How big is Serengeti national park? Serengeti national park is among the famous safari destinations in the northern part of Tanzania. The national park is made up of open savannah grasslands and covers about 14750 square kilometers. Serengeti national park is among the big national parks of Tanzania and is home to numerous wildlife species which can be seen during safaris.
The great wildebeest migration also takes place in Serengeti national park and over 2 million wildebeests move during this migration which is also among the natural wonders of the world and this movement takes place annually.
With over 4,000 lions, 500 cheetahs and many other wildlife species, Serengeti national park offers amazing wildlife viewing throughout the year. Other wildlife species found in the national park include zebras, gazelles, antelopes, impalas, kudu, waterbucks, hippos, giraffes, elands, hyenas, hartebeests and many others.
Serengeti national park is also made up of dotted trees and kopjes which can be seen during a tour at the destination. The national park is located close to other wildlife viewing destinations like the Ngorongoro conservation area, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and also the Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya.
The least number of days to spend on a safari in the park is 3 days during which you can drive around the national park and see the different wildlife species and also enjoy the views of the endless savannah plains. The more days spent in Serengeti national park, the higher the chances of seeing more wildlife species and the more exciting the safari around the park.
Serengeti national park is so big that it consists of the southern plains where the Ndutu area is located which is known for the calving season during the wildebeest migration. This calving season takes place around January to March when above 8,000 calves are born daily in the grass plains. Ndutu area is found between the southern part of Serengeti national park and the Ngorongoro conservation area.
Another part of the park which you can visit during a safari in Tanzania is the northern part which is famous for the river crossings along the Mara river. Tourists visit this part of Serengeti for a chance to watch as the wildebeest herds cross the Mara river to the Kenya side. During this river crossing, crocodiles are also known to attack the wildebeests.
The central part of Serengeti national park is another part of the park to visit during a safari and many wildlife species are found in the central part of Serengeti which is also referred to as Seronera area. Predators like lions, leopards and cheetahs can be seen in big numbers in this part of Serengeti and the wildebeest migration can be seen here around April and May which is also the low season.
Safaris are also done in the western part of the park where river crossings during the wildebeest migration takes place along the Grumeti river. This part of Serengeti national park is also made up of woodlands and some of the wildlife species which can be seen around here during safaris include antelopes, hartebeests, buffalos, elephants, waterbucks, topi, reedbucks, hippos among others. Various bird species are also seen around this part of Serengeti national park.
The vast nature of the park allows for many activities to be done during safaris including game drives at different times of day, nature walks off the usual wildlife viewing tracks, hot air balloon safaris among other activities.
- Game drives around Serengeti national park can be done early in the morning and also in the afternoon or evening and these safaris are carried out in 4×4 land cruisers which also have open roofs making it easy to take photos during safaris and also see the wildlife in the savannah plains like elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos which are referred to as the big five.
- Nature walks around Serengeti national park are the best way to get closer to the natural surroundings in the park and also enjoy an off the usual wildlife viewing tracks in the national park with the help of an armed ranger guide.
- Hot air balloon safaris are also done in different parts of the park and they give an aerial view of the national park, its attractions and wildlife species. The hot air balloon ride starts as early as 5:00 am and it takes one hour and the experience also involves enjoying an English breakfast and champagne. The hot air balloon safari experience costs about 600 USD per person.
There are different ways to get to Serengeti national park during Tanzania safaris and this includes driving and also flight. Serengeti national park can be accessed by driving from Arusha town which takes about 7 hours. During tours in Tanzania, Serengeti national park can also be accessed by driving from Isebania border which connects Serengeti national park with Kenya.
Domestic and scheduled flights can also be used to access the park during Tanzania safaris and these flights are offered by domestic airlines such as Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Flight Link Tanzania among others. The airstrips in Serengeti national park include Seronera airstrip, Kogatende airstrip, Fort Ikoma airstrip, Grumeti airstrip, Ndutu airstrip, Lobo airstrip among others which are found in different parts of the national park.
When visiting the park in Tanzania, you can fly to Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO) for tours to the destinations in the northern part of Tanzania. Domestic flights around Tanzania can be got from Arusha airport (ARK).
The best time to take part in a safari around Serengeti national park is the dry season from June to October when wildlife species can be seen around water sources. Even in the green season or rainy season around March, April and May, wildlife viewing is amazing in Serengeti national park despite the rains. The months of November to April are the best times for bird watching in the national park.
Visit Serengeti national park and enjoy exploring the vast savannah plains and other attractions during a safari.
