Why Serengeti

Renowned for its wildebeest migration and plentiful lions, the Serengeti is undoubtedly a strong contender for Africa’s finest game-viewing destination.

With 14,763km, Serengeti is the centrepiece of a twice-larger ecosystem that also incorporates the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, several smaller Tanzanian wildlife reserves, and the Maasai Mara in neighbouring Kenya.

Home to unusually dense populations of lions and other predators, the Serengeti is probably the leading park for the of Africa’s finest game-viewing destination, renowned above all for the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and other ungulates across its vast plains.

Declared as a protected area in 1921 and gazetted as a National park in 1951, Serengeti National Park was established in 1952 and it is home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth – the great migration of wildebeest and zebra.

The resident population of lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and birds is also impressive. The principal features of Serengeti are the short and long grass plains in the south and east, the acacia Savannah in the central areas, the hilly and densely wooded areas in the north and the extensive woodland in the west.

Serengeti” is a word derived from the Maasai community. It means “endless plains.” The Serengeti is made up of the Serengeti National Park and several game reserves including the Maasai Mara Reserve.

The Serengeti hosts the second largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, which helps secure it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world.

Serengeti is also renowned for its large lion population and is one of the best places to observe prides in their natural environment. The region contains the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and several game reserves.

Serengeti has got beautiful scenery which include the plains, lakes, hills and the rock outcrops called kopjes. The main game drive areas in the Serengeti are the Seronera Valley, the Western Corridor, and Lobo or northern Serengeti.

The Park can be divided into 3 sections. The popular southern/central part (Seronera Valley), is what the Maasai called the “serengit”, the land of endless plains. Its classic savannah dotted with acacias and filled with wildlife.

The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River, and has more forests and dense bush. The north, Lobo area, meets up with Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, is the least visited section.