Top 10 activities in Serengeti National Park

Top 10 activities in Serengeti National Park: Serengeti National Park is the most popular national park located in the Northern part of Tanzania and is part of the northern corridor. Other parks in the northern corridor include Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Serengeti National Park was named after the local Masai word ‘serengeti’ meaning open plains.   This park is mainly covered by a vast savanna grassland and is an attractive home to different wildlife creatures.  It is not only known for the great wildebeest migration but also for diverse fauna and flora making it beautiful and unique thus rendering it a suitable tourist destination.

Below are some of the activities that can be carried out by tourists to this wide savanna park.

Watching the wildebeest migration

The great wildebeest migration is a spectacular event that takes place mainly in the northern part of Tanzania.  It is one of the greatest wonders of the natural world where over 2 million herds of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles traverse through the vast savanna grasslands of Serengeti and Masai mara in a dramatic pattern.

This global event attracts millions of tourists who come to witness the moving wildebeests versus the Nile crocodiles that wait to grab their prey of the young and weak animals as they cross the Grumet River through Lobo to Masai Mara National Park.

Serengeti National Park gives tourists the clearest views of different wildlife creatures throughout the year, especially in the regions of Seronera, Ndutu, and Grumeti River. More animals that can be spotted in this park include lions and jackals that always keep above in the kopjes to spot prey that comes to drink water in the basin like rocks, bizarre aardvarks and pangolins can be spotted feeding in the towering termite mounds.

Game drives / game viewing

Game drives are the best way to explore Serengeti National Park. Serengeti National Park is sub-divided into the southern sector that borders Ngorongoro, the Seronera area commonly known as the northern circuit, and the northern sector bordering Masai Mara National Reserve.

Game drives in Serengeti National Park are carried out in different in different sessions depending on the guests’ travel plan. All game drives start at the park headquarters through different gates in the parks.

Morning game drives often start after breakfast depending on the tour operator’s arrangements. This game drive is so rewarding as many animals are always lively and spotted as they start grazing in the savanna fields. The big cats are always sunbathing planning to grab their prey.  In the dry season, many animals always enjoy feeding on the grass with morning dew.   A morning game drive provides 90% views of the true African wilderness and is the best time for photography. Most morning game drives are done in the Seronera area of Serengeti.

Afternoon game drives are often carried out as tourist transfers from Arusha via Ngorongoro to Seronera in Serengeti. The drives are less rewarding as most of the animals are in their hideouts, though a few can be spotted grazing.

Full-day game drives are also carried out in  Serengeti. Many tourists often carry out such drives on the second day of their safari to this park. Tourists always must wake early up for breakfast with packed lunch boxes ready to drive to most corners of the park. many wild animals are sighted in a full day’s expedition including the big five, giraffes, antelopes, Kobs, Oribis, kudus, cheetahs, and many others.

Night game drives are not common in Serengeti though can be carried out after special requisition from the park authorities and it comes with an extra charge of $50 per person. The high game drives are most rewarding for photographers and researchers who want detailed information about the park. many nocturnal l animals can be spotted during a night game drive in the park.

All game drives in Serengeti National Park are rewarding and give exposure to different wild creatures, especially animals, birds, and the natural wilderness.

 Masai cultural experience

A Masai cultural tour is one activity that should not be missed on a visit to Serengeti National Park. A visit to the Maasai community will immerse you in the interesting legend of the Maasai people. The Maasai live in small houses called Manyatta built from sticks, clay, and cow dung. Half day or full day is enough to enable you to have the best of Maasai tribe encounters.

The Maasai are one of the tribes with untouched cultures and traditions. For a long period, they have lived a nomadic life and have managed to live peacefully with wild creatures. Currently, most of them are settled in the Ngorongoro crater and conservation area. The Maasai are hospitable and welcoming. On your visit to their homesteads, enjoy their traditional dances and cultural messages through storytelling. Enjoy the Maasai women milking the cows, and you can engage in this experience, learn to do local hunting, and constructing houses using their local materials. The Maasai are a true reflection of the African culture.

Hot Air Balloon Experience.

A Serengeti hot air balloon safari is a unique way of experiencing and exploring the vast nature of the park. it involves floating in the sky above the treetops in total silence while watching the park’s wild creatures on the ground. Balloon safaris are usually done before sunrise in the Seronera and Ndutu areas of the park. In this experience your pilot will decide to fly to higher altitudes where you will experience uninterpreted views of the park, in the low flight zones you will get the opportunity to see wildlife, and experienced pilots will take you to fights above the rivers and water streams where you will spot some grunting hippos and wandering giraffes. An early morning balloon safari helps you spot some predators (cats) getting ready for the day. Such a safari lasts for 50 to 70 minutes and ends with a bush landing with a champagne toast and hot coffee breakfast.

Bird watching in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of the areas gifted by nature in Tanzania. Besides being home to different animals including the big five, this park is well known for the world’s largest animal migration and birders haven. The park has recorded over 500 bird species, some of which are endemic to the region. Birds that can easily spotted in this area include the grey-breasted fowl, rufous-tailed weaver, barbet, secretary bird, red-capped robbin, Kori bustards,  Verreaux’s eagles, love birds, and starlings among others.  Many bird species are easily spotted in the different vegetation zones starting from open savanna grasslands, woodland riverine vegetation, and the kopjes. Most birding safaris are carried out in the Seronera area in the central part of the park where you can find woodland and water bird species. At times nocturnal birds like nightjars and owls can be seen in this region. Ndutu area and Lobo mountains are also favourite birding destinations in Serengeti.

Birding safaris in Serengeti can be carried out throughout the year due to the favourable climatic conditions in the park and most of the birds are permanent species though a few are migratory.

Guided Nature Walks

Serengeti National Park is not only through game drives but also on foot through nature walks. These walks lead you through the amazing biodiversity and stunning landscape scenery that cannot be accessed by vehicles.

Nature walks are led by experienced game guides who are well-versed with most parts of the park.  Game guides help to give you detailed knowledge of the park as they point out interesting plant and bird species at a close range. They also provide more information about the communities around the park. Moving leisurely through the wilderness will enable you to spot insects and smaller animals that cannot be seen during game drives.

With over 500 bird species recorded in this park, nature walks bring you closer to the sight of wild birds. Some of the birds that can be luckily spotted during nature walks include the secretary bird, Kori bustard, grey crowned crane, red-throated tit, schalows turaco, and the bearded roller among others.

Some of the most popular walking rails include is the Seronera walking trails in the central Serengeti Region near the Seronera River. Along this trail, you may luckily spot giraffes, zebra, elephants, and several bird species.

Another recognized walking trail is the Moru Kopjes trail which takes you through the granite rock formations known as Kopjes. The rocks are home to diverse wildlife like hyraxes and leopards so the guide rangers should be extra careful because these animals are not human-friendly. This trail is too opportunistic for bird-watching safaris.

Serengeti Visitor Center

The Serengeti Visitor Center is a place located in the center of the park in the Seronera area. This is a place where tourists find detailed information about the park. at this spot, visitors are provided with wider information about the different ecosystems of the park. Visitors get an education about the park as in terms of conservation efforts and tourism practices. This helps travelers to deeply understand and appreciate the natural wonders of this park.

At the visitor center is a welcome hall, administrative offices, a movie room, an outdoor sitting area, and different illustrations that provide detailed information about the park. an elevated circular path illustrates the wildebeest migration that takes place almost all year round. The different pathways on the circle signify the different stages of the great migration and the information as per stage. The visitor center provides written information about the park in the form of maps, movies, videos, and conservation talks from the park authorities. This helps you to have quick interaction with other tourists. At this place, you can buy some souvenirs as a remembrance of your safari.

This place can be visited at any time of the year you wish to travel through the park, but mostly busy during the months for the wildebeest migration.

Visiting Olduvai Gorge

Olduvai Gorge is an exceptional archaeological site found in Tanzania and was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. This place has a recognized and remarkable ancestry of human revolution and it’s always been referred to as the “cradle of mankind”  Olduvai Gorge is part of the Serengeti ecosystem.

It is at this site that Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey made the famous discoveries of the skull of Zinjanthropus (Australopithecus boisei) and the remains of Homo habalis the daresay maker of early stone tools that were found in deposits and larger-brained hominin that led up to the earliest modern humans (Homosapiens).

At Olduvai Gorge is a museum that displays fossils, tools, and artifacts of how early humans lived and adapted to their environment. The museum was founded by Mary Leakey in 1970.

When you visit the gorge, expect to embrace the beauty of the fossils and historical items in a well-preserved nature. You will see the different layers of the gorge as you enjoy the company of experienced guides.

Visiting the Lobo valley

This is one of the places that should not be missed out on a safari to Tanzania. Lobo Valley sits at the south-eastern edge of the northern Serengeti.  the Lobo Valley together with Seronera, is referred to as a ‘paradise’  as it’s the only place where the three big cats roam. lions,  cheetahs and leopards.  The valley is less crowded than central Serengeti but is a very peaceful destination for wildlife lovers.

It is an important scenic route for those who wish to witness the wildebeest migration as animals search for fresh grazing grounds. Besides the migration, the lobo valley is also home to other animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and antelope species. Bird watchers also enjoy this valley area for its variety of bird species found there.

Though the valley has a remote location, several lodges and camps in the area provide excellent accommodation to tourists for better exploration.

 Camping activity in Serengeti

Camping is one of the popular activities in Serengeti National Park. camping activities are often provided by hotels that provide you with camping gear, chefs, and armed guards. During camping, you will have to move out of the accommodation and spend your night in tents as you enjoy the African sky together with other tourists. Tents are usually charged $50 -$900 depending on your budget as some tents are rented on a budget basis while others are luxury tents.  Regardless of which camping gear you rent, the experience remains the same. You will enjoy the beautiful nature of the African wilderness, with cool weather conditions, sweet sounds of birds, roars of hungry cats, and cries and hoots of herbivores. It’s so interesting