
Facts About Serengeti National Park and Wildlife
Facts About Serengeti National Park and Wildlife
Facts About Serengeti National Park and Wildlife: Serengeti national park is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is a safari destination which is known for wildlife viewing.
The national park is part of the northern tourist circuit of Tanzania which is made up of other wildlife viewing destinations such as Ngorongoro conservation area, Lake Manyara national park and Tarangire national park.
Serengeti national park covers about 14750 square kilometers which is made up of open savannah plains, acacia woodlands as well as rock outcrops which are known as kopjes such as Simba kopjes, Maasai kopjes and Moru kopjes.
Serengeti national park is home to various wildlife species such as the big 5 which tourists enjoy looking out during their safaris at the destinations. The big 5 include elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos.
Wildlife species which can be seen during a safari around the wilderness of Serengeti national park include giraffes, elands, waterbucks, zebras, hippos, hartebeests, gazelles, impalas, kudu, dik dik and many others.
There are over 3000 lions in Serengeti national park which can be seen in the central part of the national park which is also referred to as the Seronera area. Other predators in the central part of the national park include leopards and cheetahs.
Serengeti national park also has about 500,000 zebras, 200,000 antelopes, 1000 leopards, 5000 elephants, about 50 endangered black rhinos and many others. There are also over 500 bird species which can be spotted around the national park.
Some of the facts about Serengeti national park and its wildlife include the following;
- 3 sectors or regions of Serengeti national park
Serengeti national park consists of 3 regions which include the western Serengeti, northern Serengeti and the Serengeti plains. The Serengeti plains are a popular part of the national park which is visited while on safaris.
The northern part of Serengeti national park is made up of hills as well as woodlands. It is also a remote part of the national park which is located near the south western part of Kenya where Masai Mara national reserve is located and wildlife species which can be spotted in this part of the national park include elephants, giraffes and many others.
Another part of Serengeti national park is the western part which is known for the river crossings during the wildebeest migration where herds of wildebeests can be spotted crossing the Grumeti river.
- The oldest national park of Tanzania
Serengeti national park is also the oldest national park in Tanzania with a vast ecosystem which extends up to the south western part of Kenya and also includes the Ngorongoro conservation area and Maswa game reserve.
- One of the 7 natural wonders of Africa
In Serengeti national park, the wildebeest migration takes place and it is considered one of the 7 natural wonders of Africa. The movement of wildebeests takes place at different times of the year in the different sections of Serengeti national park.
- Home to the Maasai
The Maasai people also live in the neighboring villages around Serengeti national park. They have a unique culture and are known for their nomadic way of life. Tourists on safari in the national park also visit the Maasai villages to interact with the locals and get to know more about their way of life, culture, and way of dressing among other facts.
Visits to the traditional homesteads of the Maasai are also among the ways through which the tourists can experience the Maasai culture as they also enjoy seeing local art and crafts like beaded jewelry which Maasai can be seen putting on which is part of their attire.
- Big 5 destination
Serengeti national park is popular for being home to the big 5 which are the most difficult wildlife species to hunt on foot such as elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards. Tourists also visit the national park to see many other wildlife species of Serengeti national park such as zebras, gazelles, giraffes, kudu, waterbucks, impalas, hippos, cheetahs, hyenas and many others.
- Best national park in the world
Serengeti national park has also won awards for being the best national park in the world. The World Travel awards nominated Serengeti national park in the category of Africa’s leading national park.
In 2021, Serengeti national park was also announced as the best national park in the world by Trip Advisor.
- Endless plains
Serengeti national park is also known for its endless plains which extend up to the border of Kenya. The national park also has a diversity of flora and fauna which can be seen during a safari around the northern part of Tanzania.
The national park is also made up of diverse habitat which consists of savannah plains, acacia woodlands and shrubs where the different wildlife species can be spotted during a safari experience at the destination.
- Big cats
The big cats can also be seen during a safari around Serengeti national park and they include lions, leopards and cheetahs. There are also other predators in the national park such as hyenas, jackals, aardwolf, serval cats among others.
- Wildebeest migration
The largest migration of wildlife also takes place in Serengeti national park. The wildebeest migration takes place annually in Serengeti national park where over 2 million wildebeests can be seen across the open savannah plains of the national park.
Zebras and gazelles as well as predators like lions and leopards can also be seen around the herds of the wildebeests as they move in the savannah plains of Serengeti national park. Game drives are organized in the national park for tourists to follow the herds and enjoy seeing the migration in Serengeti national park.
- Bird species
There are also numerous bird species which can be spotted while on a safari around Serengeti national park and they are over 500 bird species which include endemic and migratory bird species such as ostriches, starlings, weavers, grey breasted spurfowl and many others.
The bird-watching activity in Serengeti national park is best done during the months of November to April.