Top Things to Do & See in Serengeti National Park : Serengeti National Park ranks as one of the top-selling safari destinations in the world tourism hub and this is because it boasts bucket lists of remarkable tourist attractions that attract millions of tourists to visit Tanzania every year. More so, the park is the most popular safari place in Tanzania which was established in 1952 and at that point, its conservation area included the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Despite this fact, Serengeti National Park covers a wide area of about 30,000 square kilometers to its north side is Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to the west side are two Game Reserves ‘’Ikorongo and Grumeti’’ and to the Southwest side, there are Maswa Game Reserve. However, Serengeti it’s in the local language which means ‘’Endless plains’’ among the Maasai. More to that, the park is featured by endless plains which are dotted with Kopjes, rivers, and acacia trees which are habitant to all the big five mammals ‘’elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, and lions’’ famous wildebeest, hyenas, zebras, African dogs, hippos, crocodiles and more than 550 bird species recorded.
More then, Serengeti National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the North Eastern region of the country. Its endless grassland has made Serengeti an ultimate safari destination worldwide, especially for those who are interested in game drives or want to experience a great annual migration event. Meaning, the annual migration of wildebeest involves the movements of over 2 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles. This is considered to be one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles on earth.
Yearly, Serengeti National Park can be visited to witness the great wildlife migration event that happens annually. The best time to enjoy the migration in the Serengeti is between May to June and December to March. Then between May and June, the wildebeest can be seen close to River Grumeti. From December to March, it can be a remarkable time for everyone who needs to go to the southern Plains to have the best sights. July to October are perfect months if you are visiting the Northern areas of Kogatende, Lobo, and Loliondo. This time of the year it’s when the wildebeest leave Tanzania and cross the Mara River into Kenya’s destination. The central Serengeti is rewarding because of the diversity of the animals which can be seen all year round.
Things to do and see in the Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park has got a lot of attractions and things to do on safari in Tanzania including; Game drives, Nature walks, Hot Air Balloon Safaris, Bush meals, Visiting the Serengeti Visitors Center, Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, Visiting Olduvai Gorge, Observing the wildebeest Migration, Visiting the Maasai Camping exploring the Bologonja Springs, Swimming, the Lobo Valley, Camping, Exploring the Bologonja Springs, Bird Watching, Swimming, the Hippo pool, and Lake Natron.
Morning Game Drive
A morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park is the best time for a variety of wildlife species with no doubt since it’s the most popular thing to do. A visit here, it’s the best way to see the big 5 mammals and others resident animal species. During morning and evening hours’ animals are very active. The morning game drive starts at sunrise and ends at around 11:am where visitors can be able to sightsee nocturnal animals retreating to their holes/dens or observe herbivores going out to graze. However, it is also a good time for spotting hyenas, lions, wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards, and hippos are easily seen as they return from a night of grazing outside the hippo pool among others. Lions love hunting at the night and early in the morning before the sun gets too hots.
Note; At the lodge after breakfast, we recommend you ask the staff in your lodge to pack for you something that you don’t get hungry while out in the savannah. Meanwhile, the roads are rough and the area covers a long drive. Besides that, you will need a professional guide to help you identify all the different species of animals and birds you will spot along the way.
Take another note that there are also afternoon game drives starting from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm. If you want to experience the beautiful endless plains of Serengeti, you can decide to go for the full-day game drives starting from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm, Top Things to Do & See in Serengeti National Park
Guided Nature Walks
The guided nature walk in Serengeti is perfect that brings you to discover the hidden treasures of the park in a way that would not be possible while on a standard game drive. Nature walks are unpredictable and you don’t hike through specific tracks though it allows you to sightsee bird species, reptiles, insects, and other unique plants along the way. In Serengeti –a guided nature walk is organized by some of the safari accommodation facilities around the park. We advise visitors during their nature walk safari you need to go with an armed ranger guide who is experienced in the terrain and knows about the different species in the park.
Hot Air Balloon Safari:
Travelers who want to experience a different perceptive of the beautiful endless plains, we highly recommend a hot air balloon safari. The hot air balloon can go up thousands of feet above the ground, where you can get excited by aerial views of the plains and the animals that roam it. Hot air balloon safaris are particularly popular during the wildebeest migration allowing visitors to watch them in the thousands.
Hot air balloon safaris start in the morning and end with a champagne breakfast in the true African wilderness. The balloon basket can carry between 12 to 16 people. We recommend you book your tour in advance and get prepared to pay about USD 500 per person per day.
Hot Air balloon safaris are excellent for honeymooners and those planning to have an anniversary or birthday party. Get started planning now to have experience of getting a bird-eye view of the Serengeti plains and Africa’s wildlife.
Meals in the Bush; If you are planning to celebrate your honeymoon in the Serengeti. You will enjoy a visit to the park where you can enjoy dinner in the middle of the African wilderness something unforgettable about life. Most of the good hotels in and out of the park can arrange dinner under the star with well-designed dining tables.
Visit the Serengeti Visitors Center; If you are wondering where to receive all the information about the Serengeti National Park, then you must visit this visitor’s center. The visitor’s Centre contains exhibits and detailed information about the park’s ecosystem and its history. During your visiting time here, you can also visit the gift and coffee shops. Another option, you can go for relaxation in the picnic area.
The Olduvai Gorge: The Olduvai Gorge is also referred to as the ‘’cradle of mankind’’ because it is the famous site where the first human remains were excavated by the Leakey family. The Gorge lies in the nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area and within the East African Rift Valley.
The Leakey family created a research base there which contains several fossils and tools that were over 2 million years old. These tools and human remains can be sighted from a small museum within the facility.
Visit the Ngorongoro Crater: The Ngorongoro Crater is no longer part of the Serengeti but is now a wider part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. However, the crater shelters over 30,000 large mammals and has often been described as the‘’ garden of Eden’’ for its famous wildlife. The place is magnificent and rewarding.
Wildebeest Migration Event: This is the main highlight activity in Serengeti National park that attracts thousands of visitors from May to June and December annually. During that time of year, millions of wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras migrate between the Serengeti National Park and the Masai Mara National Reserve and the experience is worth it,Top Things to Do & See in Serengeti National Park
Other activities you can be part of on safari to Serengeti National Park include; Visit the Maasai, Camping, Bologonja Springs, Night game drive, Visiting the Lobo valley, Bird watching -watching the vast Ostriches among others, Visiting the Moru Kopjes, Retina Hippo Pool, Swimming at your hotel facility and lake Natron.
Travelers planning a visit to Serengeti National Park can combine it with a safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Both national parks can be easily accessed by domestic flight to fly you from Jomo Kenyatta to Entebbe International Airport where you will be picked up by a driver guide to transfer you to Bwindi or fly with a domestic flight ‘’Bar Aviation’’ to nearby airstrip-Kihihi and from the airstrip, 30 minutes drive to access your booked lodge in Bwindi.
