Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park: Background Info

Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopard, 550 cheetahs and some 500 bird species inhabit an area close to 15,000 square kilometers in size. Join us on a safari and explore the endless Serengeti plains dotted with trees and kopjes from which majestic lions control their kingdom; gaze upon the Great Migration in awe or find an elusive leopard in a riverine forest. Or perhaps see everything from a bird’s-eye view and soar over the plains at sunrise during a hot air balloon safari. Accommodation options come in every price range - the sound of lions roaring at night is complimentary.

The magic of Serengeti National Park is not easy to describe in words. Not only seeing, but also hearing the buzz of millions of wildebeest so thick in the air that it vibrates through your entire body is something you will try to describe to friends and family, before realising it’s impossible. Vistas of honey-lit plains at sunset so beautiful, it’s worth the trip just to witness this. The genuine smiles of the Maasai people, giving you an immediate warming glow inside. Or just the feeling of constantly being amongst thousands of animals – it doesn’t matter what season of the migration you visit the Serengeti National Park, it’s magical all year round.

Serengeti National Park: Destination Preview

The Experience: Serengeti National Park

Although the Serengeti is home to the Big 5, it's best known for being host to the Great Wildebeest Migration. This grand annual spectacle is when millions of wildebeest, followed by gazelle and zebra, seek greener pastures and dodging predators along the way. Their circuit journey continues south in the Serengeti before heading west, then north into the Maasai Mara, before returning to their starting point. Predators lurk on their heels, pouncing when they see the opportunity, making this journey packed with exhilarating wildlife sightings.

The Serengeti stage is set for the drama to unfold, with varying terrain ranging from volcanic grasslands to vast plains, interrupted by rocky outcrops, snaking rivers, and forests. Although it's wild out there, the reserve is home to ultra-luxurious lodges, designed to give you the best seat in the house to admire the Serengeti's show. With a thriving predator population and varied birdlife, there's always something to see here, often around the rivers and watering holes where the animals gather to quench their thirst. With hippo and crocodile waiting to pounce, the water's edge is the prime position to wait for action. Whether it's simply to observe a herd of elephant cooling down or lion and crocodile competing over food sources – there's always action unfolding in the Serengeti.

Wildlife

The Serengeti is one of the most famous parks in Africa and is synonymous with wildlife and classic African scenery. It is Tanzania's oldest park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is home to the spectacular wildebeest migration and offers top-class wildlife viewing throughout the year. The Serengeti offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa. All the major safari animals occur in great numbers. Cheetah and four of the Big 5 are easily seen, but rhino sightings are rare, and only black rhino are present. Aside from the big cats, many other predators can be spotted including spotted hyena (especially in the morning), jackal and bat-eared fox. Big herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and many antelope, such as eland, topi, kongoni and impala are resident at any time of the year. All three big cats are easily seen. Lion are often found on a kill. Cheetah are very common on the southeastern plains, while leopard can typically be found lazing in one of the big trees along the Seronera River.

Birdlife

The Serengeti has more than 500 bird species recorded, and the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of Africa's Endemic Bird Areas (land important for habitat-based bird conservation containing restricted-range bird species), hosting five bird species found nowhere else. These specials are easy to locate within their restricted range. The grey-breasted spurfowl is common in the Seronera area. In woodland areas, parties of Fischer's lovebird draw attention to themselves and the rufous-tailed weaver is a fascinating bird placed in its own genus. The other two endemics are the Usambiro barbet and the grey-crested helmet-shrike. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Bird watching in the Serengeti is good year-round, but at its very best during November through April. Not only is this when European and north African migratory birds are present, but it is also nesting time for resident species. This makes it easy to spot birds in their breeding plumage. The Dry season occurs in June through October, making it the best time for watching wildlife.