The Serengeti Ecosystem: A Complete Guide
If you have a bucket list of adventurous places to visit, the Serengeti should definitely be on that list. If you are planning to visit east Africa, Tanzania is a must-visit place. Visiting Tanzania is incomplete, though, without paying a visit to Serengeti National Park as it is one of the most scientifically significant and oldest ecosystems on Earth. Astonishingly, the flora, fauna, and weather patterns in the Serengeti ecosystem have, for the most part, remained intact for millions of years. Now is the perfect time to plan a trip to Tanzania and experience a lifetime of memories in the Serengeti ecosystem.
But, before we jump into why you should visit the Serengeti ecosystem, let us first understand why the Serengeti holds an important place in Tanzania and the whole of Africa.
The History of the Serengeti Ecosystem
Serengeti Plains
There are multiple reasons why the Serengeti is unique. Located in northern Tanzania, the Serengeti ecosystem is a protected area spread over 30,000 km2, including the Serengeti National Park (around 14,763 km2) and other prominent game reserves. The Serengeti hosts one of the world's largest mammal migrations, the Great Wildebeest Migration. The Serengeti migration was voted one of the seven natural wonders of Africa.
Looking back at the history of the Serengeti plains gives us insight into how it came to its present day. Long before the Maasai people stepped foot there, the Serengeti ecosystem was wild African land. Later, the Maasai people started using the plains of the Serengeti as their main grazing land. The plains were highly fertile and filled with wildlife.
The first step into this area was taken in the late 1920s when the first group of professional hunters entered this region. The first photographs of the Great Migration also date back to the same time. Hunting activities were allowed until 1937. In 1940, the area was given the status of "protected area," and the Serengeti National Park was established in 1951. The original Serengeti National Park also included the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). Only in 1959 was the NCA separated from the Serengeti National Park and extended to the Kenya border.
In 1965, the Lamai Wedge was established. The addition of this place to the Serengeti National Park helped create a natural corridor for the wildebeest migration from the Serengeti plains to the Loita plains. In 1981, the Serengeti National Park became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Another fact unique to the Serengeti ecosystem is the Olduvai Gorge often known as the “Cradle of Mankind”. It is a paleoanthropological site located in the southern Serengeti ecosystem (now part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area). Ancient human fossils are found in this region depicting the continuous lineage of human evolution, dating back 2.1 million years. In 1979, Olduvai Gorge became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Serengeti National Park: A Tourist Destination
The most well-known part of the Serengeti ecosystem is the Serengeti National Park. The national park is home to thousands of animals and bird species - around 1.5 million blue wildebeest, the largest lion population in Africa, more than 250,000 zebras, 150,000 gazelles, and 500 bird species. Other animals common in the Serengeti National Park are elephants, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, hippos, baboons, and giraffes, among many others. Elephants moved into the park 30 years ago. A population of wild dogs was present until 1991.
The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the most well-known endemic bird areas in Africa. This region consists of a restricted bird species area and habitat-based bird conservation. The birds are easy to locate in specific areas, for example, you can easily find grey-breasted spurfowl in the Seronera area. Like the great wildebeest migration, you can also witness a great number of bird migrations from the month of November to April. Some of the prominent birds endemic to the Serengeti are the grey-crested helmetshrike, the Schalow’s turaco, and the Schalow’s wheatear.
The unique Serengeti ecosystem stems from the living of prey and predators in the same habitat and their interrelationship in a particular place.
But what is the best season to visit the Serengeti National Park?
Best Season to Visit the Serengeti National Park
Conditions in the Serengeti National Park change with every season. The best season to visit the Serengeti National Park is during the dry season (from late June to October). This season allows you to view the wildlife at its best, along with the spectacular river crossings of the wildebeest migration. But let’s look at all the seasons you can visit the Serengeti.
June to October (Dry Season)
The place indeed becomes crowded during this season, but it is one of the best seasons to visit the Serengeti National Park. During the months of June and July, you can see the wildebeest population migrating through the western corridor near the Grumeti River, and during August and September, they congregate in the north of the park, crossing the mighty Mara River. During this time, the plains are full of wildlife, and seeing the wildebeest migration in their full glory is a life-changing experience.
Late December to March (Calving Season)
The season starts with a short rainy season, indicating the return of the wildebeest to the southern plains of the Serengeti. The best place to stay during this season is in the Southern Serengeti and the Ndutu Plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation area (southern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem).
The months of January and February are the calving and predator season. The scenery of the plains is filled with lush vegetation and thousands of new babies. The months of April and May are the least visited months of the Serengeti ecosystem. Apart from the wildebeest migration and other mammals, the plains offer excellent opportunities for bird watching.
How to Reach the Serengeti National Park?
The best way to start your journey to the Serengeti is from Arusha. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about 56 km outside of Arusha. From the domestic airport in Arusha, you can either fly to several different airstrips in the Serengeti National Park or you can slowly drive up there, covering other national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area along the way. You can also reach Arusha from Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.
Where Do You Stay in the Serengeti National Park?
The Serengeti has four main entry points, which are:
Naabi Hill Gate
Ndabaka Gate
Klein's Gate
Ikoma Gate
Upon entering the national park through any of the above gates, you must pay entry fees. The entry fees will all be included during your safari booking package. There are various types of accommodation options available throughout the national park. Depending on which season you're visiting, different places in the national park offer different things. There are two types of accommodations - mobile camps, and permanent camps and lodges. Mobile camps move along with the wildebeest migration and allow you to see all stages of the great migration, depending on the month of the year you’re choosing to visit. The permanent camps and lodges offer something for every budget.
Depending on your budget and duration of stay, there are a variety of options to choose from. We at Sababu Safaris curate tailor-made family, solo, and couple safaris for you which let you experience Tanzania to its fullest.
Wrapping up
Tanzania is one of the most culturally diverse and wildlife-rich countries in Africa. The Serengeti is the crown jewel of Tanzania, and visiting the national park will create memories for a lifetime. The vast plains filled with lush flora and fauna, incredible sunsets, and game drives will fill your adventurous heart with happiness. Now, what is stopping you from starting to make plans to visit this wildlife wonderland? Contact us for more information!