The name ‘Serengeti’ comes from the Maasai language meaning endless rolling plains. It covers around 15,000 km2 (6,000 sq miles). The Serengeti National Park, as it was gazette in 1951, also included what now is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was split off from the Serengeti National Park and they extended the boundaries of the park to the Kenya border.

Serengeti National Park is one of Africa’s most famous game parks due to the largest concentration of wildlife and the annual migration of the wildebeests. Some of the most impressive nature documentaries have been shot in this park.

History of Serengeti National Park

In 1930, an area of 2,286 square kilometers (883 sq mi) was designated as a game reserve in southern and eastern Serengeti. In the 1930s, the government of Tanganyika established a system of national parks compliant with the Convention Relative to the Preservation of Fauna and Flora in their Natural State. The area became a national park in 1940. It was granted strict protection in 1948 when the Serengeti National Park Board of Trustees was formed to administer the National Park. The government restricted the movements of the resident Maasai people, and the park boundaries were finalized in 1951. In 1959, an area of 8,300 km2 (3,200 sq mi) was split off in the eastern part of the national park and re-established as Ngorongoro Conservation Area intended to accommodate the traditional land use interests of the Maasai people in a multiple land use area. In 1981, the Serengeti National Park covered 12,950 km2 (5,000 sq mi), which was less than half of the Serengeti.

The Serengeti gained fame after Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael produced a book and documentary titled Serengeti Shall Not Die in 1959.

Excursions and Activities in Serengeti National Park

• Hot air balloon safari

The Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari is a unique and exhilarating way to explore the vastness of Tanzania’s most celebrated National Park, the Serengeti. As the first rays of dawn overshadow the horizon, you’ll ascend into the sky aboard a graceful hot air balloon. Floating gently with the wind, you’ll be in the company of experienced pilots and knowledgeable guides who will unveil the wonders of the Serengeti from an aerial perspective.

From your elevated vantage point, the Serengeti’s diverse ecosystem will unfold before your eyes. Witness the great herds of wildebeests and zebras as they traverse the savannah for fresh grazing grounds.

As they begin their day’s hunt, Marvel at the stealthy predators, such as lions and cheetahs. Glide over vast grasslands, meandering rivers, and ancient acacia trees – the picturesque landscapes display the African wilderness.

As the sun ascends higher in the sky, painting the horizon with colors of gold and orange, your balloon safari reaches its climax. Touching down gently on the Serengeti’s plains, you’ll be welcomed with a sumptuous bush breakfast, complete with sparkling wine, prepared to perfection amidst the wilderness.

• Wildlife in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park offers so much more beauty than just the wildebeest migration. You can see a variety of landscapes and wildlife unlike anywhere else in Africa. The endless plains are home to more than 4,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, 225 cheetahs and 3,500 hyenas. It’s no surprise there are so many predators due to the abundance of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and buffaloes. The Serengeti is also one of the best places to see the Big Five – rhino, buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard. Almost all the famous African animals are present in this majestic park. This includes rare animal species like the pangolin, East African Oryx, rhino and wild dog.

The captivating landscapes of the Serengeti National Park vary from savannahs with acacia trees and vast grasslands to rising mountains, lakes and swamps. Each area is unique and has its own atmosphere. Because of its natural beauty and variety of plants and animals the park is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place definitely touches your soul.

• Witness The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park

The annual wildebeest migration of more than a million wildebeest is probably Serengeti’s main attraction. It is a truly impressive sight to see all those mammals thunder across the Serengeti plains, crossing rivers, in search of water and fresh grass. Mega herds on the move stretch up to 40Km long, covering a distance of some 1000 kilometers. A dangerous journey for the wildebeest, zebras and gazelles who need to outsmart their predators. Especially the Mara and Grumeti River is where giant crocodiles and fast flowing water awaits. The Great Migration is listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is for lots of visitors the highlight of their journey. It is definitely one of the world’s largest wildlife spectacles.

You can witness the wildebeest migration anytime of the year, since the animals migrate in a circle between the Serengeti and Masai Mara (Kenya). The exact timing of the Serengeti wildebeest migration depends upon the rainfall patterns each year.

Travel Time to Serengeti National Park

Arusha to Serengeti: 5 hours’ drive.

Ngorongoro to Serengeti: 2 hours’ drive.

Lake Manyara to Serengeti: 3 hours’ drive.

Tarangire to Serengeti: 4 hours’ drive.

Flight Arusha to Serengeti: 1 hour