SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Serengeti National Park

The park stands true to its old Maasai name, ‘Siringet’, which means ‘endless open plains’. This is where the most breathtaking phenomenon on the globe occurs: the Great Migration. Serengeti National Park is well-known for its large yearly migration of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles. Seeking new grazing, the herds migrate north from their breeding areas in the verdant southern plains. The crocodile-infested Grumeti River in the swampy western corridor is a popular crossing point. Every year, nearly 2 million wildebeests and zebras travel a distance of about 800 kilometers. They spend the majority of the year grazing in the southeastern section of the habitat, from November to May. But as the pastures wither, they travel for the western Serengeti, where they’ll spend June and July, before continuing their journey north to the lush grasslands of the Masai Mara.

Aside from the migrating wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, the Serengeti provides some of the most breathtaking wildlife watching in Africa. There are around 3,800 lions, 350 cheetahs, 7,500 spotted hyenas, over 12,000 giraffes, and 11,000 elephants roaming the savannah. The kopjes frequently provide sights of the cat-sized hyrax. All three African jackals can be observed, as can the secretive serval cat, aardwolf, and rhinoceros. The abundance of birds enhances the charm of an early morning game drive; this is when their concert is most varied.

Best time to visit:

Late May to October (dry season) & January to March (less rain)

Activities in the Park:

Game drive, balloon safaris, Walking safaris, Photographing safaris, Camping, bush meal and visits to historical and cultural sites.