SERENGETI NATIONAL PARKS
SERENGETI : HOME OF TOURISTS
The magic of Serengeti National Park is not easy to describe in words. Not only seeing, but also hearing the buzz of millions of wildebeest so thick in the air that it vibrates through your entire body is something you will try to describe to friends and family, before realizing it’s impossible. Vistas of honey-lit plains at sunset so beautiful, it’s worth the trip just to witness this. The genuine smiles of the Maasai people, giving you an immediate warming glow inside. Or just the feeling of constantly being amongst thousands of animals – it doesn’t matter what season of the migration you visit the Serengeti National Park, it’s magical all year round.
History of Serengeti National Park
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, explorers and missionaries described the Serengeti plains and the massive numbers of animals found there. Only minor details are all that were reported before explorations in the late 1920s and early 1930s supply the first references to the great wildebeest migrations, and the first photographs of the region.
An area of 2,286 square kilometers was established in 1930 as a game reserve in what is now southern and eastern Serengeti. They allowed sport hunting activities until 1937, after which it stopped all hunting activities. In 1940 Protected Area Status was conferred to the area and the National Park itself was established in 1951, then covering southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro highlands. They based the park headquarters on the rim of Ngorongoro crater.
So, the original Serengeti National Park, as it was gazette in 1951, also included what now is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area was split off from the Serengeti National Park and they extended the boundaries of the park to the Kenya border. The key reason for splitting off the Ngorongoro area was that local Maasai residents realized that they were threatened with eviction and consequently not allow to graze their cattle within the national park boundaries. To prevent this from happening, protests were staged. A compromise was reached wherein the Ngorongoro Crater Area was split off from the national park: the Maasai may live and graze their cattle in the Ngorongoro Crater area but not within Serengeti National Park boundaries.
In 1961 the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya was established and in 1965 the Lamai Wedge between the Mara River and Kenya border was added to Serengeti National Park, thus creating a permanent corridor allowing the wildebeests to migrate from the Serengeti plains in the south to the Loita Plains in the north. The Maswa Game Reserve was established in 1962 and a small area north of The Grumeti River in the western corridor was added in 1967.
The Serengeti National Park was among the first places to be proposed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO at the 1972 Stockholm conference. It was formally established in 1981.
Weather & climate Serengeti National Park
Temperatures in Serengeti
Although popular image dictates that Africa is mostly a very hot place, Serengeti’s climate is actually very pleasant and moderate. It seldom gets uncomfortably hot, and temperatures drop during the night and early mornings. The minimum and maximum temperatures vary with the seasons, with the wet season being the warmest. The Seronera area rarely exceeds 37 °C on a hot afternoon in the rainy season, and hardly ever dips below 13 °C on a cold early morning in the dry season.
The average maximum daily temperature changes with elevation: from 15°C near the crater highlands to about 30°C near Lake Victoria. Because of its altitude, Serengeti National Park is a ‘cool island' in a much warmer region.
Rainfall periods in Serengeti
There are two rainy periods in Serengeti National Park. The short rains from November to December are the first to break the grip of the dry season. These rains are unpredictable and are unlikely to interfere with your safari. The long rains follow the short rains in the period from March to May, which are the highest rainfall months. It seldom rains for the entire day, but please remember that it rains on most days. As a result, the landscape turns green and as a result this season is often dubbed the ‘green season’. Sometimes the rains fuse into one extended period, particularly in the north. Or the short rains may fail entirely, especially in the southeast of the Serengeti.
Rainfall gradient
There is a rainfall gradient from the dry southeast plains (400 mm per year) to the much wetter northwest near the Kenyan border and the Masai Mara (up to 1,200 mm per year). The low rainfall on the Serengeti plains is caused by the rain shadow of the Ngorongoro Crater Area and the Meru-Kilimanjaro mountain range. Prevailing south-easterly winds carrying moisture off the Indian Ocean are forced to rise over these highlands. As the air cools the moisture condenses and the water in the air rains out. However, shifting winds can carry moisture back inland from Lake Victoria, counteracting this effect, and inducing this rainfall gradient.
Serengeti climate charts
MONTH-TO-MONTH AVERAGE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
Max °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Min °C | 26 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
MONTH TO MONTH AVERAGE RAINFALL IN MM | ||||||||||||
When to visit Serengeti National Park
Seasonal Serengeti
Most travelers pick the dry season (which takes place from late June to October) for a safari in the Serengeti National Park. Animals gather around rivers and waterholes to quench their thirst. The Great Migration is at its absolute prime and your chances of witnessing an iconic river crossing are at their best. Most lodges will remain open during the more tranquil ‘wet season’ when the rains turn the dry landscape into a lush, green oasis and the birthing season begins. Read more about Serengeti weather & climate on this page. Here are some pros and cons for the wet and dry season.
June to October - dry season
PROS:
- The thick bush thins out and wildlife is easier to spot.
- Animals will gather around the rivers and waterholes.
- Expect bright days and lots of sunshine with afternoon temperatures around 25°C / 77°F.
- Less chance of malaria, since there are fewer mosquitoes.
- Easier to spot the Great Migration (including these iconic river crossings, if lucky).
CONS:
- The park gets crowded, especially around the Seronera area.
- It gets relatively cold at night and early in the morning with minimum temperatures around 14°C / 57°F.
- Occasional cold fronts are possible, with temperatures close to freezing.
November to May - wet season
PROS:
- Late January to February is the time to see the calving in the Southern Serengeti – an excellent time to see predator action.
- A lush and green landscape.
- Fewer tourists and lower rates, especially in April and May.
- Birdwatching is at its best.
- From November to February, rains are mostly short afternoon storms and seldom interfere with your trip.
CONS:
- March to May is the peak of the wet season; It tends to rain most days, although seldom for the whole day. It is often cloudy.
January to March can be crowded around the Seronera area.
Common Serengeti lodges & camps
A myriad of accommodation options is available in Serengeti National Park. From adventurous mobile tented camps following the Great Migration to family-oriented lodge style accommodations and anything in between, you can be sure to find the perfect spot just for you.
lodge location CENTRAL SERENGETI
A home away from home on the plains. This lodge is all about luxury, cheetah conservation and wildlife. Namiri Plains is a remote camp, yet close to all the action. Spacious tented suites offer spectacular and uninterrupted views across Serengeti National Park.
lodge location CENTRAL SERENGETI
Indulge yourself with great game drives, soothing spa treatments, a cocktail bar with the best possible views, a gourmet food experience as well as many excursion options and more. Get ready for an immersive safari experience at the Four Seasons Serengeti Safari Lodge.
lodge location CENTRAL SERENGETI
Best of the Serengeti, extraordinary, setting breathtaking – these phrases are just a selection of the reviews written about Dunia Camp in Serengeti National Park. Explore this accommodation yourself and discover why everybody wants to return.
Tented Camp
lodge location SERENGETI MARA
From one of just six (!) luxury tents at Singita Mara River Camp, you will find yourself overlooking the illustrious Mara River, and perhaps some of its resident wildlife. In the distance grazing zebras, right behind you your beautiful, luxurious tented suite.
Olakira Migration Camp
lodge location MIGRATION AREA
With just nine airy and luxurious safari tents, which moves completely twice a year to follow the Serengeti Great Migration, this warm camp radiates a family atmosphere. Simply because the owners put their people – guests and staff - first.
Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp Serengeti
lodge location CENTRAL SERENGETI
Are you seeking a classic, diverse safari experience? Lemala Ewanjan is located in the bustling Seronera area attracting abundant wildlife – big game, elegant antelopes, majestic birds; discover it all at this warm-hearted camp. Private plunge pools included.
Serengeti National Park map
Location of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
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