Animals In Serengeti National Park

Animals In Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park is among the wildlife parks in Africa that have the most celebrated animals, and it is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is home to a startling number of animals that move freely in their expansive plains. Covering an area of approximately 14,750 square kilometres, this UNESCO World Heritage site presents one of the best natural sights in the world. The Serengeti is a place of wildlife and adventure all year round, of the great five and millions of wildebeests stamping across the savannah.

The Big Five of the Serengeti

A visit to the Serengeti National Park will not be complete without hunting down the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. These glorious animals are the ultimate wildlife experience in Africa.

Without any doubt, lions are the most characteristic inhabitants of the Serengeti. The park has one of the biggest lion populations in Africa, and it has more than 3,000 lions. The sight of a pride of lions resting under an acacia tree or hunting in the golden grasslands is one that brings out the wild Tanzanian spirit.

Leopards are more elusive and are usually seen in the Seronera River Valley, where fig trees offer ideal resting and hunting sites. Their elegant walks and vividly coloured rosette coats rank them among the most desired animals by both photographers and wildlife lovers.

African elephants are seen to move in groups around the Serengeti with their huge bodies and humble nature that evokes respect. They are commonly left by visitors around the marshes and woodlands, especially the western and northern parts of the park.

The Cape buffalo is unpredictable and normally grazes in groups in the plains. The presence of big animals is crucial to the ecology of this park since they help to define the landscape as they graze there.

The threatened black rhinoceros that was almost brought to extinction through poaching is now extant in small numbers in the remote locations of the park, especially in the Moru Kopjes. It is very difficult to spot, and when this is accomplished, it is a rewarding moment for the safari-goers.

The Great Wildebeest Migration: the greatest show on earth.

The greatest phenomenon in Serengeti is the annual Great Migration, which is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world. Every year, more than 1.5m wildebeests with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles cross the Serengeti in search of new grazing grounds.

This great migration starts in the southern Serengeti, especially at Ndutu, where the calving season occurs during January-March. It is a season of plenty and spectacle with more than 400,000 calves being born in just a couple of weeks, which makes them the prey of predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.

In May and June, the herds start the long march northwest to the Grumeti River, where crocodile-infested water offers one of the greatest dangers to the herds. The peak of this natural phenomenon is during July and September, when the herds will be found at the Mara River in the northern Serengeti. The dangerous river crossings, with suspense and survival, provide invaluable scenes to wildlife lovers.

Predators of the Serengeti

The large number of herbivores contributes to a successful population of predators. The most glaring carnivores found in the Serengeti ecosystem are lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals.

Cheetahs are a speed machine, which makes them very special to the visitors in the southern and central plains. These beautiful moggies are frequently observed bolting over the open-country grass plains in pursuit of Thomson’s gazelles with a wonderful degree of agility.

Spotted hyenas, commonly regarded as vultures, are good hunters in their own right. They reside in huge gangs and are especially active in the early morning and evening. Their strange laughs that fill the plains give the night in Serengeti a haunting and interesting soundtrack.

The park also has smaller predators such as servals, bat-eared foxes, and African wildcats. They are more difficult to notice, but they add to the complex harmony of the ecosystem.

Endless Plains Herbivores.

Other than the wildebeests and zebras, Serengeti National Park hosts the most diverse herbivores that feed the predators in the region.

Giraffes are elegant and constantly roam the plains, where they eat the leaves of acacia trees with their long necks. Their placid nature and bold designs make them one of the most photogenic animals in the park.

The hippopotamuses bathe in the rivers of Seronera and Grumeti, where they come into view at night to graze on the banks. It is entertaining and awe-inspiring to see them snort and splash into the water.

In the Serengeti, there are numerous species of antelope, and each is adapted to a particular environment. In the woodlands will be found graceful impalas, in the open plains graceful gazelles of Grant, and the most beautiful of all, topi grazing in herds. Elands, the biggest of the antelopes, are found in the highlands of the park and may occasionally be seen in parties on the kopje.

Birdlife in the Serengeti

Serengeti National Park is a haven for bird lovers. It has been documented that there are more than 500 species of birds, including colourful rollers and giant ostriches.

The migratory species, such as the European storks, swallows, and bee-eaters, make the park alive during the rainy seasons (March to May and November to December). Endemic species like the lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird and crowned crane will offer year-round birdwatching.

Raptors – eagles, vultures, and hawks – frequently fill the open skies and search the plains. Towards the wetlands, you will find groups of flamingos, herons, and pelicans, which will bring colour to the picture-perfect setting.

Rare and Special Animals of the Serengeti.

In addition to the headline species, the Serengeti is home to many minor but interesting creatures. A distant relative of the elephant is the rock hyrax, a small mammal which is commonly found sunbathing on kopjes. Banded mongooses are usually seen scampering in pairs, and the nocturnal aardvark is one of the most elusive animals in the park.

The park has reptiles, which include the Nile crocodiles, the monitor lizards and a variety of snake species that have waterways and woodlands. Crocodiles, especially along the Grumeti and Mara Rivers, are also major players in the dramatic crossings of the migration.

The best time to see animals in the Serengeti.

The wildlife experience in the Serengeti is outstanding throughout the year, though the experience changes with the season. June to October is the dry season, in which the animals are spotted around rivers and waterholes. The vegetation is also sparse during this period, and this facilitates the observation of the predator and prey.

The wet season (November to May) also has fertile green scenery, migratory birds and calving season in the southern plains. Due to the colourful nature of the landscape and dramatic skies, photographers prefer this season.

For people who want to experience the Great Migration, the time would depend on the location of the herds. The south calves the best in January to March, the Grumeti crossings in June to July and the Mara River crossings in August to October.

Serengeti National Park: Planner Guide to Your Safari.

The Serengeti has a plethora of safari packages that are applicable to all travellers. The park can be explored by use of guided game drives, hot air balloon safaris, or, in selected places, on foot. First-time visitors mostly prefer the central Seronera region, which also has a good density of wildlife and is accessible.

There are luxury lodges, tented camps and budget-focused campsites in the park. All the regions, Central, Western, Southern, and Northern Serengeti, are unique in terms of their point of view and seasonal features. Most tourists also package the Serengeti safari with some of my other favourite sites around the area, like the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara or the Maasai villages, to seek more of the culture.

Conclusion: Have the Wild Heart of Africa.

Serengeti National Park is the ancient symbol of the wild and pure beauty of Africa, the land where nature is exposed in its purest form. No matter why you visit the Serengeti, to see the Great Migration, capture the Big Five, or just experience the beat of the wild, the Serengeti can guarantee you moments that will stay in your memory forever.

Every sunrise on the plains is a novelty of colour, and every experience makes you feel nearer to the soul of Africa. Book your Serengeti trip now and enjoy the magic of the greatest wildlife reserve in Africa, where each heartbeat is filled with its rhythm of the wild.