[vc_row bg_type=”image” bg_image_new=”23811″ bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_override=”full” parallax_content=”parallax_content_value” parallax_content_sense=”70″ fadeout_row=”fadeout_row_value” fadeout_start_effect=”35″ enable_overlay=”enable_overlay_value” overlay_color=”rgba(12,13,13,0.4)” overlay_pattern=”09.png” overlay_pattern_opacity=”16″ overlay_pattern_attachment=”scroll” css=”.vc_custom_1649338713659{padding-top: 200px !important;padding-bottom: 90px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][boc_divider divider_width=”100px” divider_position=”center” divider_height=”2px” divider_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.2)” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”12px”][boc_heading html_element=”h1″ alignment=”center” color=”#ffffff” margin_top=”20px” font_size=”36px” css_classes=”no_text_transform”]Serengeti National Park[/boc_heading][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”10/12″][vc_column_text]Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed as the most voted Natural Wonder of Africa, the Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephants and giraffes, and thousands upon thousands of Elands, Topis, Kongonis, Impalas and Grants gazelles.
Serengeti comes from a Maasai word Siringet Meaning “Endless Plains”.
The park is famous for its seasonal wildebeest migration to and from between the two parks Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya, Endless plains with beautiful kopjes and home of Big Game animals.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem
Namiri-plains-Big-pride-Soit-Lemontonye-Serengeti-Allan-Earnshaw-MRThis is quintessential Africa: vast rolling plains stretching as far as the eye can see dotted with gnarled acacia bushes, jagged kopjes and lush riverine habitat. The Serengeti National Park covers nearly 15 000km² in northwestern Tanzania between the Ngorongoro highlands and Lake Victoria. To the north it joins up with Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, while its southeast boundary blends into the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Neighbours include Maswa Game Reserve in the southwest, the Ikorongo and Grumeti game reserves to the west and the Loliondo Game Control area to east and northeast. Together these conservation zones make up the world-famous Serengeti-Mara ecosystem – which spans 30 000km² and is one of the least disturbed biospheres on earth.
Most of the Serengeti’s permanent water supply is found towards the northern and western areas – the seasonal lack of permanent water and grazing in the south is one of the main drivers behind the annual Great Migration, when some 1,2 million wildebeest, 500 000 Thomson’s gazelle and 250 000 zebra and other ungulates. Regions of the Serengeti The Serengeti is a vast wilderness that spans over a million hectares, and therefore it has regions Southern Serengeti First time arrivals to Serengeti must not miss to visit the Southern region. This is the home of iconic grassland plains, the Ndutu woodlands and spectacular Ngoro Ngoro crater, where you will find incredible diversity of wildlife throughout the year.
As the summer sun warms the landscape, the wildebeest begin their trek back to the lush grasslands of the south and neighboring Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not Ngorongoro Crater itself). Vast plains of lush new grass triggered by the start of the summer rains provide perfect fodder for the wildebeest, which come here to graze rest and calve en masse. In February, the plains are filled with millions of wildebeest calves as mothers give birth to approximately 500 000 babies in a remarkably synchronized event. Of course, where there are wildebeest there are predators. In the southern grasslands, lion, leopard and cheetah are never far from the action, while Lake Ndutu in particular has high concentrations of the elusive African wild dog. The granite kopjes in this region make for great observation points for the big cats.
Western Corridor
In the west, the Serengeti narrows into the remote ‘Western Corridor’, a small strip of verdant land that stretches almost to Lake Victoria. Two rivers flow through the area, the Grumeti and the Mbalageti, lined by evergreen forest and swampy savannah with its black clay soil.
From May to July, the Great Migration passes through and the herds of wildebeest pause to gather momentum before tackling the crossing of the Grumeti River, eagerly watched by predators at every turn. You’ll see enormous Nile crocodiles snapping opportunistically at their heels as they mill around the banks before stampeding across the fast-flowing waters. The landscape is as varied as the game: vast open plains, woodlands and savannas dotted with acacia trees provide a hospitable habitat for the wildlife species that can be sighted here.
Central Seronera
The heart of the Serengeti, the central Seronera region is home to phenomenal quantities of game. The Seronera River and a number of other rivers sustain large populations of resident plains game year round, which ensures superb sightings of predators. Big cats take advantage of the elevated kopjes to scan their territories for prey and the endangered black rhino can often be found in the area.
Twice a year, in May/June and November/December, the extraordinary Great Migration passes through the area and the golden grass plains are filled with herds of wildebeest and the accompanying zebra, topi and gazelle as they continue their trek through the Serengeti in search of fresh grass.
Eastern Serengeti
The Eastern Serengeti is undoubtedly big cat territory. With the Ngare Nanyuki underground river creating pockets of permanent water, the area supports high concentrations of resident plains game and the resulting predators. Lion and leopard are frequently seen languishing on the rocky kopjes, while cheetah hunts their prey undisturbed. The Gol Kopjes on the Eastern Plains boast the highest concentration of cheetah and hyena, as well as plentiful other game.
From October to May the savannah is blanketed with newly sprouted grass, drawing great herds of wildebeest and other ungulates as hundreds of thousands of animals come to feast on the lush green banquet. Zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and eland also migrate to the area and herds of 100 and more are commonplace.
Northern Serengeti
This uncrowded area is virtually unexplored and teems with wildlife, including the largest concentration of elephants in the Serengeti. The landscape, which includes heavily wooded areas and bushy savannah, is spectacular and offers an authentic off-the-beaten-track experience with viewings of hippo, giraffe, eland, Thomson’s gazelle, and more.
From August to November, the plains of the Northern Serengeti spring to life as millions of wildebeest travel age-old migration routes in search of new grass. It is here that the wildebeest face one of the principal obstacles of their trek, the great Mara River, providing spectacular, chaotic and exciting viewing. Wildebeest not only risk being swept away by the swollen river but must also run the gauntlet of Nile crocodiles submerged in the water and hungry predators on the other side.
After the migration, once the wildebeest make their way south, calm descends on the northern plains. The grass rebounds into a lush green carpet, the Mara River returns to a sinuous ribbon of calm and resident game is plentiful. This is a special time to soak up the singular beauty of the Serengeti in peace and quiet.
Wildlife
The Serengeti is home to a simply remarkable number of species. Of course, the main attraction is the Great Migration, when over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle traverse the plains along age-old migration routes in search of fresh grass.
But the Serengeti is also one of the few places in Africa where game viewing is spectacular year round, and it is classic Big Five territory. Vast herds of grazers are ever present and predator numbers are high, with almost 3 500 lion in the area and frequent sightings of leopard and cheetah.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][boc_heading html_element=”h4″]Highlights of Serengeti National Park[/boc_heading][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Home of the biggest part of Great Migration[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Iconic savanna landscapes[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Endless plains and variety of games[/boc_list_item][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][boc_heading html_element=”h4″]Our top sightings in the Serengeti National Park include:[/boc_heading][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]The Big Five: elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhinoceros (black rhino are rare)[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Cheetah, Golden jackal, Topi, Bat-eared fox, Serval[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Zebra, Spotted hyena, Hippo, Aardwolf (very rare), Ground pangolin (very rare)[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Klipspringer, Oribi, Coke’s hartebeest, Wild dog (mostly in the Southern plains)[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Giraffes[/boc_list_item][boc_list_item icon=”icon icon-check-circle”]Antelopes[/boc_list_item][/vc_column][/vc_row]
