Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration

Location of Serengeti national park
Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration : Serengeti national park is one of the most prominent national parks in the world and in Tanzania ranked as one of the biggest and most protected ecosystems on Earth, the park stretches in an area of 30,000 square kilometers. Serengeti national park lies in the north- western corner of Tanzania bordering Kenya in the north, Serengeti national park is part of the Serengeti –Mara ecosystem.
Serengeti national park is one of the popular national parks in the world, a great habitat for wildlife and a scenic park. The park is dominated by great rolling grasslands and golden savannah which supports many wildlife species in large population such as zebra, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, gazelle, antelope, and paradise for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyena, wild dogs and many more.
Serengeti national park experiences the most world’s spectacle which involves the movement of herds of animals search as wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and they are witnessed crossing Grumeti River and Mara River on their way to Masai mara national park. In Serengeti national park there is many spots and specific regions where you can get to see the spectacular migration of the animals as they move.

SECTIONS OF SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

North Serengeti
North Serengeti of Serengeti national park is one of the less crowded regions of Serengeti national park and the best site to see rare animals of the park such as rhinos and good sights of the animals, the region consists of small rivers, green rolling hills and a lush granite outcrops the kopjes. Northern Serengeti is the most remote corner of the park and a great place to go on a hot air balloon safari, in the migration cycle the region sets the stage for the wildebeest migration with the dramatic mara river crossing in the period of July and august.
In North Serengeti the best area to visit is the Lamai Wedge which is rich with wildlife and offers amazing walking safaris and game drives. While in this region you get to see animals such as buffalo, rhinos, elephants and many more.
Accommodation where to stay in north Serengeti while in Serengeti national park includes Singita Mara river tented camp, Sayari camp, Serian’s Serengeti North and many more.

South Serengeti

South Serengeti is the most accessible region of Serengeti national park within a drivable distance from Ngorongoro conservation area, this region gets busy in the peak season in the period of June to October. In the migration cycle the region experiences the migration of animals such as wildebeest, zebras and gazelles which move into the region to feed on the green grass, the period of January to march is a calving season for the animals and calving attracts many predators that is lions, leopards and cheetah who came to feed on their prey which is also the Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration.
Accommodation where to stay in south Serengeti while in Serengeti national park includes Mila Tented camp, Mwiba lodge, Sanctuary Kusini and many more

Central Serengeti

Central Serengeti region of the Serengeti is situated in the heart of Serengeti national park and the busiest and crowded region of the park, central Serengeti consists of Seronera River valley which creates a natural boundary between the grassy plains of south Serengeti national park and the wooded hills of the north Serengeti national park. Central Serengeti is a haven for wildlife and one of the richest ecosystems in Serengeti national park, in the migration cycle the region experiences the migration in the period of June to October.
Central Serengeti offers game viewing all-round the year with prominent sights of lions, cheetahs and leopards, the region is hosts many camps and lodges offering accommodation to tourists in the park and also offers a great access to hotspots of the migration occurrence.
Accommodation where to stay in central Serengeti while in Serengeti national park includes Lemala Ewanjan tented camp, Dunila camp, Serengeti pioneer camp and many more.

Eastern Serengeti

Eastern Serengeti of Serengeti national park is the most quite region in Serengeti and a perfect region to tour by tourists who love to avoid crowds, in the migration cycle this region experiences the migration’s calving season which is experienced in the period of February and March which is also the Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration. Because of the calving the eastern Serengeti region attracts many predators, also the region experiences grazing of the migration animals. Eastern Serengeti is a habitant to many animals such as lions, hartebeests, giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, topi, eland and many more, the region is an excellent site to view the big cats such as cheetah, lions, leopards and also you can also see the iconic lions- lazing on kopjes scenes.
Accommodation where to stay in east Serengeti while in Serengeti national park includes Lemala Nanyukie, Namiri plains, Ehlane plains camp and many more.
Western Serengeti/ western corridor
Western Serengeti/ western corridor sector of Serengeti national park is a savannah dominated corridor stretching to Lake Victoria, the corridor consists of Grumeti River and galleries of forest. Western corridor of Serengeti national park is a sanctuary for Nile crocodiles and hippopotamus and it is crossed by the wildebeest migration. In the wildebeest migration this corridor is crossed by herds of wildebeest in the period of May – July which move in a convoy of 40 kilometers as they arrive to the banks of river Grumeti which is a thrilling spectacle to encounter.
Accommodation where to stay in Western Serengeti/ western corridor while in Serengeti national park includes Grumeti Serengeti tented camp, Sanctuary Serengeti migration camp, Singita Sabora tented camp and many more.
Quick Serengeti facts
• Serengeti is one of the best place to sight lions in their nature state
• The name Serengeti of the park is a local Masai slag meaning “the land that moves on forever”
• Serengeti national park is a home to the world’s greatest concentrations of wildlife
• Serengeti national park experiences the second largest land mammal migration on earth and in the wildebeest cycle the park experiences the bulk pf the wildebeest migration.
• Serengeti national park is part of the Serengeti- Mara ecosystem which is one of the world’s biggest and most protected ecosystems
• highest/peak season in Serengeti national park is experienced in the period of July to October
• Wildebeest migration season in Serengeti national park is experienced from January to October.

BEST TIME TO GO FOR A SAFARI IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Serengeti national park is an excellent habitat for wildlife and one and only national park in Tanzania experiencing the wildebeest migration, the park consists of a wide open plains and experiences mild climate which is conducive for a safari experience. Serengeti national park experiences two short rainy seasons in the periods of November – December and March – April with shot thunderstorms in the late afternoons. The best time to visit Serengeti national park depends on the season and the movement of the wildebeests for tourists intending to witness the migration as the Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration.

Best time according to the migration cycle.

• In the period of January to march the wildebeests are seen in the southern Serengeti and the wildebeest migration cycle the animals experience calving, rutting and intense big cat Action.
• In the period of May to July herds of animals in the wildebeest cycle are in the western Serengeti, in this period the animals are sighted crossing river Grumeti (Grumeti River Crossing)
• In the period of July to September the animals are in the northern Serengeti, in the migration of wildebeests the animals are sighted crossing Mara River (mara river crossing).
• in the period of October to December herds of animals cross from northern Serengeti national park to Masai mara national reserve in Kenya

Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration — The Eco system of Serengeti

Because of the migration cycle it is easy for the tourists to book his/her safari according to the itinerary and their expectations, to keenly sight the river crossing you need to spend several days at the site.
Best time to visit Serengeti according to the season
Though the most highlight of Serengeti national park is the wildebeest migration, the park itself boasts a wide range of resident animals which stay in the park permanently such as ion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino, giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, topi, eland and many more. These animals are easily sighted in the park regardless of the migration cycle but to get the best experience depends more on the season. According to climatic conditions the best time to visit Serengeti national park is in the dry season which is experienced in the month period of June to October, in this period the vegetation cover in the park is short giving you easy sights of the animals and since most of the watering holes are dry the animals are easily spotted around river Grumeti.
According to the season that is either peak season or low season the best time to visit the park depends on the preference of the tourists, some visitors prefer embarking on a safari when the park is crowded and some prefer no crowd.
High/ peak season
High/ peak season in Serengeti national park is experienced in the period of January to October, in this season the park experiences cool and dry weather and it is the most crowded time in the park. In high/peak season there is no many baby animals and migrant birds, the rates are high which require a tourist to book a year in advance, what makes the time amazing and perfect to visit the park is that it offers the great conditions for photography.
Low season
Low season in Serengeti national park is experienced in the period of November – December and March to April, this period is least crowded, hot and occasionally wet with lots of baby animals and birds. Since the park is less crowded you do not need to book in advance and in this period you get best light of the year for memorable photography.

TIPS FOR PLANINING A SAFARI TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

• Book your safari in the right time
Wildebeest migration and river crossing are the major highlights in Serengeti national park and because of the migration many tourists come to Serengeti national park to witness the migration occurrence, if your desire for your safari is to witness the migration then make sure your itinerary corresponds with the wildebeest migration cycle.
• Book early
Serengeti national park has many lodge and camps which are situated within the park and from the lodge/camp you can witness the migration, the park attracts many tourists which means you might find yourself losing out a chance to get a good room to stay in while on a safari if you book late. Booking your safari early with FOCUS EAST AFRICA TOURS will grant you a chance to enjoy your safari with the right accommodation.
• choose your actives wisely
Serengeti national park offers a variety of entertaining and breathtaking safari activities, but for an amazing experience it is best to choose your activities wisely which fit your desires of the safari. In Serengeti national park activities like game drives that is morning, afternoon and evening game drive, guided bush walks and hot air balloon safaris are offered in the park.
• Embarking on a private safari
The best way to enjoy a your safari in Serengeti national park by embarking on a private safari, a private safari is a more exclusive safari with excellent accommodation and offers more time on safaris such as game drive and others.
• Expect the park to be crowded in peak season
In peak season the park is greatly crowded with a huge number of tourists, peak season in the park is received in the period of June – September, areas of Grumeti and Mara River are the most crowded area in the park as they experience the river crossing of wildebeests. Some tourists prefer not being in a crowded area and if you are one of them it is better to avoid the peak season there visit the Guide to Serengeti national park and wildebeest migration.