The Serengeti national park is in the Northern region of Tanzania. The park is listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is bordered by the Kenyan Maasai Mara National Reserve in the North, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the South-East and Maswa Game Reserve on the South-West.
It also has the Ikorongo to the West and Grumeti Game Reserves, as well as Loliondo Game Controlled Area to the North-East. One can say that the Serengeti is an island surrounded by an ocean of parks and reserves.
However, it is the largest and oldest national park in the country, but also the most famous. For avid safari-goers, a bucket-list is not complete unless it has the Serengeti on it.
Here is why the Serengeti should be on your bucket list:
Serengeti comes from a Maasai word, Siringet, which means endless plains. As the name stands, Serengeti National Park is mostly made up of grassy plains that seem to roll on to infinity with some patches of wooded hills, termite mounds, and kopjes.
The park is so large that you could do as many game drives as you like without going to the same spot twice. A great way to explore the park is via a balloon safari as it gives you a bird’s eye view of the endless plains, a true safari from the sky.
The Serengeti is also home to one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, The Great Wildebeest Migration. It is a test of survival and an essential annual journey for grazers like the Zebra and the Wildebeest.
These animals strive to protect themselves against predators such as lions and leopards while trying not to stray further from their group as they migrate for food and water.
It is a testament to the notion of the survival of the fittest. While nature works in strange ways, it does provide onlookers with a spectacular show during the migration. We might be biased but we think a balloon safari is one of the best ways to enjoy and view the migration.
The park is well known as the home of the “Big Five”, the Lion, African Leopard, African Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, and the African Buffalo. It is the only park in Tanzania with high chance of seeing the big five in the same area.
Hot air balloon safaris are great in general. A balloon safari in the Serengeti is an otherworldly experience taking you over the endless plains. This safari from the sky offers you a splendid view of animals grazing in the early morning.
If you had any doubt about how large the Serengeti is, there is nothing like a hot air balloon safari to demonstrate the magnitude and the sheer size of the park.
Hot air balloon trips start at dawn and this leaves you the rest of the day for game drives. And if you are an adrenaline junk, the take-off and landing experience will surely get your adrenaline pumping
The Maasai tribe is one of the few in Tanzania that have preserved their authentic traditions. Make a visit to a Maasai boma and experience their rich culture and way of life. You will also participate in a Maasai dance and enjoy a traditional Maasai meal. For culture enthusiasts, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Not for lack of things to do in Serengeti, but it is worth noting as mentioned earlier that Serengeti is surrounded by attractions all around the park including the neighboring Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Oldoinyo Lengai, Singing Rocks, Lake Natron and more. With all these attractions, there is a lot you can do while staying in Serengeti, on the way to or from the Serengeti.
The Serengeti is a photographer’s paradise. It is so great that a book was written on this very topic. From the landscapes to the Maasai portraits, from the sleeping hills to the fighting animals, a photographer is spoilt by choices while in the Serengeti.
Now with balloon safaris, a photographer has a new angle to capture the amazing wildlife experience.
The Serengeti is full of not only high-end accommodations but also medium-to-budget accommodations. The choice is all yours. There are also various options for day trips to the neighboring city of Mwanza and Karatu town.
It has plenty to offer for all types of Safari-goers. Not only are their plenty of activities to do, but also plenty to see. As a company dealing in the Serengeti, we are here to serve you and make sure your experience is one to remember.
