The world’s most famous national park covers an area of 14.763 sq km (the size of Northern Ireland or Connecticut). It is neighboring Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve in the north and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the east, and stretches as far as Lake Victoria to the west. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word »Siringet« meaning »endless plains«.

In recognition of the need to preserve this special area, the central Serengeti was declared a Game Reserve in 1929 and in 1951, the Reserve became Tanganyika's first National Park. In 1981, it was accepted as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.

The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains animals in Africa, including more than three million mammals; it is a sanctuary of an estimated four million different animals and birds! The annual »Great Migration« of more than 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles from the Serengeti into Kenya (in a continuous search of water and pasture) is an amazing spectacle that attracts thousands of people worldwide. At times the line of wildebeest can be even 40km long! The open plains provide the predators and scavengers which follow these massive herds, with relatively easy pickings. It is not unusual to see a »kill« from start to finish.

»The Great Migration« also known as »The Race for Life« is the most breathtaking event in the animal kingdom ever known to humans. As the dry season intensifies, the herds drift out towards the west, to the north towards Lake Victoria, and to the northeast in search for the permanent waters of the northern rivers and the Mara. The immigration instinct is so strong that animals are prepared to sacrifice their lives when crossing rivers full of hungry crocodiles! And most of them do die in the rivers, but the survivors gather in the green Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya until the grazing there is exhausted; then they turn back south to Serengeti along the eastern and final stage of the migration route. The migration coincides with the breeding season, which causes fights among the males.

Other mammal species found in the Serengeti include Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Eland, Thompson’s Gazelle, Hippopotamus, and a large population of Lion and Leopard. The Park’s abundance of wildlife is also marked in the insect world with 100 species of dung beetle alone. Serengeti is known also for its rich bird-life; almost 500 species of birds have been identified here, including Eurasian migrants. Both Greater and Lesser Flamingos flock the saline lakes of Lagaja and Magadi.

Grumeti Western Corridor, stretching almost to the shores of Lake Victoria, with its colorful topography of hills, rivers and flood plains provides year-round habitat for many of the Serengeti species. The Grumeti River flowing through the corridor is full of giant Nile crocodiles, which grow up to 6m in length and have unusually thickset jaws; their life is dependant on »the Great Migration« and this the time of plenty sustains them for the whole year!

Kopjes Rocks are the stunning rock outcrops patched throughout Serengeti. These ancient granite rocks are the result of cracking and erosion being exposed to the sun, wind and rain. They provide shelter and capture water for numerous wildlife and plants. Actually, without Kopjes, Lions and other large animals would not be able to survive the dry season on the plains.

Lobo Northern Woodland is the place where »the Great Migration« passes from Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya. Rocky hills, rivers and woodlands typify this scenic area.

Serengeti Plains on the southern part are some of the most productive and nutritious natural grasslands in the world. In February/March one of wildlife's most amazing spectacles occurs; within three to four weeks, 90% of the female Wildebeest give birth, flooding the plains with thousands of newborn calves each day. Here is also where »the Great Migration« ends in November/ December and starts again in May/June.

Seronera Valley is an important transition area between the southern plains and the northern woodlands. With year-round water, it is perhaps the most reliable area in the park to view resident wildlife including Lion, Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Cheetah, Serval, Caracal, Giraffe, Buffalo, Topi, Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Impala, Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Kirk’s Dik-dik, Hippopotamus, Crocodile, Warthog and diverse birdlife. The Serengeti Research Institute is based here; since 1966 scientists have carried out extensive research on the Serengeti ecosystem, which has made it one of the most studied areas in the world.

Activities
Game drives, Bird-watching, Following »the Great Migration«, Balloon safaris. Most tourists visit Serengeti as a part of their safari tour including Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai or Lake Natron’s Flamingos.

Have a look at our Safari Tours!
And for more photos, take a look at our Photo Gallery!

Map of the Park

When to go
All year round. For the wildebeest and other migratory mammals, »the Great Migration« starts at the end of the rains (May/June) when they begin to head north, north-west; they return in November/December. Annual calving in the south eastern parts occurs between January and March. The best time for predator viewing is from June to October.

Accommodation
There is a variety of campsites, four lodges and six luxury tented camps within the Park. Have a look at some of the Safari Accommodation.

Getting there
A drive from Arusha (6-7h), or a flight from Arusha (1h), Lake Manyara, Mwanza.