Serengeti National Park Wildlife
Serengeti National Park Wildlife: Serengeti national park is a popular destination which is located in the northern part of Tanzania. This national park is famous among tourists on safari due to its numerous wildlife species as well as bird species. Serengeti national park is also the oldest national park of Tanzania and it covers about 14750 square kilometers.
Serengeti national park is home to wildlife species such as the big 5 which includes elephants, lions, buffalos, rhinos and leopards. This national park has about 4000 lions and many other predators such as cheetahs which can be seen hunting their prey in the open savannah plains of the national park.
The big 5 refers to the wildlife species which are the hardest or most difficult to hunt on foot. Some of the big 5 can be seen in other wildlife viewing destinations around Tanzania but all the big 5 are present in Serengeti national park and in the Ngorongoro conservation area.
This national park is part of the northern tourist circuit which consists of other wildlife viewing destinations such as Ngorongoro conservation Area, Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park and Arusha national park.
Other wildlife species which can be spotted during a safari in Serengeti national park include zebras, antelopes, waterbucks, hyenas, gazelles, impalas, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, kudu, dik dik and many others.
Serengeti national park consists of different sections such as the northern Serengeti, western Serengeti, central Serengeti or Seronera area and southern Serengeti which can be visited at different times of year for safaris.
- Central Serengeti
The central part of Serengeti national park has numerous wildlife species and is also home to many predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs. There are also various attractions in the central part of the national park such as the Seronera river valley, Seronera river and kopjes.
Seronera area is made up of savannah plains, swamps, rivers which can be seen during a safari at the destination. There are also various lodges and tented camps in the central part of Serengeti national park.
Flights to the central part of Serengeti national park during wildlife viewing experience in this part of the national park land in Seronera airstrip.
- Western Serengeti
The western part of Serengeti national park is a remote part of the national park which is characterized by a river, lush green landscapes as well as rolling hills. It is also known for the river crossings which take place along the Grumeti river during the wildebeest migration.
Wildlife species which can be spotted in this part of Serengeti national park include hippos, giraffes, antelopes, elephants among others. The activities which tourists engage in during safaris in the western part of Serengeti national park include game drives and community interactions with the Maasai people.
- Northern Serengeti
Northern Serengeti is located close to Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya. Wildlife species which can be spotted in this part of Serengeti national park include lions, cheetahs, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, elands, hyenas among others.
Attractions in the northern part of Serengeti national park include the Lobo valley. Among the activities carried out in this part of the national park include walking safaris, cultural encounters and game drives.
- Southern Serengeti
The southern part of Serengeti national park is located close to the Ngorongoro conservation area which is another wildlife viewing destination in the northern part of Tanzania. It is made up of hills and valleys, short grassy plains which act as habitat for the various wildlife species such as elephants, gazelles, zebras, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, lions among others.
Some parts of Serengeti national park receive more crows of tourists during safaris for example the central part of Serengeti national park which has a variety of wildlife species while the northern part of the national park receives less crowds and is also home to different wildlife species such as predators like lions, leopards and cheetahs.
During the dry season from June to October, wildlife viewing is at its best and there are many tourists who visit Serengeti national park for their safaris. Serengeti national park however can also be visited all through the year for wildlife viewing.
Wildebeest migration
The wildebeest migration is a natural wonder which takes place in Serengeti national park as millions of wildebeests move in their herds annually across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem in search of greener pastures.
Over 2 million wildebeests move across the open savannah plains between Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya. Other wildlife species such as zebras and gazelles also accompany the wildebeests during the wildebeest migration.
Predators like lions also hunt the wildebeests especially the unknowing young wildebeests during the calving season which takes place around December to march and is at its best in the month of February.
At different months of the year, the movement of the wildebeests varies as they move from one destination to another following the rains. The wildebeest migration follows a clockwise direction as the wildebeest move from destination to destination.
River crossings are also a highlight of the wildebeest migration and tourists can enjoy seeing as the herds of the wildebeests struggle to cross the rivers such as the Grumeti river and the Mara river.
Park entry is one of the requirements which tourists are expected to pay before entering Serengeti national park. This fee is 71 USD for nonresidents, and also varies for East Africans and foreign residents visiting the national park.
Activities which tourists engage in during their wildlife viewing experiences in Serengeti national park include the following;
Game drives
Game drives are a popular wildlife viewing activity which tourists engage in during their safaris as they explore the open savannah of Serengeti national park and look out for various wildlife species such as elephants, lions, leopards, giraffe, rhinos, hippos, waterbucks, wildebeests, antelopes, kudu and cheetahs among others.
This activity is carried out at different times of day such as in the morning, in the afternoon or evening. Serengeti national park is made up of woodlands, savannah plains, riverine forests, rock outcrops (kopjes) which can be seen as tourists explore the national park and enjoy looking out for various wildlife species.
Nature walks
Nature walks are also carried out in Serengeti national park in the company of a ranger guide who guides the tourists as they explore the national park and its attractions and also get a close experience with their natural surroundings.
Hot air balloon safaris
Another activity which tourists engage in during their safaris is the hot air balloon experiences which give the tourists an aerial view of Serengeti national park and its attractions such as the rivers as well as the wildlife species which can be spotted in the savannah.
Birding
Serengeti national park also has about 500 bird species which can also be seen during a safari around the destination. This activity is best done during the month of November to April which is the wet season when both native and migratory bird species can be spotted in the national park.
The bird species which can be seen during a safari in Serengeti national park include kori bustards, secretary birds, rufous tailed weavers, shrikes, vultures, and yellow throated sand grouse among others.
Cultural tours
During safaris to Serengeti national park, tourists also interact with the local community such as the Maasai people who have a unique culture and way of life. Tourists get to interact with the locals during these cultural tours.
Attractions in Serengeti national park which can be spotted during safaris include Seronera valley, Grumeti river, hippo pool, kopjes among others.
Visit Serengeti national park and explore its vast savannah plains as you enjoy looking out for different wildlife species.
