Activities in Serengeti National Park

Activities in Serengeti National Park: Serengeti national park is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is a wildlife viewing destination which offers a variety of wildlife viewing experiences and activities during a safari in the national park.

This national park is home to different wildlife species such as the big five like elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos and Serengeti national park is also famous for the great wildebeest migration which is among the 10 natural wonders of the world.

Another interesting fact about this national park is that Serengeti national park has one of the oldest eco systems in the world with a variety of both plant and wildlife species. Different strategies are put in place by the park management to conserve the nature in this national park during tourism at the destination.

Exploring the different parts of Serengeti national park such as the northern Serengeti, central Serengeti (Seronera area), western Serengeti and the southern Serengeti may take a couple of days and these parts of the national park have unique attractions which tourists can enjoy seeing during their safaris at the destination.

Serengeti national park of Tanzania is also commonly described by its open savannah plains where various wildlife species can be seen as they graze. This national park also consists of woodland, granite outcrops known as “kopjes” as well as forests.

The activities which can be carried out while on safari in Serengeti national park include the following;

Game drives

Game drives are among the many activities which take place in Serengeti national park. This activity is carried out in the morning when the wildlife species can easily be seen as well as in the afternoon and in the evening hours of the day.

The big 5 animals can be seen in Serengeti national park and are described as the wildlife species which were difficult to hunt on foot and they include lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos as well as rhinos.

Serengeti national park is also known for other wildlife species such as wildebeests which can be seen during the great wildebeest migration which takes place in Serengeti national park and in Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya.

Wildlife species which can be seen during game drives in Serengeti national park include wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, antelopes, elands, impalas, hippos, cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, oribi, kobs among others.

Game drives are carried out along different game viewing tracks within Serengeti national park and when tourists drive off these tracks, there are certain fines and penalties put in place by TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority) that are to be paid.

Entrance fees are also to be paid by tourists and visitors going to Serengeti national park and these fees are about 71 USD for foreign tourists and they vary for residents and East Africans as well as children.

Game viewing activities in Serengeti national park encourage conservation practices among the tourists as they enjoy driving around the savannah plains of this national park and look out for various wildlife species such as elephants, giraffe, antelope, rhinos, lions, leopards among others.

All year round, tourists from different parts of the world visit Serengeti national park and the best time to visit this national park is during the dry season from June to October when wildlife species gather around water points to drink.

Hot air balloon safaris

Hot air balloon safaris provide a magical experience of wildlife viewing from up in the sky while looking over the open savannah plains in Serengeti national park. These safaris are organized by different hot air balloon companies.

During a hot air balloon experience in Serengeti national park, the visitors are briefed by the crew members about the activity which is beautiful especially in the morning hours when you get to watch the sunset and see many wildlife species.

These hot air balloon safaris are carried out in the central part of Serengeti (Seronera area), in the southern part of the national park as well as in the northern part of Serengeti. The central part of this national park is known for having big numbers of wildlife species.

After the hot air balloon safari experience, breakfast is served and shared among the tourists

Bird watching

Serengeti national park has over 500 bird species which includes both native and migrant bird species such as rufous tailed weavers, secretary birds, grey breasted spurfowl, kori bustard, woodpeckers,

These bird species can be seen in November to April as well as all year round in the different birding spots around Serengeti national park. The bird species in this national park can be seen in the central part of Serengeti, the Grumeti area and in the Ndutu area.

Guided nature walks

Guided nature walks also take place in Serengeti national park and they are carried out in the company of a guide who provides information about the history of the national park, the ecosystem as well as the bird and wildlife species which can be seen.

From the comfort of your lodge or tented camp, you can also experience the beauty of nature in Serengeti national park. This activity provides an experience in the wilder parts of the national park where you can see wildlife species on foot.

Wildebeest migration experience

The great wildebeest migration experience is another adventure to look out for during a safari in Serengeti national park. This migration involves movement of over 2 million wildebeests across the savannah plains annually between the Serengeti and Mara eco system.

The wildebeests also move with gazelles and about 20,000 zebras during the great wildebeest migration. This migration attracts tourists from around the world to experience this natural wonder which takes place annually.

Between January and March, the wildebeests give birth to their young ones and this period is known as the calving season. During the calving season, predators such as lions can also be seen in the nearby savannah plains as they wait to prey on the wildebeests.

The great wildebeest migration takes place in Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro conservation area, the Grumeti reserve, Loliondo area as well as in the Masai Mara national reserve in south western Kenya.

The river crossings during the great wildebeest migration are also among the spectacular sights as you watch the herds of wildebeests struggling to cross the rivers like the Mara river and Grumeti river.

Explore the endless savannah plains of Serengeti national park and engage in amazing wildlife activities with Focus East Africa tours.

Activities in Serengeti National Park

Activities in serengeti national park are those things that tourists/travelers come to do in Tanzania. Some of the activities in serengeti national park include game drives, birding and hot air ballooning.

Game Drives /Game Viewing

Game drives in Serengeti national park which is termed locally as an endless plain is one of the largest national parks not only in Tanzania but Africa at large. The great experience of Serengeti can be fully executed through several game drives that take the guest close to the gates of nature viewing animals and other wildlife in different ecosystems of the Serengeti.

The park is divided into several sections of serengeti, from the Southern end bordering Ngorongoro crater to the further North bordering Maasai mara national reserve and the seronera area which is central circuit where most of the Morning game drives are done. The game drives of Serengeti are subdivided into four major groups those are:

Morning game drives

Morning game drives which are done pre breakfast or after breakfast depending on the arrangement of the tour operator with their guests, morning game drives are the most common and most rewarding game drives in Serengeti. This is one of the most wanted activities in serengeti national park. Catching with an early bird in the bush, most of the animals are more lively or active during morning time especially during dry season when the water is scarce and animals depend mostly on the early morning dues. Big cats on sunbathing and mission of hunting is incredible, in fact 90% of the morning game drives are well stocked with true African wilderness experience with the best videos of African wilderness recorded in the morning.

The second game drive activity in serengeti national park is the Afternoon game drive done after lunch, this is mostly common during transit on the first day when transferring from Arusha to Serengeti via Ngorongoro where one gets its lunch boxes open at Nabbi gate before we head inside the seronera area of Serengeti. Enjoy the best enroute game drive. Sometimes these game drives are not much rewarding as the morning ones especially for the big cats they will be already hiding taking shelter due to hot sun but if one is lucky can still enjoy much as the morning one.

Full day game drive

Full day game drive which is most done game drive activities in serengeti on our second day. Enjoy the best day waking up early, have our lunch boxes ready and drive to most corners of Serengeti. This is the game drive in which one fully feels the beauty and excitement of Serengeti national park. A lot of animals to be seen like Lions, tree climbing lions, leopards, Giraffes, Buffalos and many more.

Night Game drives

Lastly, the night Game drives which are not common game drive activities in serengeti. They are available on request and they come with an extra fees. Night game drives are only conducted by registered and authorized camps around Serengeti at the fee of 50$ per person. They are great especially to film. Photographers who want to get more details on the wildlife of the Serengeti will identify the nocturnals present at Serengeti.

Game drives are much rewarding in Serengeti. You can have enough time to explore the best wildlife of Serengeti. See animals like 16 species of Antelopes for example the Oribi, Kobs, Wildebeest, kundu and many more, big cats like Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs other animals include hippos, giraffes, buffalos and many more.

Birding activities in Serengeti

Birding in Serengeti is one of the most prominent activities in serengeti national park second to game viewing or wildlife viewing, the park harbors over 500 bird species across the endless plains of Serengeti national park with Ndutu area taking half of the bird species population . Birders trips always take longer periods in the park due to slow movement and mostly involve more walking quietly following the birds with good cameras and binoculars.

Serengeti diversified eco system has added an advantage to the park and birding safaris as the park is harboring different kind of birds from open savannah to the small dotted shrubs in the north and the hills surrounding the park which inhabits different bird species. The Serengeti ecosystem is divided in to the following regions: The seronera central area, Ikorongo reserve, Ngorongoro famed conservation sector, Grumeti area and the Loliondo area.

Serengeti birding safaris are much rewarding to the birders with high quality facts and highlights of the trip include:

Serengeti harbors the most endemic birds in Tanzania (Serengeti –Mara ecosystem)

Serengeti harbors five bird species that are not found anywhere

Birding in Serengeti can be done throughout the year though the most recommended months are from November to April which is a breeding period for most of the birds and they are nesting besides that most of the migratory birds are around Serengeti both European and North African migratory birds and it is easy for birders to break records on daily basis during this period of the year making birding trips more experiential.

In Serengeti birding trips start very early in the morning and takes the whole day moving with lunch boxes and all equipments in the bush. The most common sited birds are Kori bustard, Secretary bird, Rufous-tailed weaver, Fischer’s lovebird, Grey-breasted spurfowl, Black-headed gonolek, Spurb sterling, Ruppell’s vulture, Southern ground hornbill, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, Black Eagles, Ostriches and many more.

Hot air Balloon

Serengeti Hot balloon safaris are the best activities in serengeti and are a unique experience of the open endless plains. Floating on air as you observe the wildlife at an eagle eye high with other birds is amazing. Serengeti Hot balloon safaris start early in the morning at around 5am. They will pick you up from your camp where you spent a night. And this depends on the balloon safari operators that were booked for you.

Before kicking off the Hot balloon safaris you will have briefing from the pilot and the crew members on board. After you enter to the basket to take up your sit as the balloon is set off. The balloon starts with the great sound at the beginning and some shakes before you start ascending. You will feel the slow motion movement of the balloon as its leaving the ground. At this point the scared will cover eyes and sit down and wait till it stabilizes. Then the crew will let you know when to stand up and start enjoying the free fresh air.

Hot balloon safaris in Serengeti National park are conducted in three sectors. Those are the central seronera part, the Northern Serengeti Maasai mara circuit and finally the Southern Ndutu sector. These flights are done all in the morning. Mostly they are determined by the weather of the day. The balloon safari can take between one hour to four hours. Therefore its starts as early as 6 o’clock in the morning. And it will go up to around 9 to 10 am and it’s concluded with bush breakfast.

Serengeti vegetation allows smooth enjoyment of the Hot air balloon at treetop level. Sometimes it’s beyond 1000 meters above sea level if one wants to see the large open area of Serengeti. Viewing big cats hunting , seeing the great migration on move at an angle higher than them a great experience. There are many companies that operate balloon tours at the park. They are widely used due to their experience and class safety with a record is Balloon safaris.