Serengeti National Park
OVERVIEW
The home of great migration over the acacia plains located in northern Tanzania. Serengeti is a transition area with changeovers doing from rich flat soil to poor hilly soil in the north. It covers an area of 35,000km2 attracting wide variety of vegetation and animals. The name ‘Serengeti’ is was derived from the word ‘Siringet’ which means endless plains in Maasai language. One of the most famous tribe in Serengeti is the Maasai which has been popular due to their long preserved culture.
Serengeti has a high diversity habitats including riverine forests, swamps, kopjes, grasslands and woodlands. The wilderness was among the first places to be proposed as a world heritage site by UNESCO at 1972 Stockholm conference established in 1981. This big 5 sanctuary hosts the second largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world which helps secure it as one of the seven natural wonders globally.
The park has four main different areas namely; Northern, Central and Southern Serengeti as well as Western corridor. It has four main entry and exit points which are;
Ndabaka gate which is the main access gate for the western corridor area.
Naabi hill gate, Serengeti’s main gate located approximately 45km from Seronera.
Klein’s gate which is located far north-east of Serengeti.
Bologonya gate which is located en-route to or from Kenya.
HISTORY
In the late 1800s and 1900s explorers and missionaries described Serengeti plains and the massive numbers of animals found there. An area of 2,286km2 was established in 1930 as a game reserve in what is now Southern and Eastern Serengeti, they allowed sport hunting until 1937. In 1940 the protected area status was conferred covering Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro highlands. Later in 1951 the scenery was gazetted as a national park. In 1959 Ngorongoro Conservation Area was split off from the park because the Maasai people were threatening wildlife by grazing cattle within the park boundaries. In 1961 the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya was established and in 1965 the Lamai wedge between the Mara River and Kenya border was added to Serengeti. This created a permanent corridor allowing the wildebeests to migrate from Serengeti plains in the South to the North. The Maswa game reserve was established in 1962 and small area north of Grumeti River in Western Corridor was added in 1967.
ATTRACTIVE AREAS
In Serengeti various areas can make you speechless when you visit them including Seronera River Valley, Moru Kopje and Retina Hippo Pool in Central Serengeti. Also Lobo Valley and Bologonja Springs in Serengeti North as well as Grumeti River in Western Corridor.
AWARDS
- Africa’s leading National Park in 2021.
- Africa’s leading National Park in 2020.
- Africa’s leading National Park in 2019.
WILDLIFE
Serengeti is one of the famous destination with the greatest concentration of wild animals, birds and plants in the world. The park is a home to over 1000 African leopards, 8700 spotted hyenas 2500 cheetahs, 5000 elephants, 3000 lions and 70 mammal species. Other animals include wildebeests, elands, black rhinos, buffalos, gazelles, zebras, jackals, topi, serval, homey badgers and waterbucks.
The park host plenty of birds of about 530 species including grey-breasted spurfowl, secretary birds, kori bustard, Usambiro barbet, fisher’s love-bird, hildebrant’s starling and rufous –tailed weaver.
WHY VISIT SERENGETI
The fore most reason is the annual migration of millions of wildebeests and zebras ranging from late January to September. Moreover the top wildlife viewing all year round and the best area for spotting predators.
HOW TO GET THERE
By road, the park is accessed from Arusha by road 335km. Safari guides know how to best navigate the park’s dirt roads and how to find the most fascinating wildlife.
By Air, travel by chartered flights from JRO or ARK to various airstrips in Serengeti. There are nine airstrips in Serengeti including Seronera airstrip in Central Serengeti, Kusini and Ndutu airstrips in Southern Serengeti. Lobo, Kleins, and Kogatende airstrips in Northern Serengeti as well as Grumeti, Kirawira and Sasakwa airstrips in Western Serengeti.
WHAT TO DO
Game driving, this involves day and night game drive that will give you an opportunity to watch and learn more about nature and wildlife in the park.
Bird watching, due to plenty of birds of over 5300 bird species, this gives a wide range to have a special knowledge about birds.
Walking safari, this involves conducting a safari by foot, provides a chance to observe small, medium and large creatures in a close range though some parts of Serengeti are not friendly for walking.
Other activities include hot air balloon safaris and photographic safaris.
WHEN TO GO
You can explore the park all year round but best in winter to see the herds in Southern Serengeti while in the Western corridor and Northern Serengeti are best to spend during summer and autumn months.
TRAVEL ADVICE
Serengeti owns a large area of which cannot be completed in one day instead it is better to extend your safari in this beautiful park for about 3 to 5 days.
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are many accommodations which are public campsites, special campsite, seasonal campsites as well as lodges and hotels inside and outside the park, some of the accommodations include;
Four Season Safari Lodge which is located in Central Serengeti, Tanzania that takes about 45mins drive from Seronera Airstrip. It has got 77 classic luxury rooms offering a perfect view of Serengeti with the entire natural environment. Number of single rooms and suites are 36 and 27 respectively also the lodge has a presidential room with a restaurant and bar for enjoying meals and drinks.
Melia Serengeti Lodge is located in Nyamuma Hills Serengeti Tanzania 31km from Seronera Airstrip. It has got 50 luxurious rooms with king or queen size beds, daily housekeeping, telephone, restaurant, swimming pool and bar.
Singita Sasakwa Lodge is located in Northern Tanzania particularly in Grumeti Reserves. The lodge has 10 luxurious cottages which are spread-out along the escarpment with a proper view of Serengeti National Park. Among the rooms, three of them are larger villas with extra bedrooms. The room facilities include air condition, daily room services, satellite TV & channels, in room mini-bar, fire place, hairdryer and much more.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is located in Serengeti, Tanzania. The hotel is situated 16.1km from Seronera Airstrip. It has got 66 luxury rooms suitable for all ages and open all year round. Rooms are filled by various facilities including telephone, view deck, safe, hair dryer and ceiling fan, bar and restaurant