Location of Serengeti National Park
Are you planning to visit Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for a wildlife experience, and you don’t know where this remarkable national park is located? This guide will provide for you all the necessary details on the location and the top attractions to see in Serengeti National Park that you should expect to see during your safari. Serengeti National Park is the serene wilderness and calm of this honeymoon safari and is the only national park where you can witness the Great Wildebeest Migration.
The Serengeti National Park is a large national park located in northern Tanzania that stretches over 14,763 square kilometers. Moreover, this stunning park is located in the eastern Mara Region and northeastern Simiyu Region and contains over 1.5 million ha of virgin savanna. The park was gazetted in 1940 and also included what is now the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was split off from the Serengeti National Park, and they extended the boundaries of the park to the Kenya border.
Serengeti National Park is famous for its huge herds of plains animals, especially the wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, and it is the only place in Africa where vast land-animal migrations still take place. The park, an international tourist attraction, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
This park also offers you the opportunity to spot the Big Five wildlife in Tanzania, such as buffaloes, lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. Other wildlife that you can film includes black-backed jackals, African golden wolves, honey badgers, caracals, striped hyenas, servals, banded mongooses, zebras, elands, hippos, aardvarks, aardwolves, African civets, genets, African wildcats, and cheetahs, as well as other large hunters like spotted hyenas.
What to do in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania?
Witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration
Experiencing the Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the most exciting parts of a safari in Tanzania. Every year, this amazing event takes place when over 1.2 million wildebeest and about 300,000 zebras, along with other animals like topi and gazelles, move through the Serengeti-Mara area in search of grass and water. It’s the largest animal migration on Earth! Along the way, hungry predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, and crocodiles ensure that only the strongest animals make it through this incredible journey, often called “the greatest show on Earth.” The migration starts in the Serengeti and typically happens between December and July, giving visitors an amazing view of this natural spectacle.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a special activity you can enjoy while on a Tanzania safari in Serengeti National Park. This beautiful park is home to more than 500 species of birds, and it’s best done in the Seronera area, the Grumeti area also called the Western Corridor, the Ikorongo reserve, the Loliondo area, and the southern part known as the Ndutu area. While you’re on your bird-watching adventure in Serengeti, you’ll get the chance to see a variety of colorful bird species such as the kori bustard, secretary bird, lilac-breasted roller, African fish eagle, African grey crowned crane, white-faced whistling duck, red-billed teal, helmeted guineafowl, crested francolin, black-necked grebe, yellow-throated sandgrouse, montane nightjar, African palm swift, black-bellied bustard, white-bellied go-away-bird, marabou, and Abdim’s stork, among others.
Game drives/ Wildlife Viewing.
Game drives are some of the best activities for safaris in Tanzania at Serengeti national park. The park is famous for its amazing wildlife and beautiful landscapes, making it a top spot for these adventures. You can choose between a morning game drive to see the morning hunters and grazers; or an afternoon, evening, or night game drive to see the nocturnal animals in the park. During a day game drive in the Serengeti national park, your tour guide will make an effort to drive through the Seronera area which is central circuit where most of the Morning game drives are done. Some of the creatures to look out for during a day game drive include African big 5 like lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos, and other animal species in the park, like wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, hippos, and giraffes, among so many others. The night game drive is an adventure that takes you into the wild to see nocturnal wildlife such as shy genets, civets, porcupines, lions, hippos, bush babies, aardvarks, leopards, and others. Your flashlight and an experienced ranger will lead you. If you’re going to see the wild, you should have some experience.
Discovering the Ngorongoro Crater
Discovering Ngorongoro Crater is a must safari adventure while on Tanzania wildlife safari in Serengeti National Park. Once part of the Serengeti itself, the Ngorongoro Crater is now part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This incredible spot is home to over 30,000 large animals and is often referred to as a “garden of Eden” for wildlife. Long ago, a massive volcano about the same size as Mount Kilimanjaro erupted and then collapsed on itself, for the crater we see today. While you’re there, you’ll have the opportunity to join guided game drives, where you can see a variety of wildlife, including leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, warthogs, impalas, buffaloes, hartebeests, elands, reedbucks, and Thompson’s gazelles, as well as different bird species like white storks, swallows, yellow wagtails, and more.
When is the best time to visit Serengeti National Park
The prime time to explore the hidden gems of Serengeti National Park is during the dry season, which typically runs from June to October. this period features cooler weather and clear skies, making it perfect for spotting animals. Additionally, this dry spell aligns with the Great Migration, so you might catch sight of vast groups of wildebeest and zebras making their journey. However, if you prefer to see the lush greenery and newborn wildlife, the wet season from November to May might be more suitable for you, although the roads can be challenging to navigate during this time.
Where to stay in Serengeti National Park
Choosing a place to stay during your safari is key to having a great trip, and Serengeti National Park offers a range of options to fit different needs and budgets. You can find everything from luxury lodges to more affordable choices. Some popular spots include Mwiba River Lodge, Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, Mbali Mbali Soroi Serengeti Lodge, Singita Sasakwa Lodge and Zawadi Serengeti Safari Lodge.