As the main migration route for the wildebeest and other migratory game, Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park offers visitors a rare look into bewildering animal migration patterns and phenomenal game viewing opportunities. Spanning 5,700 square miles, the Serengeti National Park is rich with a variety of eco-systems, and landform variations and contrasts including open plains, hills, grassy plains, rocky terrain, acacias, savannah woodlands, riverine forests, and a spattering of swamps and lakes.
But what makes this World Heritage Site so spectacular is not just its irresistible beauty, but the unimaginable amount of game that passes through this lively region in search of water during one of the major wonders of the world The Great Migration.
The staggering numbers of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope is jaw-dropping alone and helps to set the stage for the thrill of the Serengeti. With lurking predators abound, the Serengeti tells the tale of life, death, and the survival of the fittest.
Understanding The Great Migration
Every year, The Great Migration occurs around the general rainfall of the area and influences grazing patterns. It is impossible to pinpoint when the migration will occur as it solely depends on Mother Nature. Therefore, one cannot book a trip in advance to the Serengeti with the guarantee that they will witness this natural wonder. But, whether visiting the Serengeti National Park before, during, or after The Great Migration, visitors are rewarded with an abundance of exceptional game and bird viewing opportunities, adventure, and enveloping natural beauty.
The migration begins in Kenya and slowly moves back toward the short grasses of the Serengeti, following the short rains, which usually occur in late October / early November. Once the grass plains have lost their water supply, the migration follows the rains northwest in order to find lush grass. This change of scenery usually occurs in May.
The migration is never a perfect circle. Rather, the animals move in batches, side to side, backwards, horizontal, and whichever way they choose to follow the rains, which is why it s impossible to detect exactly where the migration will travel.
Visiting the Serengeti National Park during The Great Migration
One of the most exciting times to enjoy a vehicle safari tour in the Serengeti is during April / May when predators are drawn to the area in search of prey. Lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are some of the most commonly spotted predators to witness during this time, and are captivating to watch as they stalk their prey from the shadow of a rock or the comfort of a tree limb.
For visitors who want to travel with the packs of millions of wildebeest and families of zebra, the mobile Serengeti Safari Camp, offered by Nomad Tanzania, brings discerning travelers up-close to the massive herds of large, migratory game. The camp shadows the migration patterns of the wildebeest and zebra, and visitors receive a private safari guide and 4WD vehicle to get into the field and witness the elusive Great Migration occur right before their eyes.
Visiting the Serengeti National Park Prior or Post to The Great Migration
Although The Great Migration is an unforgettable event of epic proportions, visiting the Serengeti during times when the migration is not occurring is absolutely spectacular. With over 500 species of bird, 35 species of large game, and millions of wildebeest, and thousands of zebra, Grant s gazelle, giraffe, lion, hyena, leopard, and elephant, the Serengeti is anything but monotonous and bland when The Great Migration isn t occurring. In fact, it s one of Africa s most exciting and riveting places to visit year-round something many areas throughout the world cannot brag about.
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