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SERENGETI
NATIONAL PARK/MASAI
MARA RESERVE.
Serengeti is the oldest
of the Tanzania's National parks. The
word Serengeti comes from the Maasai word Siringet, meaning
"the endless plain". The annual wildebeest migration between
Serengeti and Maasai Mara has been declared the seventh wonder of
the modern world. Serengeti is also a world heritage site and an
International Biosphere Reserve.
Serengeti National
Park is the best place to see predators in actions. The predator
population is over 10,000 individuals. 8000 0f these are spotted
hyenas and 3000 lions whose males famed for their black manes.
Seronera with its visitor centre is not only ideal for information
but it a major wildlife hub with all the species represented.
Hippos, lions, leopards, crocodiles, giraffes and primates can all
be spotted within the area. Birdlife is profuse. The park has a
total of 500 species recorded of birds
Area: Serengeti is the
largest park in Tanzania occupying an area of 14, 763 Km square.
The conservation area has been protected since 1929 and acquired
park status in 1951.
The Annual Maasai
(Masai) Mara/Serengeti
Wildebeest Migration
Every year, in the months of July
August and September, over 1.7 million wildebeests accompanied by
about 800,000 gazelles and Zebras migrate from Serengeti into
Maasai (Masai) Mara and back. The river crossings are
particularly dangerous as large crocodile lie in wait of
unsuspecting animals, killing and maiming thousands of them.
Besides predation, migrating herds have to contend with flooded
rivers and disease outbreaks. The wildebeest mate in Maasai Mara
and Calve in Serengeti.
The annual
Maasai (Masai) Mara
/Serengeti wildebeest migration is not about wildebeests migrating
per se but rather its influence on the movement patterns of the
other animals including human beings. Picture a never ending
milling of over 2.5 million wild animals composed of a about 1.7
million wildebeests, and 800,000 common gazelles and zebras with
predators-lions, hyenas, leopards, jackals etc following closely.
In this picture add thousands of vultures providing air cover the
to migrating animals, the goggling human traffic; the hazardous
crossing of crocodile invested Mara and Grumeti rivers and behold
your magical wonder of nature.
Where are the
Wildebeest? Maasai (Masai) Mara or Serengeti? The Migration
Cycle:- The migration follows a clockwise direction
dictated by the rain patterns in the Mara/Serengeti ecosystem.
The Migration has been going on for as long as our ancestors can
remember and where it started is debatable. The best times to
view migration in Serengeti is December to Jul. While in Maasai
Mara, the best time is August to November. Between
December and March, the herds
congregate in Eastern Serengeti Plains where carving takes place.
Births accounts for over half a million calves annually.
April and May still in Serengeti the
calves matures and gets ready for migration. June is the month of
crossing Grumeti River along the Northern Corridor towards Maasai
Mara. In July/August, the herds cross the Mara River into Maasai
(Masai) Mara, where mating takes place. By November the succulent
grass in Mara is finished and the migrating herds heads for
Serengeti where curving will take place and the entire cycle
starts all over again.
The Richness Of
Serengeti National Park
During the migration,
Serengeti accommodates over 5 millions animals with the resident
population of about 2.5 million. The wildebeest population alone
stands at 1.7 M during migration.
All the 'Big Five' of
Africa: Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, and Leopard are
represented in Serengeti National Park. Besides the park has
buffaloes, warthogs, zebras, gazelles, impala, reedbuck, oryx,
topi, eland. Predators are represented by lions, hyenas,
leopards, cheetah and hunting dogs. Recent count has revealed
over 1500 elephants, 8000 spotted hyenas and 3000 lions.
Physical Features
of Serengeti National Park/Reserve:
-
Rivers- include-Grumeti, Mbalangeti and Simiyu.
-
Plains -Seronera, Ndoha, Dutwa, musabi, Togora.
-
Kopjes-the park is
dotted with many kopjes including Naabi, Maasai, Barafu, Lobo,
Borogonja and Moru Kopjes.
Serengeti
Gates
Remember you must enter
the reserve through the official gates: These are
-
Ndabaka Gate to the
west as you approach from Mwanza
-
Naabi Gate to the east
as you approach from Ngorongoro
-
Klein' Gate to the
North East which gives access to Loliondo area
-
Ikoma Gate North of
Seronera
Activities in Serengeti
June-October
are the driest months.
February -March
long rains
December to February;
June-Jul best time time to visit
Accommodation In
Serengeti National Park/ Reserve:
Park has the large
number of lodges and tented camps.
Lodges
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Serengeti
Serena Lodge-Serena Hotels and Lodges
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Seronera Wildlife
Lodge
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Serengeti
Sopa Lodge-Sopa Elewana Lodges
-
Serengeti Stopover
Lodge-outside the park 2 km from Ndabaka gate.
-
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
-
Tanapa Rest House.
Luxury Tented Camps in Serengeti National Park/Reserve
Budget Camp sites |
