Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Overview of Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s worldly known park for its unbelievable scenery and magnificient wildlife showing annual migration of millions of white-bearded, wildebeest and 250,000 zebras and for its abundant Nile crocodile and honey badger. The park covers a geographical area of about 14,750squarekilometers of riverine forest, grassland plains, savannah and woodlands. Serengeti National Park is situated in the northwestern of Tanzania bordered by Kenya to the North where it is endless with the Masai Mara National Reserve. In the southeast of the part lies the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and in the southwest lies the Maswa Game Reserve as well as the Ikorongo and Grumeti Game Reserves lying in the west of the park and northeast and east lies the Loliondo Game Control Area forming the larger Serengeti ecosystem.

When is the Best Time to visit Serengeti National Park? June to February

Which Months have have the Highest Visitors? July to March 

How big is Serengeti National Park? 14,763km² / 5,700mi²

What is the Altitude of Serengeti National Park? 1,140-2,099m /3,740-6,886ft

Map of Serengeti National Park Tanzania

The history of the park originates from the Maasai people who had been grazing their livestock in the open plains of eastern Mara Region, which they named “endless plains”, for around 200 years when the first European traveler, Austrian Oscar Baumann, visited the area in 1892.The name “Serengeti” is a guess of the word used by the Maasai to describe the area, siringet, which means “the place where the land runs on forever”. The first American to arrive the Serengeti, Stewart Edward White, recorded his surveys in the northern Serengeti in 1913 and returned to the Serengeti in the 1920s and camped in the area around Seronera for three months. During this time, he and his friends shot 50 lions. Because the hunting of lions made them scarce, the British colonial administration made a partial game reserve of 800 acres (3.2 km2) in the area in 1921 and a full one in 1929. These actions were the basis for Serengeti National Park, which was established in 1951. In much effort to prevent wildlife, the British evicted the resident Maasai from the park in 1959 and moved them to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The Serengeti gained more fame after the initial work of Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael in the 1950s. Together, they produced the book and film Serengeti Shall Not Die, widely recognized as one of the most important early pieces of nature conservation documentary. The park is Tanzania’s first national park and remains the leading of the country’s tourism industry, providing a major attraction to the Northern Safari Circuit encompassing Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The park is usually divided into three regions namely; the Serengeti plains, the almost treeless grassland of the south is the most representative scenery of the park where the wildebeest rear, as they withstand in the plains. The wildebeests, also called gnus, are a kind of antelopes, and belong to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep and other even-toed horned ungulates. In East Africa, the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big game species in that some populations perform an annual migration to new grazing grounds, but the black wildebeest is merely nomadic. Refinement in both takes place over a short period of time at the end of the rainy season and the calves are soon lively and are able to move with the herd.

Wildebeest habitually graze in mixed herds with zebra which gives heightened awareness of potential predators. They are also alert to the warning signals emitted by other animals such as baboons. Wildebeest dwell the plains and open forests of parts of Africa south of the Sahara. The black wildebeest is native to the southernmost parts of the continent. Wildebeest provide several useful animal products. The hide makes good value leather and the flesh is uneven, dry and rather hard. Wildebeest are killed for food, especially to make biltong in Southern Africa. This dried game meat is a delicacy and an important food item in Africa. The wildebeest benefit the ecosystem by increasing soil fertility with their excreta. They are economically important for human beings as they are a major tourist attraction. They also provide important products like leather to humans.

The moment you set foot in the Serengeti National Park, you will start noticing a major change in the way you look at things around you. After all, you are in one of the most beautiful and phenomenal national parks in the world. Serengeti boasts of all kinds of attractions and there’s just so much to keep you occupied. The Great Migration and a safari in Serengeti National Park is its prime attraction, but this wondrous park has something to offer, irrespective of when you’re visiting. From abundant bird species and beautiful rolling plains to stunning lakes, these are the top 10 things to do in Serengeti National Park.

Witness the Great Migration

This is the main reason why people from all over the world visit the Serengeti. And we can’t say we blame them either. This is the world’s largest migration of animals, and it is a sight to behold. The sight of millions of mammals stampeding across the vast wilderness with all kinds of predators close at heels will definitely make you realize the grand scale of things, and discover the delicate balance of nature. Make sure you’re aware of when and where exactly the Great Wildebeest Migration is happening. It is a cyclical event- but you have to be sure that you plan your trip just right.

 Visit the Seronera River Valley

This Seronera River Valley occupies a significant portion of the central Serengeti region. This is the Serengeti at its natural best. The entire valley is brimming with flora and fauna that is unique to the region. In fact, you can spend your entire trip in the Seronera Valley and not run out of things to explore- there are wildebeest, elephants, zebras, gazelles, and more. Better yet, the abundance of prey draws all kinds of predators- including lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards. The area also has some stunning permanent lodges that are open throughout the year.Read More

Visitors can get to Serengeti national park using different means of transport depending on their itinerary design and their if its spending more time there it’s advisable you take a fight which is faster.

By air

There is always a flight that runs once in a week from Entebbe airport up to seronera airstrip in Serengeti National Park and it takes about 2 hours of duration.

By road

Visitors can use different routes to reach Serengeti National Park such as using the Entebbe route via Kenya up to Tanzania (Serengeti National Park) which takes about 12 hours and 40 minutes covering 650km.

Starting from Entebbe to Kampala via Jinja it takes about 3hours and a half covering a distance of 125km as well as giving you opportunity to view the source of the Nile. Then from Jinja to the border of Uganda and Kenya (busia) which takes about 2hours and 10 mins and a distance of 120km then from busia to Mbita where the Mbita ferry transfers you to the border of Kenya-Tanzania (Isibania) covering 268km and takes about 5hours and 30 mins. Finally, from Isibania to Serengeti National Park which is a 2 hours’ drive and 20 mins

The final decision whether or not to visit the Serengeti National Park is made easy by its stunning variety of lodge accommodations. There are a number of public campsites ($30/adult), special campsites ($50/adult), tented camps, and lodges in the Serengeti. The largest number and greatest variety of lodging exists in the Central Serengeti region around Seronera. Whether you want to camp on the cheap, sleep in a remote luxury tented camp, or stay in a large lodge with all the familiar Western amenities, you should be able to find something in the Serengeti suiting any lifestyle or budget. You should book accommodations well in advance, especially in peak season.

Ngorongoro crater lodge

Bordering the south of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the world’s largest unflooded caldera. Created when a huge volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself around 300 million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater has a total area of 260 sq. km (100 sq. miles) and is 600 m (2,000 ft.) deep. Its steep, rainforest-covered walls create a bowl-like sanctuary for more than 25,000 large animals, including lion, black rhino, Cape buffalo, hyena and hippo.

Established on the crater’s edge looking out over this immense natural wonder, the luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is divided into three separate camps — North, South and Tree Camp — with a total of 30 rooms housed in individual thatched huts. Each camp has its own communal lodge with living and dining areas, adorned with chandeliers handmade by the Masai, antique furniture and bronze statues. After your three-course meal, join other guests around the open fire pit to take in the star-studded sky. The spacious rooms each feature a living room with open log fire, a king-sized bed, and an en suite bathroom. Silks, velvets and dark woods create a sense of luxury, yet step outside onto your private veranda and, using a good pair of binoculars, you can pick out individual animals living in the crater below.

For a closer look, join a game drive into the crater. Staying here means you can arrive before anyone else, with the journey taking just 20 minutes. Look out for predators on the prowl before the day heats up, or watch lion snoozing in the afternoon sun. Read More

More Overview

The history of the park originates from the Maasai people who had been grazing their livestock in the open plains of eastern Mara Region, which they named “endless plains”, for around 200 years when the first European traveler, Austrian Oscar Baumann, visited the area in 1892.The name “Serengeti” is a guess of the word used by the Maasai to describe the area, siringet, which means “the place where the land runs on forever”. The first American to arrive the Serengeti, Stewart Edward White, recorded his surveys in the northern Serengeti in 1913 and returned to the Serengeti in the 1920s and camped in the area around Seronera for three months. During this time, he and his friends shot 50 lions. Because the hunting of lions made them scarce, the British colonial administration made a partial game reserve of 800 acres (3.2 km2) in the area in 1921 and a full one in 1929. These actions were the basis for Serengeti National Park, which was established in 1951. In much effort to prevent wildlife, the British evicted the resident Maasai from the park in 1959 and moved them to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The Serengeti gained more fame after the initial work of Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael in the 1950s. Together, they produced the book and film Serengeti Shall Not Die, widely recognized as one of the most important early pieces of nature conservation documentary. The park is Tanzania’s first national park and remains the leading of the country’s tourism industry, providing a major attraction to the Northern Safari Circuit encompassing Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The park is usually divided into three regions namely; the Serengeti plains, the almost treeless grassland of the south is the most representative scenery of the park where the wildebeest rear, as they withstand in the plains. The wildebeests, also called gnus, are a kind of antelopes, and belong to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep and other even-toed horned ungulates. In East Africa, the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big game species in that some populations perform an annual migration to new grazing grounds, but the black wildebeest is merely nomadic. Refinement in both takes place over a short period of time at the end of the rainy season and the calves are soon lively and are able to move with the herd.

Wildebeest habitually graze in mixed herds with zebra which gives heightened awareness of potential predators. They are also alert to the warning signals emitted by other animals such as baboons. Wildebeest dwell the plains and open forests of parts of Africa south of the Sahara. The black wildebeest is native to the southernmost parts of the continent. Wildebeest provide several useful animal products. The hide makes good value leather and the flesh is uneven, dry and rather hard. Wildebeest are killed for food, especially to make biltong in Southern Africa. This dried game meat is a delicacy and an important food item in Africa. The wildebeest benefit the ecosystem by increasing soil fertility with their excreta. They are economically important for human beings as they are a major tourist attraction. They also provide important products like leather to humans.

Activities

The moment you set foot in the Serengeti National Park, you will start noticing a major change in the way you look at things around you. After all, you are in one of the most beautiful and phenomenal national parks in the world. Serengeti boasts of all kinds of attractions and there’s just so much to keep you occupied. The Great Migration and a safari in Serengeti National Park is its prime attraction, but this wondrous park has something to offer, irrespective of when you’re visiting. From abundant bird species and beautiful rolling plains to stunning lakes, these are the top 10 things to do in Serengeti National Park.

Witness the Great Migration

This is the main reason why people from all over the world visit the Serengeti. And we can’t say we blame them either. This is the world’s largest migration of animals, and it is a sight to behold. The sight of millions of mammals stampeding across the vast wilderness with all kinds of predators close at heels will definitely make you realize the grand scale of things, and discover the delicate balance of nature. Make sure you’re aware of when and where exactly the Great Wildebeest Migration is happening. It is a cyclical event- but you have to be sure that you plan your trip just right.

 Visit the Seronera River Valley

This Seronera River Valley occupies a significant portion of the central Serengeti region. This is the Serengeti at its natural best. The entire valley is brimming with flora and fauna that is unique to the region. In fact, you can spend your entire trip in the Seronera Valley and not run out of things to explore- there are wildebeest, elephants, zebras, gazelles, and more. Better yet, the abundance of prey draws all kinds of predators- including lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards. The area also has some stunning permanent lodges that are open throughout the year.Read More

Getting There

Visitors can get to Serengeti national park using different means of transport depending on their itinerary design and their if its spending more time there it’s advisable you take a fight which is faster.

By air

There is always a flight that runs once in a week from Entebbe airport up to seronera airstrip in Serengeti National Park and it takes about 2 hours of duration.

By road

Visitors can use different routes to reach Serengeti National Park such as using the Entebbe route via Kenya up to Tanzania (Serengeti National Park) which takes about 12 hours and 40 minutes covering 650km.

Starting from Entebbe to Kampala via Jinja it takes about 3hours and a half covering a distance of 125km as well as giving you opportunity to view the source of the Nile. Then from Jinja to the border of Uganda and Kenya (busia) which takes about 2hours and 10 mins and a distance of 120km then from busia to Mbita where the Mbita ferry transfers you to the border of Kenya-Tanzania (Isibania) covering 268km and takes about 5hours and 30 mins. Finally, from Isibania to Serengeti National Park which is a 2 hours’ drive and 20 mins

Accommodation

The final decision whether or not to visit the Serengeti National Park is made easy by its stunning variety of lodge accommodations. There are a number of public campsites ($30/adult), special campsites ($50/adult), tented camps, and lodges in the Serengeti. The largest number and greatest variety of lodging exists in the Central Serengeti region around Seronera. Whether you want to camp on the cheap, sleep in a remote luxury tented camp, or stay in a large lodge with all the familiar Western amenities, you should be able to find something in the Serengeti suiting any lifestyle or budget. You should book accommodations well in advance, especially in peak season.

Ngorongoro crater lodge

Bordering the south of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the world’s largest unflooded caldera. Created when a huge volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself around 300 million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater has a total area of 260 sq. km (100 sq. miles) and is 600 m (2,000 ft.) deep. Its steep, rainforest-covered walls create a bowl-like sanctuary for more than 25,000 large animals, including lion, black rhino, Cape buffalo, hyena and hippo.

Established on the crater’s edge looking out over this immense natural wonder, the luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is divided into three separate camps — North, South and Tree Camp — with a total of 30 rooms housed in individual thatched huts. Each camp has its own communal lodge with living and dining areas, adorned with chandeliers handmade by the Masai, antique furniture and bronze statues. After your three-course meal, join other guests around the open fire pit to take in the star-studded sky. The spacious rooms each feature a living room with open log fire, a king-sized bed, and an en suite bathroom. Silks, velvets and dark woods create a sense of luxury, yet step outside onto your private veranda and, using a good pair of binoculars, you can pick out individual animals living in the crater below.

For a closer look, join a game drive into the crater. Staying here means you can arrive before anyone else, with the journey taking just 20 minutes. Look out for predators on the prowl before the day heats up, or watch lion snoozing in the afternoon sun. Read More

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