Serengeti National Park

Overview

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti is the world heritage site and UNESCO biosphere reserve, which lies between Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya to the north, Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the south and extending close to less than 10kms of the shores of Lake Victoria to the west.

Serengeti National Park is the third largest park in Tanzania, covering an area of 14,763 square kilometers. Siringiti in maasailanguage is the home to Africa’s big five (rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and cape buffalo), the famous great migration of grazers in search for pastures and predators following the large herds, beautiful sceneries i.e landscapes and endless plains.

Serengeti national park is a vast world heritage site teeming with wildlife. It is home to over 2 million wildebeest, 4,000 lions and approximately 500 bird species.\

Weather at Serengeti National Park;

1. January – February March, green pasture season

2. April – May, long rainy season

3. June – July – August – September – October, dry season

4. November – December, short rainy season

Serengeti National Park Great Migration  

Serengeti migration is the endless movement of wildebeest and other migratory animals (Zebras and Antelopes) in the Serengeti eco-system. This is dictated by rainfall, availability of water and fresh pasture. The migration follows same clockwise pattern every year with slight variation depending on weather.

Serengeti national park main wildebeest migratory population ranges a region of 25,000 square kilometres inside the park which is about two third which is taken care under Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro conservation area and Masaai Mara game reserve in Kenya. The rest of migration liesadjacent areas bordering Serengeti including Loliondo game controlled area to the north-east, Maswa game reserve to south-west and Gurumeti game reserve and Ikorongo game reserve to the nort-west, all allocated in Tanzania.

The migration normaly stays in Tanzania for atleast nine (9) months from November to August.

December to April, every year depending on the onset of the short and long rains, south-eastern Serengeti plains and open woodland around lake Ndutu and Masek are transformed into busy holding ground for vast herds of migratory animals. The most common is wildebeest, breeding and regrouping in their hundreds of thousands.

Ndutu which geographically within Ngorongoroconservation Area, forms an important part in Serengeti eco-system, especially open short grass plains. This provides calving ground for wildebeests every year. The migratory animals mainly wildebeests and zebras roam for more than five months, attracting large predator population including lions, hyenas, cheetah and jackals.

March to May; the rains that stars in March and continue on to the end of May. This create perfect habitat for migratory animals to continue roaming in the Serengeti plains, before they start fanning out into areas where there is permanent water and pasture. The most reliable migratory event occurs at the beginning of long dry season.

May and June; these are the beginning of long dry season. Where lines and column of wildebeest up to 40 kilometers long have been observed from air (aerial view) havebeen seen heading south – west. North west as wildebeest trek to woodland zone.  

July to August; the migration lingers in western corridor towards Lake Victoria area before moving to north and north – east in search of fresh pasture and water. Grumeti riverine systemin western Serengeti forms an early dry season migration route and critical catchment area for migratory animals. Habitat supports a high density of resident’s ungulates, which provide year round game viewing opportunity.

September to November; while lobo area and some parts of northern Serengeti along mara river remain rich in wildlife, during dry season due to availability of permanent water. Most migratory animals move into Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya by September. The migratory animals stay hardly three months in Masaai mara before streaming back into northern Tanzania and Serengeti eco-system in November.

NOTE:

Serengeti offers excellent game viewing throughout the year, but the great migration phenomenon adds special spice that attracts plenty of tourists.

Game drives at Serengeti National Park are done on sleep over basis which has the following options:

1. Camping accommodation, where we will travel with camping gear, set up camp and be with private chef for meals preparation.

2. Rest House accomodation, where we will only be traveling with private chef for meals preparation.

3. Lodge or Hotel accommodation, we only travel with our luggages because everything will be provided at the property (full board basis).