The Serengeti National Park is a Tanzanian national park in the Serengeti ecosystem in the Mara and Simiyu regions. It is famous for its year-long migration of over 1.5 million white-bearded (or brindled) wildebeest and 250,001 zebra and for its numerous Nile crocodile and honey badger.
The park covers 14,750 square kilometres (5,700 sq mi) of grassland plains, savanna, riverine forest, and woodlands. The park lies in northwestern Tanzania, bordered to the north by the Kenyan border, where it is continuous with the Maasai Mara National Reserve. To the southeast of the park is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to the southwest lies Maswa Game Reserve, to the west are the Ikorongo and Grumeti Game Reserves, and to the northeast and east lies the Loliondo Game Control Area. Together, these areas form the larger Serengeti ecosystem.
History: Serengeti National Park
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word “Siringeti” referring to an “Endless Plain”. As you stand on the Southern grass plains, you experience this vastness, and can witness one of the greatest concentrations of plain animals left on earth. The plains were formed 3-4 Million years ago when ash blown from Volcanic mountains of Ngorongoro highlands. The thick layer of ash preserved traces of early man, and established the rich soil which supports the growth of short grasses in Southern plains. From this early beginning, man and wildlife have shared this magical place.
Serengeti National Park can be accessed by Air and by road through fifteen (15) entry points. By Air the Park is accommodating Seven (7) Airstrips which can be accessed from all Local and International Airports in the country. By road the park can be accessed through eight gates (8) which are Naabi Hill Gate, Ikoma gate, Ndabaka Gate, Kleins Gate, Tabora B, Lamai Gate, Handajega Gate and Ndutu Gate.
The distance from Arusha to Naabi Gate is 272km through Ngorongoro Conservation Area, from Arusha to Kleins Gate 420km, from Mwanza to Ndabaka Gate 141km, From Mwanza to Ikoma gate through Mugumu District 253km . From Sirari Boarder to Ikoma is approximately 158km via Kiabakari – Butiama and Mugumu. From Sirari – Ikoma Gate via Nyamongo, Mugumu 138km. From Sirari – Lamai Gate via Nyamongo 67km.
Wildlife: Serengeti National Park
The park is worldwide known for its abundance of wildlife and high biodiversity. The Big Five is dominant in the serengeti along with other wildlife like Grant’s gazelle, and tens of thousands of topi and Coke’s hartebeest. Masai giraffe, waterbuck, impala, warthog, hippo, Nile crocodiles, cheetah, thousands of bird species, of jackals, African golden wolf, honey badger, Masai ostrich, secretarybird, kori bustards, helmeted guineafowls, Grey-breasted spurfowl, southern ground hornbill, crowned cranes, marabou storks, yellow-billed stork, lesser flamingo, martial eagles, lovebirds, oxpeckers, and many species of vultures, leopard tortoise, serrated hinged terrapin, rainbow agama, Nile monitor, chameleons, African python, black mamba[9], black-necked spitting cobra, puff adder.
Serengeti National Park provides a variety of facilities for accommodation from Camping grounds to Bandas, Hostel and Rest houses. The camping grounds are named as Special Campsite and Public campsites.
Public Campsite:
Special Campsite:
Lodges:
Serengeti comprises of 6 Lodges which includes Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Sopa Lodge, Serena Lodge, Lobo wildlife Lodge and Melia Lodge.
Tented Lodges:
Serengeti Comprises a number of Tented Lodges which offers accommodation in another taste inside the park. These Tented Lodges includes Kubukubu, Normad, Lemala, Mbalageti, Migration Camp, Mbuzi Mawe Camp, Serengeti Bushtop, Sayari,Singita Mara River Camp, Grumeti River Camp and Serengeti Soroi Camp.
Best Time to Visit: Serengeti National Park
The park can be visited throughout the year, however the best season is between Mid-May to Mid-October. The short rains starts from early November to December while long rains starts from January to March allowing the Wildebeest to calve in the Southern short grass plains.
The Great Migration:
Mara and Grumeti Rivers Crossing: