:

Wildebeest migration; don’t miss the opportunity of seeing predators. A feast for your eyes watching birds and beautiful scenery.

When to Go:

Year around. Wildebeest migration from July to August. Wildebeest are Calving during February. Bird watching from February to May.

When is the best time to visit the Serengeti?

The Serengeti is a top safari destination at any time of year. January through early March is when the ungulates of the great migration give birth.

Looking to see baby wildebeest faces? Visit in January or February.

After a cheaper safari? March through May is the long rain season, which has its benefits, including lower lodging prices, and fewer tourists and flowers.

Want that wildebeest river crossing photo? July through October sees the migration in northern Serengeti, where wildebeest must cross the perilous Mara River.