Serengeti National Park Size

Serengeti National Park Size: Serengeti national park is a popular tourist destination which is located in the northern part of Tanzania. The national park covers about 14750 square kilometers and is the oldest national park in Tanzania. Serengeti national park was also recognized as one of the seven natural wonders of Africa.

Another fact to note about Serengeti national park is that it is recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979. The ecosystem of Serengeti is generally large and consists of Maswa game reserve, Grumeti and Ikorongo game reserves and Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya. Maswa game reserve covers about 2200 square kilometers.

The eco system of Serengeti harbors about 2 million wildebeests, 900,000 gazelles, 300,000 zebras, 7000 elands, 27000 topi, 18000 hartebeests, 70000 buffalos, 4000 giraffes, 15000 warthogs, 3000 waterbucks, 2700 elephants, 500 hippos, 200 black rhinos, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 225 cheetahs and 3500 hyenas.

Serengeti national park has one of the largest lion prides in Africa and there is an abundance of prey for the lions to hunt in this national park. During safaris in Serengeti national park, tourists can enjoy watching as the lions hunt their prey.

The big 5 are among the wildlife species which can be seen during a safari in Serengeti national park and they include lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. These big 5 are the most difficult animals to hunt on foot.

Apart from the wildlife species which can be seen during safaris in Serengeti national park, there are over 500 bird species in this national park and these include both resident and native bird species. The highest number of ostriches in Tanzania can be seen in Serengeti national park.

Serengeti national park is also known for the annual wildebeest migration which involves movement of over 2 million wildebeests between Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve in south western Kenya.

As the 2 million wildebeests migrate, they are accompanied by other wildlife species like zebras and gazelles. During river crossings, Nile crocodiles are also known to feast on the wildebeests as they cross from one end of the river to another.

River crossings during the annual wildebeest migration take place along the Grumeti river and also the Mara river. The crossings are an amazing sight to watch during a safari in Serengeti national park.

The large size of Serengeti national park also attributes to its name in the local Maasai language “seringit” which means endless plains. The national park extends to the south western part of Kenya.

Serengeti national park in Tanzania experiences two seasons which include the rainy season and the dry season. The rains in this national park occur during the months of March to May and also in October and November.

The dominant vegetation type in Serengeti national park is woodland and grassland which act as habitat for the numerous wildlife and bird species which can be seen during a safari in Serengeti national park.

Serengeti national park also has kopjes or granite rock outcrops which can be seen during safaris. These kopjes include Simba kopjes where lions can be seen sitting on the top of the rocks in the central part of Serengeti national park.

The national park is made up of the central or Seronera area, northern Serengeti and the western Serengeti. These different parts of Serengeti national park offer unique wildlife viewing experiences to tourists and can be visited all year round.

Activities which are carried out in the 14750 square kilometer Serengeti national park include hot air balloon safaris, game drives (morning game drives, afternoon and full day game drives), guided walking safaris, bird watching excursions and cultural experiences.

Comparison in size between Serengeti national park and other national parks in Tanzania

Serengeti national park is part of the northern tourist circuit which consists of other national parks such as Ngorongoro conservation area (Ngorongoro crater), Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and Arusha national park. Serengeti national park is however bigger than the other national parks in the northern part of Tanzania as seen below;

Lake Manyara national park is smaller than the other national parks in the northern part of Tanzania and covers about 325 square kilometers and is famous for tree climbing lions and a great part of the national park is covered by water.

Tarangire national park which also neighbors Serengeti national park covers about 2850 square kilometers and is famous for its large elephant herds. This national park is crossed by Tarangire river which the national park gets its name from and is also covered by swamps, woodlands and grasslands.

The Ngorongoro conservation area covers about 8292 square kilometers and also consists of the Ngorongoro crater which was formed as a result of collapse of a volcano and the crater floor covers about 260 square kilometers.

Serengeti national park is often also compared with Masai Mara national reserve where the great wildebeest migration also takes place. Masai Mara national reserve is located in the south western part of Kenya and it covers about 1510 square kilometers.

During safaris in Serengeti national park, there are different accommodation facilities where guests can stay and these include luxury accommodation, midrange accommodation as well as budget accommodation and these include;

Serengeti Serena safari lodge, Kirawira Serena camp, Mbuzi Mawe tented camp, Seronera wildlife lodge, Osinon camps and lodges, Kiota camp, Serengeti safari lodge, Ikoma tented camp and many others.

Management of Serengeti national park

Serengeti national park is under the management of Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) which is also in charge of protecting the natural resources and promoting conservation in the national park.

TANAPA also enforces laws and regulations and also protects the flora and fauna in Serengeti national park and other national parks in Tanzania.

How to get to Serengeti national park

The 14750 square kilometers covered by Serengeti national park can be accessed by different means of transport such as road transport and air transport means. Safaris to Serengeti national park start in Arusha which is about 6 hours’ drive to the national park.

Scheduled and charter flights are offered by different airline companies to Serengeti national park airstrips such as Kogatende airstrip, Lamai airstrip, Lobo airstrip, Singita Grumeti(Sasakwa) airstrip, Fort Ikoma airstrip, Seronera airstrip, Ndutu airstrip and Mwiba airstrip.

Explore the vast plains of Serengeti national park in Tanzania for amazing wildlife viewing experiences during your safari.