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The
Serengeti, as it is called, is the largest and best known of Tanzania’s
National Parks, covers an area of over 14,500sq km
(5,600sq miles). Its northern boundary abuts Kenya’s
Masai Mara Game Reserve, whilst its western extension
known as the `corridor’ reaches to within 8km (5 miles)
of Lake Victoria. In this
world-famous wildlife sanctuary there still exists the
greatest and most spectacular concentration of game
animals found anywhere in the world.
Most of the Serengeti is vast open plains with lofty
rocky outcrops giving character to the landscape. There
are also acacia and savannah woodland and scrub,
forested and well-treed rivers, and the occasional swamp
and small lake. In altitude Serengeti varies between 914
and 1,828m (3,000-6000ft): Park headquarters at Seronera
is at 1,524m (5,000ft).
In
addition to its vast herds of Wildebeest, Common Zebra,
Thompson’s Gazelle and other plains game, Serengeti is
renowned for its Lion population. It is not at all
unusual to see 40 or more lions in a single day,
including several superbly manned old males. Leopards are
relatively numerous and are to be found during the
daytime resting in trees along the Seronera River.
 During
May, June and July, or sometimes earlier, there is a
remarkable migration of game animals, chiefly Zebra and
Wildebeest, away from their usual haunts on the central
plains and into the corridor. The animals converge and
then move westwards, six to ten abreast in winding
columns several miles long. This movement has its
following of carnivores, ready to dispose of the
weaklings and strugglers. The
remarkable `robertsi’ race of Grant’s Gazelle with
extremely wide-branched horns is found in the western
sector of the Park. Other interesting animals include
all three species of Jackal, Striped Hyaena and Aard-wolf.
Nobody,
at whatever level of interest in ornithology, can fail
to notice the wealth of bird life in Serengeti.
Colourful rollers, bee-eaters, kingfishers and sunbirds
are common, whilst among larger species birds of prey,
game birds and waterfowl are well represented.
 Species
of special note include the extremely local
Grey-breasted Spur-fowl, the rare Brown-chested Wattle
Plover which is sometimes found associated with flocks
of Senegal Plover on the open plains, the large brownish
Rufous-tailed Weaver, Schalow’s Turaco which inhabits
riverine forest and the Little Tawny Pipit and the
Red-throated Tit which are quite common around Seronera
Lodge.
The
normal route to the Serengeti National Park, when the
present Kenya-Tanzania restrictions are lifted, and one
suitable for saloon cars, is from Arusha via Lake
Manyara and Ngorongoro. From Arusha to Seronera is 318km
(198 miles); from Ngorongoro 145km (90 miles). It is
also possible to visit Serengeti from Keekorok via Sand
River and Klein’s Camp, a distance of about 153km (95
miles).
Accommodation with all facilities is available at
Seronera Wildlife Lodge. There are also nine official
camp sites, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, between Seronera and
Mara, and Lake Nduta
Safari Lodge. There is also a YMCA at Seronera. Special
permission must be obtained to camp elsewhere in the
Park. |
