Serengeti National Park

The Largest National Park in Africa Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best known wildlife sanctuary in the world unequaled for its natural beauty and scientific value. Within its boundaries are more than 3 million large mammals living in total freedom on the endless plains (as Serengeti means in Maasai language) scattered with rock outcrops patches of acacia bush forest and occasional small rivers. About 35 species of plains animals can be observed including the Big Five elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo and large herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra which is late may or early June depending on the weather, begin their spectacular migration from the centre plains to the permanent water in the north and west of the park. Line and columns of wildebeest up to 30 kms long have been observed. At the tail end of the procession come the crippled and those too old to keep up lion, cheetah, hyena and hunting dog follow making sure that only the fittest survive while vultures circling overhead wait patently to scavenge. Other common species found in the Serengeti include hippo, giraffe, eland, impala, water buck, klipspringer, baboon, monkey (velvet and pate) warthog, knongi, topi and a rich selection of bird life. Nearly 6500 species of birds have been recorded in the park, some of them Eurasian migrants which are present from October to April. Crocodiles can also be observed in the rivers traversing the park.