Believed to be home to some 3,000 lions the Serengeti is rightfully believed to have the largest lion population in Africa. This may be due to the abundance of prey in the park.
Serengeti National Park
Endless Wilderness
Derived from the Maasai word “Siringet” meaning “the place where the land runs forever”, Serengeti’s seemingly endless floor spreads over 14,750 sq. km of land and features savanna, grassland, riverine forest, and woodland terrains.
The Iconic Great Migration
Every year, some 1.5 million wildebeest perform the most riveting exhibit across the Serengeti as they fiercely seek survival in greener pastures following the promise of rain. A better representation of the circle of life cannot be displayed better anywhere than during this longest overland migration in the world. The journey commences in the South as they migrate to the North cutting through the park and into Maasai Mara and return to the Serengeti.
Between January and March, we experience the calving season as the wildebeest converge around the areas of Ndutu and Ngorongoro. The calving is specifically experienced briefly in the February window. March has the millions of wildebeest escorted by zebras, giant elands, and gazelles leaving the southern plains towards central Serengeti. April and May mark their passing across the western corridor and through the Nile crocodile-infested Grumeti River, an obstacle many don’t survive. The dry season keeps them moving towards the north, as they ready themselves to cross the Mara River.
When the rains cease in June, most of the wildebeest and escorts are still travelling north towards the Mara River as others take Serengeti’s western corridor route. From July to September, the millions of wildebeest, eland, and zebra face the Mara River crossing, a dangerous but necessary strive for survival. They throw themselves into the river as they feverishly cross in hopes that they are not caught by giant crocodiles swimming in the river, ready for a kill.
In late October, the entire ordeal is revisited as they cross the river once again to head back to southern Serengeti where the journey began the previous year. This continues in November and mid-December. December is the short rains season, where the wildebeest are prompted to return to the short grass plains in south Serengeti, and the circle of life begins again in January. The migration is 800km, and kills some 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebra in its long journey annually due to exhaustion, becoming prey, thirst, or disease.
Wildlife
The Serengeti is famously recognized for the plethora of biodiverse wildlife species available in the park.
The King of Africa: The Lion
The Prince of Darkness: The Leopard
Graceful elegance, spectacular coat, shy but a force to reckon with, the African leopard is a thrilling sight to be cherished and feared. This elusive cat is large in numbers in the park, ranging from about 1,000 leopards. Reclusive, these immaculate predators are usually seen in Seronera, Central Serengeti, but can be found in other areas of the park as well.
The Prince of Darkness: The Leopard
Graceful elegance, spectacular coat, shy but a force to reckon with, the African leopard is a thrilling sight to be cherished and feared. This elusive cat is large in numbers in the park, ranging from about 1,000 leopards. Reclusive, these immaculate predators are usually seen in Seronera, Central Serengeti, but can be found in other areas of the park as well.
Lightning Speed: The Cheetah
This remarkably fast predator is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of 130 km/h are also an endangered species, with around 1,000 of them scattered across the Serengeti plains.
The African Bush Elephant
At around 5,000 in numbers, these giants prefer to stay around the northern parts of the Serengeti.
The African Bush Elephant
At around 5,000 in numbers, these giants prefer to stay around the northern parts of the Serengeti.
The Eastern Black Rhinocerous
Another endangered species, these rhinos are but 31 in the park and are mainly found grazing around the kopjes in the center of the park.
The Angry Buffalo
These moody beasts are found in abundance around the park.
Serengeti is also home to other wildlife such as various species of gazelle, some 3,500 hyenas, jackals, African gold wolf, wild dog, serval, honey badger, warthog, primate species, 500 bird species, and several reptile species.
The Angry Buffalo
These moody beasts are found in abundance around the park.
Serengeti is also home to other wildlife such as various species of gazelle, some 3,500 hyenas, jackals, African gold wolf, wild dog, serval, honey badger, warthog, primate species, 500 bird species, and several reptile species.
