The amazing facts about Serengeti National Park are a few aspects that travelers need t know before they embark on any adventure in Serengeti National Park. In this article we compiled the most known facts about this big National Park that are educative, informative, and also allow clients to get the correct information before visiting the Park.
In Northern Tanzania lies Serengeti National Park which covers an area of around 14,763 km2 (5,700 sq. mi). The park stretches over eastern Mara Region and northeastern Simiyu Region and contains over 1,500,000 hectares (3,700,000 acres) of virgin savanna. The park is well known for hosting the dramatic Wildebeest Migration which involves a movement of about 1.5 Million animals including the Gnus and Zebras which migrate from Serengeti and cross over to Maasai Mara in search of food (Pastures and water for drinking). Serengeti National Park is a habitat of over 2 Million ungulates, around 4000 lions, 1000 leopards and 550 cheetahs and over 500 bird species which live within the area. A journey to this National park will be amazing as you will be able to experience the great migration, enjoy wonderful game drive, birding, balloon safaris and cultural journeys.
Amazing facts about Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
- Wildebeest Migration
Granted to be among the 7 wonders of the world, Serengeti National Park hosts the annual Migration of very many antelopes crossing from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara. Over 1 million wildebeests together with zebras, elands move from this park as the cross rivers such as Mara River and Grumeti River. The reason for their migration is to search for pastures or food and water since the season during which these animals move is known to be a dry one. Travelers flock to Tanzania to witness this dramatic movements of these animals running and crossing rivers to till they reach their destination. Other predators such as the crocodiles take up this advantage to ensure that they get a piece of cake among the wildebeests crossing the rivers.
- Ancient Memorable History of Serengeti National Park
The word Serengeti is a Maasai word which means vast open land that continues forever and ever. The Maasai which is also known as the semi nomadic ethnic group have lived in this area for centuries and were known to be pastoralists who reared cattle for a living. In the ancient early 20th century, the first European exploration was recorded in the 1900s in Serengeti where the game hunters became the first visitors to visit this National Park with happiness that they hard after realizing that there was a lot of wildlife game to hunt down in the area, however when game hunting increased, the British colonial administration had to rise up and save Serengeti National Park from hunters by establishing it as a game reserve in 1921 to protect this magical area from game hunters and with time, the number of animals and ungulates increased and also the wildebeest migration started and the game reserve was established as a National park in 1951. It then became the first area in Africa to be protected for conservation purposes and also to promote Tourism development in the country Tanzania.
- Unique Vast ecosystems
Tanzania has got a combination of different ecosystems entirely within the whole country. These include the wetland ecosystems that is a combination of swamps, wetlands which harbor various species such as the aquatic animals as well as snakes, crocodile, hippos which live in these areas. The savannah ecosystem is comprised of National Parks such as Serengeti National Park. This is one of the biggest ecosystems that we have in Tanzania today. Many of the wildlife species of about 1.5 million animals live in this ecosystem and these include zebras, wildebeests also known as the gnus, and other antelopes which usually migrate during the great migration during the months of June, July and August. The forest ecosystem is a combination of different forest settings found in the country. This ecosystem is the best habitat for bird’s species and other wildlife which live in the forest zones. The fresh water ecosystem is a combination of rivers such as Grumeti, lakes such as Lake Manyara, Lake Tanganyika which are a source of water for domestic use and also a source of food for bird species like fish. The mountain eco system has got Africa’s tallest mountain also called mountain Kilimanjaro which is climbed by many adventure travelers who travel to Tanzania.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
In the past years in the 20th century, Serengeti used to be the best hunting ground for hunters across Africa due to the abundance of wild game in Serengeti National Park. In 1979 after being upgraded to a National in 1951, it became a UNESC World Heritage site with a purpose to support conservation of Wildlife animals which live within the park.
- Oldest National Park in Africa
Serengeti National Park is about 73 years which makes it the oldest National Park in Tanzania today. It was established in 1951 as a National Park with the aim to support more conservation initiatives and also to reduce on game hunting of wildlife animals by poachers in Tanzania today. In the early 1892, the late German explorer Bauman who probably was the first explorer to see the Serengeti, his caravan bust out of the Oldeani Highland Forest to find themselves on the rim of that great extinct crater Ngorongoro 12 miles in diameter, 2000′ deep and filled with a great array of wildlife.
Conclusion
Serengeti National Park is known to be the Safari Capital of the world where travelers flock to during the peak season months of June, July, August, September and the rest. Serengeti National Park has a lot of fun facts especially those in relation to its history f what used to happen back in the day before it became a National Park. A safari to this park will still stand out to be memorable for any traveler hoping to visit the park. With those listed facts, safaris are truly memorable to engage in.