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Serengeti National Park Travel Guide & Map

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Overview

Serengeti National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania. It is located in the northern safari circuit. It is the most iconic destination in the country. It is popular for its Great Migration. It is excellent for wildlife viewing and bird watching. Here are some of the reasons you should go on a Serengeti National Park safari.

Wildlife

The main reason for traveling to Tanzania is to see the Serengeti National Park animals. The park is home to the Big Five. Elephants, leopards, lions, buffalos, and rhinos roam freely in the park. Other Serengeti National Park animals are giraffes, impalas, wildebeests, elands, zebras, and cheetahs among others. You can see these animals across the year. But the dry season (June to October) is the best time for wildlife viewing.

Birdlife

For bird lovers, a Serengeti National Park safari is a must. The park has recorded over 500 species of birds. Expert guides know the perfect spots for seeing all species. In the woodland areas, the rufous-tailed weaver and Fischer’s lovebird are common. In the Seronera area, grey-breasted spurfowls are common. Other common species are the Secretary birds, Kori bustard, silver bird, and eagles among others. Bird watching in the park is great across the year. But the best season is between November and April.  It is the breeding season for resident species. This makes it easy to spot them in their plumage. Migratory birds from northern Africa and Europe are present in this season.

The Great Migration

Every year, over 2 million wildebeests migrate from this park to the Masai Mara in Kenya. The migration begins in the South of the park. Hundreds of thousands of calves are born between January and March. During this season it is easy to spot predators such as lions and hyenas. They are always hunting for calves.

The dry season comes in May. The wildebeests start to migrate north. Zebras and gazelles follow the wildebeests forming an 800 km trek. This is the largest migration in the wilderness on earth. Towards the end of July, the migrating herds cross the Grumeti River and Mara River into Masai Mara in Kenya. The dry season in Tanzania ends in late October. The migrating animals head back south of Serengeti.

Climate

The park has a pleasant and moderate climate. It rarely gets extremely hot. The wet season is the warmest in the park. The dry season is between June and October. Most days have clear skies. Temperatures range between 14°C and 25°C. Nights are cooler than daytime. This is the season for most of the activities in the park.

The wet season is between November and April. Short rains are between November and December. Rains break between January and February. Then, long rains are common between March and May. Temperatures range between 15°C and 26°C.

FAQs About Serengeti National Park

  • Where is Serengeti National Park located?

Serengeti National Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania. It is on the northeast side of the Simiyu Region and the eastern side of the Mara Region. Its coordinates are 1.8936° S and 34.6857° E. It is easily accessible from Arusha by road. But air travel is a more convenient means to get there.

  • Why visit Serengeti National Park?

Tourists should visit Serengeti National Park to experience its magic. It is a perfect destination for viewing the Big Five and many other species of mammals. It is a great place for watching birds. It is the perfect place to witness the Great Migration.

  • Which is the best time to visit Serengeti National Park?

The best time to visit Serengeti National Park is between June and October. Most animals are spotted around water sources. It is also the best time to witness the Great Migration. But the wet season also has its surprises. It is the best time to watch many species of birds. It is also a great time for colorful photography.

  • How to get to Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is easily accessible. You can get there by road. Drive-in safaris start from Arusha town. It takes about 8 hours to get to the park. fly-in safaris are more convenient. Tourists can fly to airstrips in the park. Tour operators then pick them up for other transfers. You can choose between scheduled and chartered flights to public or private airstrips in the park.