Serengeti National Park
Karibu Serengeti National Park
Best described as an area of endless plains, the Serengeti National Park covers an area of about 14.763 square kilometres making it one of the most extensive protected areas in Tanzania. Serengeti National Park is situated in the north and shares its northern border with the Kenyan Maasai Mara Game Reserve and its southern boundary with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
This vast conservation area offers refuge to a variety of mammal species that count up to 3 million and about 2 million migratory mammals that usually confine in the park each year that cross the River Mara. This natural wonder features up to 1.3 million wildebeests, millions of Thompson’s gazelle, zebras and many more.
The migratory process starts in June with the return leg between October and November. Serengeti National Park features acacia savanna with dry grassland especially in the south, the western corridor of wooded highland which fronts Lake Victoria and north, the wooded grasslands that thrive on the Grumeti and Mara Rivers.
This park features 3 major regions, each of which comes with its spectacular tourist attractions and they include; the Serengeti plains which feature the most beautiful scenery of the park and mainly famous as one of the best breeding grounds for wildebeests and they usually live within this area from December to May. Other wildlife species include gazelles, zebras, impalas, hartebeests, buffaloes, topis, waterbucks as well as kopjes, hyrax, pythons and many others.
The western corridor is known for its black clay soils that support mostly savanna and it’s Grumeti and Mbalageti River which flow into Lake Victoria in the west and forests offer refuge to most of the Nile crocodiles, hippos, martial eagles, patas monkeys and wildebeests cross through this area from May to July.
The western corridor also features remarkable vegetation that comprises of wooded savanna land, swamps and many more. The northern Serengeti features the stunning landscape with open woodlands, Riverine forests and hills that range from Seronera in the south to the Mara River at the Kenya border that majestically flows and it is from this River that most migrating wildlife cross.
Besides wildebeests and zebras, this area is also a perfect area for you to spot most of the giraffes, dik-dik, elephants and many others. Serengeti National Park also offers refuge to most of the African leopards, lions, other variety of antelope families (impalas, Patterson’s eland, waterbucks, bushbucks, reedbuck, topis, Kongoni, cotton’s oribi, grey bush duiker, roan), black rhinos, spotted hyenas, jackals, African golden wolf, honey badger, striped hyena, serval, 7 species of mongooses, 2 species of otters, wild dogs, yellow and olive baboons, patas monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervets, ground pangolin, crested porcupine, 3 species of hyraxes, cape hare, aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, Maasai ostrich, secretary bird, Kori bustards, helmeted, southern ground hornbills, crowned cranes, marabou storks, yellow-billed stork, lesser flamingoes, martial eagles, lover birds, oxpeckers, black-headed herons, Egyptian geese, vultures and others. The notable reptile species include the leopard tortoise, serrated hinged terrapin, Nile crocodile, rainbow agama, Nile monitor, chameleons, African python, black mamba, black-necked spitting cobra, puff adder and many others.
Tourist activities in Serengeti National Park
The interesting tourist activities for one to participate in Serengeti National Park include birding, game viewing, walking tours, ballooning and others.
Where to stay in Serengeti National Park?
Serengeti National Park has several safari lodges and camps for visitors stay over and the notable ones include Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Ndutu Safari Lodge next to Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Serena Lodge as well as camps like Kijesereshi Tented Lodge which is situated outside the camp in the southern Nsabaaka gate, Migration camp in the Lobo area. There are also several public campsites for basic travellers and about 6 special camping ground, 12 wilderness campsites.
In conclusion, Serengeti National Park is remarkably one of the most spectacular and rewarding wilderness areas that you shouldn’t miss to pay a visit while on your vacation in Tanzania. If you are interested in catching a glimpse at most of the migratory species, big game in Africa, primates, birds and several savanna grassland species, then Serengeti National Park should be a must in your bucket list.