You might have heard
the name, or watched a documentary on National Geographic, but to
experience it is an experience of a lifetime. The Serengeti National Park is one
of the most incredible places on the planet. What you might have
seen on television or read in a book cannot do justice to the actual
experience. It is just out of this world. This is the largest of
Tanzania’s national parks, measuring 14,763 sq. km's. The park
name is derived from a Maasai word meaning "endless
plains" and houses the largest concentration of wildlife in the
world.
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The
Serengeti is renowned for the huge concentrations of wildebeest and
zebra. Approximately 1,500,000 wildebeest and 250,000 zebra migrate
annually in a circular pattern between the Serengeti National
Park’s Western Corridor and Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Contrary to belief, the migration of these animals is a continuous
affair with stopover points along the way. These migrationary trends
are dependent on the rains.
During late November or December through
to May/ early June, lines of Wildebeest (sometimes up to 40km long)
can be seen on a journey which can be up to 800 km long. These vast
herds of grunting and snorting animals consume a staggering 4000 tones
of grass each day. Hot on their heels you will find the ominous and ever present lion,
cheetah and hyena. They are particularly interested in the calving
season that coincides with the migration off the plains. In a period
of only 3 weeks, some 400,000 cows give birth. Unlike most antelopes
who seek cover, wildebeest prefer to calve in open terrain, which
provides another breathtaking spectacle. These new calves provide
easy pickings for larger scavengers and cats. This is the reason why
wildebeest calves are able to be up and running within 4 minutes of
birth. The best time to witness this is between the end of January
to February.
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The Seronera Valley provides for some of the best game viewing.
Jutting kopjes provide a vantage point for lion to sit a gaze on the
herds and plan the next meal. June and July sees the animals moving
off to the Togoro Plain on the border of the Grumeti River. This
presents an obstacle for the vast herd, as they have to cross the
queues of the eagerly awaiting crocs. August to September sees the
animals moving off to the Lobo area and into the Maasai Mara Game
Reserve, in neighboring Kenya.We have
been up to the Serengeti on numerous occasions, and we have never
been disappointed.
Two experiences spring to mind immediately.
Whilst on a game drive in the Lobo area, we spotted a lioness in the
distance sitting in the grass. Upon closer inspection,
"she" turned out to be a pride of 17 lion frolicking with
cubs around a large kopje. That particular day we saw 49 lion.
The other instance was our first game drive near the Naabi gate.
Upon departing from the gate, we went straight for the nearest
plain. As we came over the hill, the view is indescribable. In front
of us were approximately 100,000 wildebeest and zebra grazing in an
area of about 4 sq. kilometers. We stopped the car and sat amongst
these animals, listening to the grunts and snorts. The animals were
so close you could almost touch them.The Serengeti provides for an
ultimate animal experience and unforgettable memories to tell your
friends and family about.
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