Serengeti National Park

• Wildlife

Tanzania’s oldest and most popular National Park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th Worldwide Wonder, the Serengeti is famous for its annual migration, when around six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most amazing game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephants and giraffes, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

The scene of predator versus prey dominates Tanzania’s greatest park. Golden-manned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowls the Southeastern plains. Almost uniquely, all three African jackal species occur here, alongside the spotted hyena and a host of more elusive small predators, ranging from the insectivorous aardwolf to the beautiful servile cat. But there is more to Serengeti than large mammals. Around 500 bird species, ranging from the ostrich and bizarre secretary bird of the open grassland, to the black eagles, soar over the beautiful landscape. Hundred varieties of dung beetle have been recorded.

GETTING THERE

Scheduled and charter flights from Arusha, Lake Manyara and Mwanza.
Drive from Moshi, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Tarangire or Ngorongoro Crater.

WHAT TO DO

– Hot Air Balloon safaris
– Walking safari
– Game drives
– Bush lunch/dinner
– Maasai rock paintings and musical rocks
– Visit neighboring Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and Lake Natron’s flamingos.

WHEN TO GO

To follow the wildebeest migration: December-July
To see predators: June-October

ACCOMMODATION

Five lodges, six luxury tented camps and camp sites scattered through the park, one luxury camp, a lodge and two tented camps just outside.