Why Serengeti is a Top Safari Destination

Why Serengeti is a Top Safari Destination

Why Serengeti is a Top Safari Destination. Whether you are a first time traveler or a veteran African safari traveler, there are a few things harder to resist than a safari into majestic national parks and reserves.

While on a safari to Serengeti, get to immerse yourself in some of the finest scenes of nature and mingle with the beasts of wild. Truly, a safari to Serengeti is an adventure worth a spot on your travel bucket list.

Not all national parks and game drives in Africa are created equal. One stands out above others with its scenic images of seemingly endless acacia – dappled plains, magnificent wildlife, and golden savannah.  Serengeti is the oldest and most popular World-Heritage – listed park in Tanzania, its vast plains and open horizons are home some of the biggest populations of mammals on the planet.

Brief History of Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is in the northwest region of Tanzania. Established in 1951, the park joins Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya at its northern border. In fact, its name is derived from the Maasai word “Siringet” meaning “Endless Plains”. It covers over 14,000 km² of grassland plains, savannah, and an unfenced border, which ensures that the Great Migration continues unhindered each year.

Top Features and Attraction in Serengeti

It is not so hard to see why the Serengeti continues to retain the top spot among game reserves on the continent. It does deliver in every imaginable aspect of safari, adventure and wilderness.

• Stunning Landscapes and The Vast Plains

The Southern area of Serengeti comprises great savannah plains that provide ample grazing from the millions of animals during the rainy season, usually from December to May. This is the season for fattening up both for the herbivores and the predators. During the dry season, the lush greenery turns brown and the waterholes dry up, signaling the beginning of the Great Migration.

• The Woodlands and Forests

There are types of woodlands in the Serengeti – Combretum and Terminalia trees in the north, almost forty Acacia species in the central and west, and Commiphora trees in the east. You can also find unique kopjes scattered amongst the grasslands. These little rocky hills are a natural habitat for a wide range of plants and animals.

• The Great Migration – A Natural Wonder

This is arguably the biggest attraction to the Serengeti. It is a breathtaking spectacle of hundreds of thousands of animals kicking up a dusty old trail as they move across the endless plains and crossing the crocodile – infested rivers. Every year, well over 1 million wildebeests and other grazers move across the Serengeti plains in search of fresh grazing areas. While the calving season in December to March is thrilling, it is the dramatic Mara River crossing filled with predators that tops all.

On this route, the animals have to cross both the Grumeti and Mara Rivers, home to large Nile Crocodiles. They remain in Kenya until the short rains start around November, and then they make their way back down south.

• Exceptional Wildlife Viewing Year-Round (The Big Five, Little Five, Reptiles and Avian Population)

• The Wildlife Variety –  The Serengeti offers a panorama of game-watching to the fullest. It currently hosts a wide variety of animals –  wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, gazelles, topi, elands and other antelope species. It is also teeming with lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards.
• Big Five – Get out your camera and be prepared to capture some of the most sought-after animals in their natural habitat. These five are the lions, leopards, rhinos, Cape Buffalo and elephants. A Big Five safari Tanzania in Serengeti is short of magical.
• Little Five – When you’re done clicking away at the larger animals, you can turn your focus on the Serengeti’s Little Five – ant lions, elephant shrews, leopard tortoises, buffalo weavers, and rhino beetles.
• Avian Population – There are over 540 bird species, so birdwatchers are guaranteed a delightful treat. From tiny sunbirds to lanky ostriches and large vultures, the Serengeti delivers an amazing sight to behold.
• Reptiles – Feast your eyes (from afar) on the array of monstrous crocodiles, lizards, frogs, tortoises, and snakes that this beautiful game reserve has to offer.

• Diverse Safari Experiences.

Serengeti rewards travelers  with a good varierty of safari activities. Apart from the usual game drives, hot air balloon safaris, guided walking tours and community tours are available. Each of these activities gives travelers an experience of the park unique to just that.

• Easy Combination with Other Top Destinations

Serengeti National Park is often times combined with nearby attractions like Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. Apart from these, travelers can add Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya, or even gorilla trekking in Bwindi. With our expert travel specialists, combine your Serengeti safari with any other destination in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.

• Perfect for All Types of Travelers

Whether you are planning a solo tour, honeymoon, family trip or friends group tour, the Serengeti is perfect for you. With luxury lodges and camps providing premium comfort and budget camps offering affordable and yet immersive stays, the Serengeti takes you all. A Serengeti honeymoon safari, family safari Tanzania and affordable Serengeti tours are a posibility with the Serengeti.

Best Time to Visit the Serengeti

The Serengeti is an all-year round Tanzania safari destination. June-October is best for general wildlife viewing and especially the Seronera Area and northern Serengeti. January to March is perfect for the calving season of the Great Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti. July to September is the peak season of travel in Serengeti for the dramatic Mara River crossings.

Whatever you may be looking for in an African Safari Destination, the Serengeti doesn’t disappoint. It truly is a unique safari experience, and will without a doubt, be one of the main highlights of your epic African journey. Plan your Serengeti safari today and experience the magic of Africa firsthand!