Located in the northern part of Tanzania, Serengeti national park stands as the largest park of the country stretching over an area of 14,763 square kilometers. The park is located in eastern Mara region and north east portion of Simiyu region containing over 15,000,000hectares of virgin savanna. Serengeti national park became a national park in 1940 and later in 1948, it was granted strict protection when the its Board of Trustees was formed to administer the national park and later fully established as a national park in 1952. The park is well known for the largest animal migration in the world of over 1.5million blue wildebeest and 250,000 zebra and the largest lion population in Africa. The park is also a home to a variety of other animals like cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, and also bird species.
Attractions in the park
Wildlife: Serengeti national park is a home to a number of different wildlife including the big world’s five animals- lions, African elephants, African leopard, buffalos and the black rhinoceros. Other wild life includes cheetahs, spotted hyenas, honey badger, caracal, serval, striped hyena, African wild cat, bat-eared fox and others.
Reptile species: Serengeti national park is encompassed by a variety of reptile species including the Nile crocodile, leopard tortoise, serrated hinged terrapin, rainbow agama, Nile monitor, African python, black mamba, chameleon, puff adder and others.
Bird species: Enjoy seeing the beautiful and colorful bird species and also enjoy there song like sounds since the park is a home to more than 500 bird species including the Maasai ostrich, Kori bustards, secretary bird, black smith lapwing, southern ground hornbill, crowned cranes, cattle egrets, black herons, white stock, marabou stocks, yellow billed stork, spotted thick knees, Tanzanian red billed horn bill, love birds, and so many species of vultures.
The wildebeest migration: This migration has been described in different ways by different people but all in all it is one of the 7 wonders of the world. The yearly journey of about 1 million wildebeests, zebras and other forms of animals is such a great a great experience in Serengeti national park. A number of animals travel a different mile in search of pastures and clean water. This migration has been one of the attractions in Serengeti national park since travelers’ sight different animals flocking to different destinations.
Moru Kopjes: These are the perfect places to spot the black rhinos. These scattered rocks around the park provide shade to many preys and predators.
Olduvai Gorge: A place where the remains of the early man were dug about 1 million years ago by Dr, Louis leaky is also another attraction at Serengeti national park.
The local people (Maasai Mara): Besides the bird and animals’ species, Serengeti national park is also a home to the Maasai Mara people whose cultural practices like songs, dances and stories will catch your memory in a better way.
Retina hippo pool: This is a place where hippos can be found dipping in large numbers.
Seronera river valley: This is another attraction at Serengeti national park that provides perfect views of the park to the traveler. The valley is known as the summary of the park since it consists of the rivers, mountains and also animal species.
Accommodation facilities at Serengeti national park
The park is made up of different accommodation facilities affordable to every client ranging from budget, mid-range, and luxury cost. Among the accommodations include; Ole Serai luxury camp, Serengeti Serena safari lodge, Mbalageti Serengeti, Serengeti sound of silence, Serengeti sametu camp, and others.
How to access Serengeti national park
The best option to get to the park is to fly into Kilimanjaro international airport, situated about 46km from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere international airport just outside Dar es Salaam and then fly to Arusha airport.
When one decides to use road transport, the trip is about 325km taking about 8 hours. You can easily attain a Tanzania Car rental from Arusha Town and get to explore Serengeti on your own.
What to pack while going for the safari in Serengeti
- Lightweight, breathable clothing in neutral colours.
- Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
- A good pair of binoculars for wildlife viewing.
- Sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
- Insect repellent.
- A camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
Rules and Etiquette:
- Always follow your guide’s instructions and respect wildlife from a safe distance.
- Stay in designated areas and on marked roads.
- Keep noise levels to a minimum to avoid disturbing the animals.
