Serengeti National Park Overview
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s oldest and most famous national park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its vast savannahs, incredible wildlife diversity, and the annual Great Migration. Spanning approximately 14,750 square kilometers (5,700 square miles), it is one of Africa's most iconic safari destinations. The Serengeti's endless plains are home to millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other game species, making it a prime location for witnessing the grandeur of the African wilderness.
Location and Size
Serengeti National Park is located in northern Tanzania, extending to the border with Kenya, where it connects with the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The park covers an area of about 14,750 square kilometers (5,700 square miles), making it one of the largest national parks in Africa. It’s approximately 335 kilometers (208 miles) from Arusha, the main gateway town.
Flora and Fauna
The Serengeti's varied landscapes include open grasslands, savannahs, riverine forests, and woodlands, supporting an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The park is famous for its large populations of herbivores, including over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebras, and numerous gazelles. These species participate in the annual Great Migration, one of the most spectacular wildlife events on Earth. Predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas thrive in the park, alongside elephants, giraffes, and more than 500 bird species, including ostriches, eagles, and vultures.
Key Attractions
- Witness the incredible journey of millions of wildebeest and zebras as they move across the Serengeti in search of fresh grazing grounds, crossing perilous rivers along the way.
- The Serengeti is one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos—in their natural habitat.
- Known as the heart of the Serengeti, this area offers excellent year-round game viewing, especially for big cats.
- Famous for its dramatic river crossings during the Great Migration, where crocodiles lie in wait for crossing herds.
Activities
- Explore the vast plains of the Serengeti on guided game drives, with opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Five.
- Experience the Serengeti from above, drifting over the endless plains and witnessing the wildlife from a unique vantage point.
- With over 500 bird species, the Serengeti is a paradise for bird enthusiasts, offering sightings of everything from raptors to waterfowl.
- Visit nearby Maasai villages to learn about the traditional way of life of the Maasai people, who have coexisted with the wildlife of the Serengeti for centuries.
Unique Features
Serengeti National Park is globally renowned for the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the plains in one of nature's most awe-inspiring spectacles. The park's vast and varied landscapes provide a perfect backdrop for this event and offer year-round opportunities to see Africa's most iconic wildlife. The presence of kopjes, or rocky outcrops, adds a unique geological feature to the otherwise flat plains, providing shelter and vantage points for predators.
Visitor Experience
Visitors to Serengeti National Park often describe their experience as transformative, with the sheer scale of the landscape and the abundance of wildlife leaving a lasting impression. Whether it's the thrill of witnessing a lion hunt, the awe of seeing thousands of wildebeest on the move, or the serenity of a sunrise over the plains, the Serengeti offers an unparalleled safari experience. The park's well-established infrastructure, including luxury lodges, tented camps, and mobile camps, ensures that visitors can enjoy both comfort and adventure in the heart of the African wilderness.
