Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park is without doubt the world’s most famous national park. It is here where one of the annual migration of millions of antelope, zebra and wildebeest head north to the Masai Mara in Kenya. The migration takes place during August and September as the animals head north in search of greener pastures and is without doubt one of the most spectacular sights in Africa.

In 1921, explorer Stewart Edward White camped in an area of the Serengeti called Seronera for 3 months. During this time, he and his party shot around 50 lions. The hunting of these lions made them scarce so the British decided to make a partial game reserve in 1921 and a full one in 1929. This was the basis for the creation of the Serengeti National Park which was established in 1951. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest national park and is considered a major part of their tourism industry.

The Serengeti National Park is divided in to three main areas:

- Serengeti Plains: Endless, treeless grasslands where large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and buffalo can be found. Granite kopjes are common and make ideal observation points for lion and leopards. The migration herds remain on the plains between December and May.

- Western Corridor: Predominantly a swampy savannah with the Grumeri river providing a home to nile crocodiles, colobus monkeys and birdlife. The migration passes through between May and July.

- Northern Serengeti: Open woodlands and hills. The migration can be found here in July, August and November. It is also the best place to see elephant and giraffe.

The Serengeti is also home to the African ‘Big Five’ with the critically endangered Black Rhino found mainly around the kopjes in the centre of the park.

Getting There & Getting Around

You’ll fly into Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport from Nairobi and from there depending on where you are staying, you will continue your journey by road or light aircraft.

Weather

In the Serengeti National Park, it is either the Wet Season or the Dry Season. There are two wet seasons; October-November and March-April. The migration is tied to the weather as the herd moves north in search of more food.

Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eismcsquare/