Serengeti National Park Animals

Serengeti National Park animals are one of the main reasons that bring visitors to Tanzania on Serengeti wildlife safaris. Serengeti National Park is one of the most spectacular savannah national parks in Tanzania and Africa as a whole, with a remarkable variety of wildlife species that travellers can encounter during various activities in Serengeti National Park.

Animals in Serengeti National Park range from the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos—to many other wildlife species. Black rhinos are rarely spotted in Serengeti National Park, although they are more commonly sighted in nearby Ngorongoro Crater. The Serengeti National Park is also famous for its large big cat population, with sightings of lions, cheetahs and leopards quite common.

Serengeti National Park Animals: Quick Answer

What animals can you see in Serengeti National Park? Serengeti National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, African buffaloes, black rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, impalas, elands, topi and jackals. The park is particularly famous for its large populations of big cats and the annual wildebeest migration.

Can you see the Big Five in Serengeti National Park? Yes. Lions, leopards, elephants and African buffaloes are regularly encountered in Serengeti National Park, while black rhinos are much rarer to see. If you are looking for a more reliable opportunity to see all of the African Big Five, you can also visit the nearby Ngorongoro Crater, where you can see the black rhinos.

What is the most common animal in Serengeti National Park? Wildebeests are among the most abundant large mammals in the Serengeti ecosystem, with more than one million wildebeests taking part in the annual migration alongside large numbers of zebras and gazelles.

What is Serengeti National Park famous for? Serengeti National Park is famous for its abundant wildlife, large lion and other big-cat populations, vast savannah plains, and the Great Wildebeest Migration, when huge herds of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti ecosystem.

What is the best way to see Serengeti National Park animals? Game drives are the main way to see wildlife in Serengeti National Park. Early morning, evening and full-day game drives provide opportunities to explore different habitats and encounter predators, herbivores and other wildlife. Hot air balloon safaris also offer a unique bird’s-eye view of the Serengeti and its animals.

The Big Five in Serengeti National Park

Most travellers who visit Africa come with the main aim of spotting the African Big Five roaming freely in their natural habitat. The Big Five found in or associated with the Serengeti ecosystem include:

Lions

Lions are among the most iconic animals in Africa and are easily seen across the savannah plains of Serengeti National Park. Serengeti National Park lions are numerous, with several large prides living across different areas of the park, making them one of the more commonly sighted animals.

If lucky, you could see lionesses hunting or, better yet, watch lions feeding on their kill. With the help of a good Tanzania safari guide, you can find lions in Serengeti National Park resting under trees, moving across the plains, or actively hunting their prey.

Leopards

Leopards in Serengeti National Park move with a majestic grace and can be seen during game drives. However, they are shy and elusive animals, which can make them more difficult to spot than lions.

Leopards are often found resting on tree branches, particularly in areas with suitable trees along the plains and riverine habitats. Looking carefully into trees during your game drives in Serengeti National Park can therefore pay off, especially when accompanied by an experienced safari guide.

African Elephants

African elephants are the world’s largest land animals, and seeing them in their natural habitat across the vast savannah plains is a thrilling experience that should not be missed.

African elephants live in herds and can be seen in Serengeti National Park, where they roam the savannah plains and move through woodland areas in search of food and water. Watching a herd of elephants moving through the Serengeti landscape is one of the memorable wildlife experiences available in the park.

African Buffaloes

African buffaloes are among the Big Five and are commonly seen in Serengeti National Park. They can be found around areas with water as well as across grasslands and woodland habitats.

Buffaloes are powerful and potentially dangerous wild animals, particularly when threatened. They have relatively few natural predators because of their size, strength and defensive behaviour. Encountering a large herd of African buffaloes while on a game drive can therefore be an impressive part of a Serengeti safari.

Rhinos

Rhinos in Serengeti National Park are difficult to see because their population is very small. In the past, Serengeti National Park had a much larger rhino population, with more than 1,000 rhinos recorded in the area. However, heavy poaching greatly reduced their numbers, making rhinos a rare sighting today.

With the help of an experienced safari guide, travellers may be fortunate enough to encounter a rhino in the Serengeti ecosystem. Nearby Ngorongoro Crater, however, is a more reliable destination for travellers hoping to see the complete African Big Five, including black rhinos.

Other Animals in Serengeti National Park

Apart from the African Big Five, there are many other animals in Serengeti National Park that travellers can see during a safari. These include more than 1 million wildebeests, as well as zebras, gazelles, elands, topi, impalas, hyenas, hippos, jackals, cheetahs and many other wildlife species.

The great diversity of wildlife is one of the reasons the Serengeti is such a popular destination for wildlife viewing. Different habitats across the park support a wide range of herbivores, predators and other animals, giving travellers opportunities to experience varied wildlife encounters during their safari.

Game Drives in Serengeti National Park

Game drives in Serengeti National Park are an amazing way for travellers to explore the vast savannah plains while looking for the different animals in Serengeti National Park.

Early morning and evening game drives provide excellent opportunities to experience the wildlife of Serengeti National Park, while full-day game drives allow travellers to spend more time exploring different areas of the park. Depending on the season and location, travellers may encounter lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, antelopes and many other species.

Wildebeest Migration

The wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park is one of the most fascinating wildlife spectacles to experience in the Serengeti. More than 1 million wildebeests, together with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, move through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water.

One of the most dramatic parts of the migration is the river-crossing season, when large herds cross rivers such as the Mara River as they move between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara ecosystem.

Hot Air Balloon Safaris in Serengeti National Park

Hot air balloon safaris in Serengeti National Park are a great way to see Serengeti National Park animals from above. The experience gives travellers a bird’s-eye view of the wildlife and the endless plains of Serengeti National Park.

From the air, travellers can appreciate the vast scale of the Serengeti landscape while looking down over wildlife and natural habitats. A hot air balloon safari can therefore provide a different perspective from the traditional game-drive experience.

See Animals in Serengeti National Park

Animals in Serengeti National Park are one of the many reasons that travellers visit the park for authentic savannah wildlife-viewing opportunities. Serengeti wildlife safaris are among the most sought-after Tanzania safaris, and they can be done independently as part of a wider itinerary or combined with destinations such as Ngorongoro Crater and the Zanzibar Islands, which offer opportunities for a relaxing beach holiday.

Want to see the Serengeti National Park animals? Get in touch with a reputable tour operator to help you put together an amazing Serengeti wildlife safari and create an opportunity to see the park’s incredible wildlife and much more.