Serengeti National Park is located in northern Tanzania, mainly in the Simiyu and Mara areas. The park is located west of the Great Rift Valley and next to Kenya’s Masai Mara, which is important for wildlife movement. The park’s landscape is diverse which adds to its rich biodiversity. Serengeti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous as one of the best national parks in the world. The national park is about 14,763 square kilometers large and is part of the Serengeti environment, which also includes the Masai Mara National Reserve in nearby Kenya.
Serengeti National Park was created in 1951. It was first set up as a game reserve in 1921 because it was important for the environment and needed to protect wildlife. It was promoted to national park rank. The national park is named “Siringet,” a Maasai word that means “Endless plains.” This name reflects the large open grasslands found in the area. The park was created to protect the migration paths and homes of different animals, especially wildebeests and zebras.
Serengeti National Park is well-known for its amazing wildlife, especially the Great Migration. Every year, more than a million wildebeest, along with zebras and other plant-eating animals, travel across the plains looking for food and water. This amazing event usually happens from December to July, as the wildebeest move along a path that changes with the yearly rains. The park is home to many animals besides migratory species. These include lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, rhinos, hyenas, hippos, dik-diks, Nile crocodiles, gazelles, monkeys, impalas, hartebeests, topis, waterbucks, hyraxes, and pythons, among others. Serengeti National Park is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 600 species reported such as are the great African Ostrich, vultures, Black-headed Heron, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Decken-Toko Tockus, Grey-breasted spurfowl, Grey-headed sparrow among others
Game drives
Going on a game drive in the Serengeti is definitely the most popular activity. It’s the best way to see the Big 5 and other local animals. Game drives in Serengeti National Park happen at different times, like early morning and at night, when animals are most active. The morning game drive begins at sunrise and finishes by about 11 a.m. It’s meant for tourists to see nighttime animals returning to their homes or watch plant-eating animals as they go out to eat. Morning game drives are great for seeing predators like hyenas, wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hippos as they come back from their nighttime hunts. Many animals are more active in the cooler morning hours. Lions like to hunt at night and in the early morning before it gets too hot.
Night game drives are usually not allowed in Serengeti National Park, but some companies can set them up in nearby areas. The Serengeti and private reserves have many animals that are active at night, such as civets, aardvarks, nightjars, and bush babies. Night game drives allow visitors to see animals like zebras, hyenas, impalas, giraffes, jackals, and foxes. Lions, hyenas, and leopards are mostly busy at night. It is the best time to spot them take down food and many more.
Nature walks are a great way to explore the Serengeti. Unlike game drives, walking lets you get closer to the park’s many animals. Nature walks can be uneven and don’t follow set paths. On a guided nature walk, you can see different animals up close, like wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, buffalo, lions, rhinos, bright butterflies, special insects, birds, and rare plants. Most wildlife walks are arranged by local places to stay. An armed guard, who knows the area well and is familiar with the different plants and animals in the park, will guide you.
A hot air balloon safari is a famous activity in Serengeti National Park. It usually happens early in the morning at sunrise, giving you a beautiful view of the savannah waking up for the day. As you glide above the trees and fields, you can see the park’s different animals in their natural behavior. From above, you can see elephants and giraffes eating calmly, as well as big cats hunting. This view lets you watch the animals in their homes without bothering them or changing what they do.
A hot air balloon tour in the Serengeti lets you see the Great Migration from the sky, which is very exciting. Every year, millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other plant-eating animals migrate across the fields of East Africa. It’s an amazing sight, and seeing it from a hot air balloon makes it even more thrilling and magical. In addition to seeing wildlife, the calm and peaceful feeling of floating high above the Serengeti is a wonderful experience. The quiet of early morning, interrupted only by the sound of the burner, provides a peaceful atmosphere that helps you appreciate the beauty around you.
These beautiful streams are located in the northeastern part of the park. The Bologna springs have some of the most amazing views in the Serengeti. The streams supply water that helps plants grow all year round. This in turn attracts several kinds of small primates, birds, migrating animals, giraffes, elephants, steenbok, mountain reedbuck and many other plant eaters. Since these areas are far away, you can visit them without the big crowds found in downtown Serengeti.
Visiting a Maasai village is a popular experience for tourists, giving them a chance to see how the Maasai people live, which has mostly stayed the same over the years. The Maasai are semi-nomadic herders who live mainly in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are likely the most famous tribe group in East Africa. They still hold on to their old customs and beliefs. Visiting one of their towns is a great way to learn about their culture and traditions. You can discover old rituals and meet community members who happily share their customs and stories. The Maasai are known for their deep connection to the land, which they often call as “Enkang ‘Narok” meaning “the place of sweet wasters”. They are very nice and will teach you how to hunt, milk farm animals, make beads, create pottery, weave, cook traditional meals, and more. After visiting the farms, you can also check out a local school, watch traditional dance shows, and buy handmade crafts, among other things.
Every year, more than 1.6 million animals, like wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, move between Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve. As they travel, they face tough obstacles and have to avoid predators like lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs. One of their biggest tasks is crossing the Mara River to get to Kenya. They need to cross a river filled with crocodiles and strong currents. If they cross the river at the wrong spot, they could die or accidentally run into each other, which could result in thousands of deaths. The wildebeest migration draws tourists to the Serengeti because they can see many exciting encounters between animals that hunt and those that are hunted. Tourists can spend the entire day watching wildebeests eat or give birth.
Serengeti National Park has 600 different types of birds. 100 of them live in the park all the time, and 11 are unique to the Serengeti. Some migratory birds come to the park from November to April. They travel from Europe and North Africa. On your birdwatching safari in Serengeti National Park, you’ll see many colorful birds, including the White-bellied go-away bird, White-crowned shrike, Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Grey-breasted spurfowl, Grey-headed sparrow, Purple Grenadier, Red-backed scrub, Ostrich, and vultures. Black-headed Heron, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Decken’s Tockus, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Secretary Bird, Kori Bustard, and Variable Sunbird are some examples.
Lobo Valley is the best spot to see lions and other big cats in the Serengeti. The big cats come to the valley because there is plenty of food and water. Besides big cats, the Lobo Valley also draws in baboons, elephants, and giraffes. From July to November, the valley is the main spot for the big movement. During your visit, you will see amazing animals like zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles grazing on the green grass.
Get in touch with our reliable tour providers for details on things to do in Serengeti National Park. You can also book your trips with companies.
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