Unveiling the Serengeti: Tanzania’s Premier Safari Destination Serengeti National Park is a unique and breathtaking African wilderness that is home to millions of migrating wildebeest and other animals. It is also the birthplace of human life and has been recognized as a World Heritage Site. The beauty of Serengeti National Park is difficult to put into words. The sight and sound of millions of wildebeest on the move is indescribable, as is watching the sunset over the honey-lit plains. The warm smiles of the Maasai people are a welcome sight, and the feeling of being surrounded by thousands of animals is magical all year round.
The park is unfenced, which means that animals have enough space to roam and migrate according to rainfall and grass nutrient levels. This seasonal pattern of movement is known as the Great Migration, and it is a natural wonder that attracts visitors from all over the world. The Serengeti National Park is a dynamic ecosystem that provides important insights into how the natural world works.
Wildlife in Serengeti National Park – What you will see in Serengeti National Park
Although the annual migration is a major attraction for many visitors to the Serengeti National Park, there are plenty of other reasons to explore this vast area. It's important to to know that the Wildebeest Migration is a natural phenomenon and for those who wish to experience some of its spectacular moments should time well. Although nature cannot be controlled, you can still plan your safari within the best months. River crossings, for example, are often brief and can be missed easily if not well timed.
Nonetheless, there are many other things to appreciate in the Serengeti, such as the stunning skies with their dazzling colors, or the sense of awe that comes with watching a thunderstorm on the horizon. Wildlife enthusiasts can also come to see the park's impressive predators, including 7,500 hyenas, 3,000 lions, and 250 cheetahs. You will also encounter large herds of majestic elephants that roam the plains and woodlands, feeding on leaves and tree branches.
History of Serengeti National Park
In 1930, an area of 2,286 square kilometers was established as a game reserve in what is now the southern and eastern Serengeti. Before 1937, sport hunting activities were allowed in the park, and many big hunters used to travel to hunt in this are. In 1940, the area was elevated to Protected Area Status, and in 1951, it was established as National Park. The area that was demarcated as a National Park included southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro highlands. The park headquarters were based on the rim of the Ngorongoro crater.
At first Serengeti National Park covered a wider area comprising some parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). However, in 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was split off from the Serengeti National Park, and the boundaries of the park were extended to the Kenya border. The reason for splitting off the Ngorongoro area was that local Maasai residents realized that they were threatened with eviction and not allowed to graze their cattle within the national park boundaries. To prevent this from happening, protests were staged. A decision was reached wherein the Ngorongoro Crater Area was split off from the original Serengeti National park. The Maasai people were allowed to live and graze their cattle in the Ngorongoro Crater area but not within the Serengeti National Park boundaries.
In 1961, the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya was established, and in 1965, the Lamai Wedge between the Mara River and Kenya border was added to the Serengeti National Park, creating a permanent corridor for wildebeests to migrate from the Serengeti plains in the south to the Loita Plains in the north. The Maswa Game Reserve was established in 1962, and a small area north of the Grumeti River in the western corridor was added in 1967.
The Serengeti National Park was among the first places to be proposed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO at the 1972 Stockholm conference.
Best things to do in Serengeti National Park
Game Drives
The Serengeti vast plains can be best explored on a safari game drive. Game drives are best done in early morning or late evening when the animals are very active. During game drives safaris in Serengeti National Park, you will explore various areas of the park, spot different wildlife species including lions, zebra, elephants, leopards, gazelles, wildebeests, buffalos, and hyenas among others. During a safari game drive, you mas also spot some predators making a kill. These safaris are also the best way to explore the various birdlife in Serengeti National Park.
Hot Air Balloon Rides
The other top thrilling adventure activity in Serengeti National Park is a hot air balloon ride. There is nothing as thrilling as floating lazily above the vast wilderness of Serengeti while having a view of different wildlife species below. An amazing activity to do in Serengeti. The Balloon rides in Serengeti set off early in the morning or late in the afternoon as the sun goes down.
Best time to Visit Serengeti National Park
Although generally Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park can be visited at any time of the year, there are some month of the year that offer more ideal conditions for safari. The Best time to go safari in Serengeti National Park is during the dry months between July and October and January and February. These months are associated with little rainfalls, making most parts of the Park more accessible. It is also important to note that during the dry seasons, wildlife tends to congregate around the water hole thus sighting them becomes much more easier than during the rainy seasons.
