Top 10 Little-Known Facts about Serengeti National Park
Hidden Secrets of Serengeti National Park: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know.
Top 10 Little-Known Facts about Serengeti National Park. Facts about Serengeti National Park are the different things worth knowing about the park as you look to visit Tanzania. Serengeti National Park safaris offer travellers the most rewarding African safari experiences, all year. As you plan your Tanzania safari tour to Serengeti National Park, below are the top facts about the park to know:
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Serengeti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1981. The Serengeti National Park was declared a World Heritage Site for being the place where the largest natural animal migration passes through, as well as for its rich and diverse ecosystem.
- Great Wildebeest Migration
The Serengeti Great Wildebeest Migration was listed as one of Africa’s seven natural wonders in 2013, along with Mount Kilimanjaro, the River Nile, the Sahara Desert, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Okavango Delta and the Red Sea Reef. The great wildebeest migration begins in the Serengeti National Park, in the southern part of the park commonly known as the Ndutu area, where millions of wildebeest give birth and continue their movement throughout the park to the north so as to cross the mighty Mara River in a survival of the fittest spectacle.
- Vast Endless Plains
The park is synonymous with endless plains: the name of the park itself, Serengeti, is translated from the local language, Siringit, translating to ‘a place where the land runs forever’. The Serengeti National Park’s size is about 30,000 square kilometres of vast plains, dotted with acacia trees and animal sightings.
- Unique and Dramatic Landscapes
Serengeti National Park safaris offer not just animals and open savannah. The park has unique and dramatic landscapes, including granite outcrops known as ‘kopjes’, rivers and the scenery which makes the park all the more beautiful.
- Predator Capital of Africa
Serengeti National Park is considered the predator capital of Africa, and this does not come out of the blue. The park is home to a wonderful list of predators, including lions, hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs, jackals, and leopards, among others. If watching the predator-prey action is your thrill, a Serengeti safari is one not to miss, as they take advantage of the vulnerable herbivores like the wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, and antelopes, among others. It is also safe to add that Serengeti National Park has one of the largest lion populations in the world, with roughly 4,000 recorded to roam the endless savannah plains.
- Big Five Animals
Spotting the Big Five animals is very easy and possible in Serengeti National Park, especially if you have a good and keen local safari guide. Seeing the big five animals is one of the top reasons that many embark on Tanzania safaris in Serengeti National Park. The big 5 animals in Serengeti National Park include lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos; rhinos, however, are a bit trickier to spot.
- Diversity of Wildlife
Apart from the much sought-after big five animals in Serengeti National Park, the park boasts so many other animals that one cannot go many metres away without spotting any. There are over 1.5 million wildebeests, 200,000 zebras, many hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, elands, topi, kongoni, impala, about 500,000 gazelles, about 7,500 hyenas, wild dogs, oryx, dik-diks, and many others.
- Large ecosystem
The ecosystem of Serengeti National Park is so large that it extends far from the park itself. The large Serengeti ecosystem stretches to Maswa Game Reserve, Loliondo, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ikorongoro Game Controlled areas and the Grumeti, as well as Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This was all one area that got demarcated with the borders in place.
- Amazing Birdlife
Serengeti National Park is not just a hub of wild animals freely ranging; well over 500 birds are recorded in the Serengeti. Common sightings include kori bustards, lilac-breasted rollers, and vultures, among others. The Seronera River area is a great place to enjoy birdwatching in Serengeti National Park, as many species, including waterbird species, can easily be spotted.
- Many Kopjes
Kopjes are a major attraction and hub for different animals in the park. Kopjes are one of the key natural features of Serengeti National Park, dotting the park every so often. While on a game drive in Serengeti Park, keeping an eye on the kopjes could be rewarding, for you just may spot the Lion King watching from up above.
Serengeti National Park is an amazing Tanzanian wildlife safari destination offering unmatched African safari experiences in the most authentic wild way. While the above are the top 10 little-known facts about the Serengeti National Park, there is so much to learn and discover. Book your Tanzania safari tour for a chance to explore, in detail, the mighty Serengeti National Park and beyond.
