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serengeti national park, world heritage site, wildebeest migration, tanzania, masai people, wildlife, elephant, buffalo , Zebra, Giraffe, African Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, Waterbuck, African Leopard, tanzania
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SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK |
ABOUT SERENGETI The Serengeti ecosystem is located in north-western Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some 30,000 km. The Serengeti hosts the largest and longest overland migration in the world, a semi-annual occurrence. This migration is one of the seven tourist travel wonders of the world. The region contains several national parks and game reserves. Serengeti is derived from the Maasai language, Maa; specifically "Serengit", meaning "Endless Plains". Approximately 70 larger mammal and some 500 avifauna species are found there. This high diversity in terms of species is a function of diverse habitats ranging from riverine forests, swamps, kopjes, grasslands and woodlands. Blue Wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and buffalos are some of the commonly found large mammals in the region. Around October, nearly 2 million herbivores travel from the northern hills toward the southern plains, crossing the Mara River , in pursuit of the rains. In April, they then return to the north through the west, once again crossing the Mara River . This phenomenon is sometimes called the Circular Migration. Over 250,000 wildebeest alone will die along the journey from Tanzania to Masai Mara Reserve in upper Kenya , a total of 500 miles. Death is often caused by injury, exhaustion, or predation. ©2001 - 2008 Romantik Safaris & Travel Ltd. 5th Floor, Suite 1, P.O. BOX 9494 (00300), Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254(020)211856, +254(0722)782201 Fax: +254(020)312618 E-Mail: info@romantiksafaris.com or romantiksafaris@hotmail.com “ ….. a taste of African hospitality” |
The Serengeti is Tanzania 's largest and best-known national park, with a massive concentration of migratory animals who move around the park according to the availability of food.
The Serengeti ecosystem extends beyond the National Park to include several other conservation areas and reserves, including the Masai Mara in Kenya . It is through these extensive protected areas that a million or more wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and impala, complete their great circulatory migration. Serengeti means "endless plain" in the Maasai language and much of the landscape epitomises what we have come to expect from an East African safari - vast open savannahs dotted with acacia trees and a few rocky hillocks.
ANIMALS AND BIRDS - THE MIGRATION
It is hard to predict exactly where the migration will be at a certain time, because the animals are driven purely by the search for food, and if the rains come when they are supposed to, the herds follow a predictable pattern. In May the herds graze along the western corridor between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers , and commence their mating season.
Then in June or July they split up and some continue west, while others head due north and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Masai Mara. They graze on both sides of the Mara River for several months and then head south again in about October. They return to the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti, where during December to April they give birth. Then the endless cycle of life begins again. The numbers of animals that complete this migration is incredible - 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 Thomson's gazelle and 250,000 zebras chomp and grunt their way through the plains. Where there is such a large mobile meat supply there are predators and the Serengeti is renowned for its impressive lion sightings. Silver-backed jackals, spotted hyenas, cheetah, eagles and vultures are also avid consumers of this endless source of meat and little goes to waste. Some of the Serengeti's largest buffalo herds are to be found in the pristine woodlands to the north and elephants abound in this area too. For excellent year round game viewing the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has abundant grazing and considerable numbers of animals including giraffes, warthogs, reedbucks and many other species that sustain resident leopards and large prides of lions. In the south is the saline Lake Ndutu which attracts throngs of flamingoes and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see. SEASONS: For much of the year temperatures remains between 70-80°F (21-27°C) but nights and early mornings get colder in the months of June, July and August. Rainy Season: The short rains are in November and December and the long rains fall from March to May, with April and May being the height of the rainy season. Dry Season: June to October is usually dry, as is January and February. SERENGETI SPECIALITIES : • The great migration • Prides of lions • Hot air ballooning • Vast open spaces and big sky • Excellent choice of safari lodges FACTS : The Serengeti World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve encompasses 8,078miles² (20,922km²) Altitude varies from 3,120-6,070 feet (950-1,850metres)
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