Birding in Serengeti National Park
Birding in Serengeti National Park
Birding in Serengeti National Park is one of the major activities that most travelers enjoy while on their safari on the endless plains of Serengeti. Serengeti National Park is one of the best national parks not only in Tanzania but entire world gifted by nature. It’s a birding paradise besides being the home of the African big 5 (Lions, leopards, Elephants, Buffalo, and Rhinos) The park is most popular for the largest world’s animal migration that is wildebeest migration that has its climax in July when millions of wildebeests cross the Mara River to Kenya Masai Mara national reserve. It is not an easy journey but survival for fittest as they cross more challenging River that inhabits large Nile crocodiles. Predator life is more interesting as the park has the highest number of predators in the entire continent of Africa.
Besides mammals, Serengeti is one of the best destinations for birders with over 500 bird species recorded at the park. The oldest ecosystem and the largest that is the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is one of the greatest points for the African Endemic Bird Areas. The area inhabits rare bird species with five bird species that can only be spotted in this area in the entire world. These special birds are easy to spot in this restricted area like Grey-breasted spurfowl commonly seen around Seronera Area in the central Serengeti, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Usambiro Barbet, Grey-Crested helmet-shrike and others.
Serengeti national park birding can be done any time of the year from January to January since most of the bird species are permanent residents and few migratory birds that visit the park during a specific period of the year only for breeding. The climate of the park has contributed to the favorable leaving conditions of the rare bird species.
The different bird species found in the park is due to a wide range of different vegetation covers that are found at the park. The vegetation ranges from the open grasslands of the savannah, riverine vegetation, woodland, and the kopjes. The different vegetation habit different bird species hence making it a great ideal destination for birding. The bird species lists is endless you only need ample time if you want to get the best of the Serengeti national park birding. The Serengeti national park birding itineraries are always longer since the activity needs more time for you to achieve the highlight of the birding. The list includes Black-headed gonolek, Grey-Backed fiscal, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, red-capped robin-caht, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Ostriches, Kori bustard, Secretary bird, Silverbird, Usambiro Barbet, Verreaux’s eagle, lovebirds, starlings mention but a few.
Best time for Serengeti national park birding
However much it is clear that Serengeti national park can be visited any time of the year, typical birders have specific bird species they may like to see during their Serengeti national park birding safari. This needs certain period of time to visit the park. Unlike game viewing which is good during the dry months of the year, birding is the opposite the best time for birding is always during the rainy season of the year. The park has two rainy season one which is the longer rains start from March to May and the second rainy season is in November. This are the best periods to visit Serengeti national park for birding, this is the period the park receives more migratory birds across the world especially Europe and North. Its also during the wet season that the birds are breeding and are easily seen. In wet season Serengeti national park receives fewer tourists hence the park is not congested making it easy and enjoyful for birders since the park is quite.
When birds are breeding they do not fly long distances but keep around their nests both female and male. They always share incubation process together and also raising or feeding of their young ones together. This is the time you see the true colors of the birds since some birds change colors during the breeding season and later after breeding they get back to their original colors.
Serengeti national park birding safaris must be centered in the central part of the park in the Seronera area. Here you will see more bird species both water bird species which are found at River Seronera, woodland birds found along with the Acacia trees. The center also hosts more nocturnal birds like Night Jars, different species of owls and many more. Another good destination is around the southern part of Serengeti along the Ndutu area. This is a wonderful place especially around Lake Ndutu and this is the best place for bird lovers to enjoy a wide range of birds especially the raptors like Vultures, secretary birds, water birds, ostriches and many more. Are you interested on the birds of the prey especially different Eagle species, larks and others then head to Lobo hills of Serengeti national park. The different regions of the park is dominated by different vegetation cover hence inhabiting different bird species. The key regions for Serengeti national park birding include the Central Area that is commonly known as the Seronera area, the Grumeti area also called the Western Corridor, Ikorongo reserve, Loliondo Area and the Southern part known as Ndutu Area.
All our Serengeti national park birding safaris start very early in the morning moving with our lunch boxes and explore the entire park for the full day. The drive is mixed with walks slowly but surely, you need to be well equipped with all your birding tools like Camera, binoculars, hut, sunglasses, sweaters, rainy jackets and others as advised in our parking list section. Our birding guides are special they have great experience and can tell you the bird by only hearing its call. Sometimes they can also make calls in order to call the bird come, no need to have the modern bird calling apps when doing birding safari with us. Serengeti national park birding is not fully developed and not very popular as the park popularity is based on wildlife especially the wildebeest migration. Good timing, using a rightful tour operator makes you enjoy the best birding experience in Serengeti national park. Serengeti remains the best birding paradise in Tanzania, you will never be disappointed when birding in Serengeti national park.