This is among Tanzania’s most visited and popular national parks located in the northern circuit in Tanzania about 335 kilometers from Arusha the main entry point and tourist center for the northern circuit and has an area coverage of about 14,763 kilometer squares extending in the north towards Kenya and in the west bordering lake victoria.
Serengeti national park was recently added among the 7 wonders of the world mainly because of the parks most famous wildebeest migration. Thousands of wildebeest migrate every year from this national park mainly in search for fresh pastures and new territories on approximately 1,000 kilometers across the border to Kenya’s Maasai Mara national park. The wildebeest comprises of about 200,000 zebra, 300,000 Thompson gazelle, 12,000 elands and many other major herbivores especially impalas and buffaloes.
Apart from the wildebeest migration, Serengeti national park offers a number of many other wildlife species including large herds of buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, Topi, grant gazelle that can be viewed by tourists while on various game drives in the national park.
The park also has major predators that usually hunt down the major herbivores. The dominant predators are the golden manned lions that usually camouflage the savanna bushes as they closely watch their meals of the day (the herbivores) ready to take them down. Leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, Serval cats; aardwolves and the jackals are often sighted along the Seronera River and the southern eastern planes.
Serengeti National Park does not only has the big mammals, it also has smaller and attractive wildlife species that include the beetles, gaudy agama lizards, rock hyraxes, various bird species including the ostrich, black eagles and many others that can be clearly seen around the isolated granitic Koppies and around the lobo hills.
Serengeti national park has typical African vegetation types ranging from the savanna grasslands, savanna woodlands, green grasses and beautiful flowers that usually sprout during the wet season, many fig trees and acacia woodlands. All these are homes to a number of wildlife species that the park has to offer.
Serengeti national park is located about 335 kilometers from Arusha the main entry point and tourist center for the northern circuit and has an area coverage of about 14,763 kilometer squares extending in the north towards Kenya and in the west bordering lake victoria.
Accessing The National Park
Using road transport, from Arusha its about 335 kilometers and in a standard car (4X4) it can take about 3-4 hours. This enables tourists to view various tourist attractions en route for example the Ngorongoro crater, lake Manyara and many others.
Alternatively one can use air transport. There are scheduled flights from Arusha to lake Manyara and to Mwanza on lake victoria.
Tourist Activities In Serengeti National Park
- Game drives. These can be made in standard 4X4 tourist vehicles providing great views of the wildlife species in the park.
- Hot air balloon safaris; these provide aerial views of the flora and fauna in the national park.
- Walking safaris can also be made in the national park as well as provisions for picnicking and dining in the typical African wild while listening to the sounds of nature.
- Birding is also very possible especially around the major lakes in the national park. Lake Natron has a number of flamingos and many other birds that can be viewed around the lake shores.
Best Time To Visit The National Park
Serengeti national park can be visited at any time of the year however those interested in viewing the wildebeest migration can visit the park between December and July and those interested in viewing the national parks major predators can visit the park between June and October.
Where To Stay
Serengeti national park has a number of standard accommodation facilities with 4 lodges, 6-tented camps and a number of camping sites evenly distributed within the national park.