Serengeti Plains

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (MARA REGION) “THE LAND OF UNIQUE WILDLIFE MIGRATION

Background information; by edgardowelelo@yahoo.com

The Serengeti National Park is a third largest National Park in Tanzania after J.K.Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park. Serengeti comes from the Maasai word “Siring” meaning “Endless Plain,” which really means hundreds of kilometers of flat surface land. The first understanding about Serengeti comes from its distinction of the ecosystem from the Serengeti National Park itself. Serengeti is approximately 7,000 square kilometers, it covers 14,763 Sq.km (5,700 square miles) of grassland plains and savanna as well as riverine forest and woodlands. The park lies in the north of the country, bordered to the north by the National Tanzania and Kenyan border, where it is continuous with the Maasai Mara National Reserve. To the south – east of the park is Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), to the south – west lies Maswa Game Reserve (In Simiyu Region), and to the western borders are Ikorongo and Grumeti Game Reserves, finally to the north – east lies Loliondo Game Controlled Area. The Serengeti National Park is absolutely huge. If you are intent on viewing the Great Migration, then where you stay is as much dependent on the time of year you are travelling as it is the style of camp or hotel you are looking for. Get the location wrong and this park is so big that you will not see the herds. The Serengeti is, therefore, broadly divided into four (4) distinct areas; the Central Seronera Valley, the Western Corridor, the Northern Lobo and Kogatende areas, and finally the Southern Plains.

1. THE CENTRE – SERONERA SERENGETI

In the heart of the national park, Seronera is a network of river valleys that ensure year – round water supplies and keep the region incredibly rich in wildlife throughout the year. Seronera has all the best features of the Serengeti and also sadly, its worst. Scenically, it is a lovely area – with open plains, occasional kopjes and lines of hills to add interest. The resident game here is phenomenal, with high densities of relaxed leopards, cheetahs and lions. These live off the resident herbivores, as well as the migrating game. The migration passes through here in April / May, but Seronera is within reach of both the southern plains and the western corridor – so from about November to June, it can be used as a base to see the migration.

2. WESTERN CORRIDOR

Stretching to the west, almost to Lake Victoria (Nyanza), the Serengeti narrows into what is known as the Western Corridor. The key feature of this area is the two rivers, the Grumeti and the Mbalageti, which run almost parallel, each supporting a band of most, evergreen riparian forest. This area sustains a very good permanent game population, including plenty of zebras and wildebeests, all the predators and forest “specialists” like colobus monkeys. The birdlife is particularly varied. The migration passes through between about May and July – pausing to gather momentum before crossing the crocodile rich waters of the Grumeti River, into the Grumeti Reserve.

3. NORTHERN SERENGETI

The landscape is dominated by open woodlands (predominantly Commiphora) and hills, ranging from Seronera in the south, to the Mara River in the limit with Kenya. Apart from the migratory wildebeest and zebra (which occur from July to August) and in November, the bushy Savannah is the best place to find elephants, giraffes and dik- diks.

4. SERENGETI PLAINS

The endless, almost treeless grassland of the south is the most emblematic scenery of the park. This is where the wildebeest breed, as they remain in the plains from December to May. Other hoofed animals – zebras, gazelles, impalas, hartebeests, topis, buffalos, and waterbucks – also  occur in huge numbers during the wet season. Kopjes are granite floriations which are very common in the region, and they are great observation posts for predators, as well as a refuge for hyrax and pythons. Today, the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve across the border in Kenya, protect the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on earth, and one of the last great migratory systems still intact. The Serengeti is the jewel in the crown of Tanzania’s protected areas, which altogether make up some 14% of the country’s land area, a conservation record that few other countries can match.

HISTORY OF SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

For centuries, the vast wilderness of the Serengeti Plains remained virtually uninhabited but about hundred years ago the nomadic Maasai came down from the north with their cattle. The first European to set foot in the area was the German explorer and naturalist Dr. Oscar Baumann, who passed by as an agent of the German Anti – Slavery Committee on his way to Burundi.  He was followed by his compatriots who built Fort Ikoma in the north which was used as an administrative center until it fell to the British in 1917. The first professional hunters came in 1913. They found the wildlife plentiful, especially the lions, but saw no elephants. Seven years later, an American arrived in a strange new contraption known as a Ford motor – car and news of the wonders of the Serengeti had reached the outside world. Because the hunting of lions made them so scarce (they were considered “vermin”), it was decided to make a partial Game Reserve in the area in 1921 and a full one in 1929. With the growing awareness of the need for conservation, it was expanded and upgraded to a National Park in 1951. Eight years later the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established in the South – east as a separate unit. In the open grassy plains during the rainy months from November to May hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and Burchel’s zebra congregate. The area is the starting point for one of the great wonders of the world: the Serengeti annual migration. Towards the end of May when the grass becomes dry and exhausted, the wildebeests start to mass in huge armies. All is far from peaceful, for it is the rutting season and each male tries to establish a stamping ground. Eventually, after several dummy runs, the animals begin their trek in a column several miles long to the permanent waters in the north of the park. After moving westwards, the migration divides by some uncanny instinct, one group turning north – east and the other due north. Once started, little stops the stampede; hundreds often drown at a time in the broad Mara River in the north. This mass movement has a following of carnivores, always ready to dispose of the weaklings. The River crossings happen at any time during this time of year, but are elusive, rapid and unforgettable experiences. The wildebeests are easily spooked by real or imagined threats. Patient waiting near a herd by the river may only produce a puff of dust as they turn on their heels and run away. Or maybe the herd is just not ready to cross the river and they are milling around contentedly. But if everything is right then, there is utter and extraordinary chaos as the herds struggle to get to the other side of a major river filled with crocodiles.

SERENGETI LANDSCAPE

A unique combination of diverse habitats enables it to support more than 30 species of large herbivores and nearly 500 species of birds. Its landscape, originally formed by volcanic activity, has been sculptured by the concerted action of wind, rain and sun. it now varies from open grassy plains in the south, savannah with scattered acacia trees in the center, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west. Small rivers, lakes and swamps are scattered throughout. In the south – east rise the great volcanic massifs and craters of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Each area has its own particular atmosphere and wildlife.

NATURE & WILDLIFE SAFARI EXPERIENCE

Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7^th worldwide wonder. This land is justifiably famous for its huge concentrations of wildlife, especially when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles join the wildebeests’ trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game – viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalos, smaller groups of elephants and giraffes, and thousands upon thousands of elands, topis, kongonis, impalas and Grant’s gazelles. The spectacle of predator versus prey dominates Tanzania’s famous park of Serengeti – Golden – maned lion pride feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowls the south – eastern plains. Almost uniquely, all three (3) African jackal species occur here, alongside the spotted hyena and a host of more elusive small predators, ranging from the insectivorous Aardwolf to the beautiful Serval cat. The park also supports many further species, including Cheetahs, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, topis, elands, waterbucks, hyenas, baboons, Impalas, African wild dogs and giraffes. The park also boasts about 500 bird species, including Ostriches, secretary birds, Kori bustards, Crowned cranes and Marabou storks.

MIGRATION IN THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

The wildebeest migration, like a discernible thread, embraces and connects the Serengeti’ s ecosystem much as it has done for at least two million years. Every year, with some seasonally dictated variations in timing and scale, one million wildebeests leave the southern Serengeti’s short grassy plains in search of the grass and water they need to survive. During their annual pilgrimage they will travel some 2,000 miles devouring 4,000 tons of grass a day. A quarter of a million will be born, many will die.

THE PARTICIPANTS: WESTERN WHITE – BEARDED WILDEBEEST, BURCHELLS ZEBRAS AND THOMPSON’S GAZELLES

The highlight of the Serengeti ecosystem, not found anywhere in the world, is the migration of the animals thus the reason to visit Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The migration of animals consists of Western – white – bearded wildebeests, Burchells zebra and Thomson’s gazelles. The migration begins by the wildebeests, gazelles and zebra’s own innate biological triggers determined to search for water and greener pastures. The migration attracts diverse species of predators, some being: Hyenas, Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Crocodiles and Pythons etc. Over a million wildebeests begin their circumambulation of the Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve. Over half a million Burchells zebras and Thomson’s gazelles participate in the traditions of the Serengeti.

GETTING TO SERENGETI

• By Plane – Scheduled and private charter flights are available from Arusha, Lake Manyara and Mwanza such as Flight Link, Coastal Aviation and Safari Air.
• By Road; You can drive from Arusha, Lake Manyara, Tarangire or Ngorongoro crater.

ACTIVITIES IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

You won’t be disappointed to have few days safari in the Serengeti National Park. This park is ideal for a day tour, Hot air balloon safaris, walking safari, picnicking, game drives, bush lunch / dinner can be arranged with hotels / tour operators. Maasai rock paintings and musical rocks. Visit neighboring Ngorongoro crater, Oldupai Gorge, Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and Lake Natron’s flamingos.

WHEN TO GO

The Serengeti is one of the very few places in Africa of which you can say the game viewing is out standing at any time of year. April and May sees the heaviest rains but even then, the Lodges are ridiculously good value and the park is quiet. The very best time of year to be in the park is either from January to March which includes the spectacle of the Great Migration Calving, or alternatively from the middle of July all the way to the middle of November when the herds are crossing the Mara River to or from Kenya.

FACTS ON SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK AND ECOSYSTEM AT A GLANCE

1. Located in Tanzania, adjacent to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA)
2. The Serengeti ecosystem includes 2 countries: Tanzania and Kenya.
3. In Kenya, the Serengeti ecosystem is renowned as Maasai Mara National Reserve.
4. Serengeti National Park is 14,763 square kilometers.
5. First detailed research on the Serengeti ecosystem was undertaken by two German Nationals (Father and Son), Dr. Bernhard and Michael Grizmek. The details of their findings and stories on the Serengeti are documented in a book called “Serengeti Shall Not Diel”.
6. The serengeti National Park has many rivers flowing through it, permanent and seasonal, including the Seronera River, Mara River, Grumeti River and Orangi River.