Tanzania and its Fascinating Wildlife in Serengeti

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The endless plains of land, after which Serengeti gets its name, diverse wildlife, scenic landscapes and unaltered natural beauty all give it an impressive reputation!

When it comes to wildlife, Serengeti is an accurate representation of the African wilderness. Keep reading to find out more about Tanzania and its fascinating wildlife in Serengeti!

The Great Migration of Serengeti

Listed as one of USA Today’s “New Seven Wonders of the World”, the Great Migration of Serengeti is a majestic spectacle whereby millions of herbivores (mostly wildebeests and zebras) migrate from Serengeti to Masai Mara and vice versa! The Great Migration can be seen in Serengeti almost all year round, but the best time to visit Serengeti is from June to October!

The wildebeests and other herbivores involved in the Migration don’t take a break. The migration is an on-going event that happens year-round – from birth to death! They do so in search of grass and their exact migration pattern depends on the pattern of rain.

Birdwatching

Serengeti is home to about 500 bird species! These include lovebirds, crowned cranes, martial eagles, ostrich, vultures, and secretary birds. Serengeti is also home to certain bird species that are endemic only to Tanzania, including grey-breasted spurfowls and rufous-tailed weavers!

The best time for birdwatching in Serengeti is from November to April. 

Predator’s Paradise

Bengal tigers, cheetahs, lions, leopards, hyenas, African wild dogs, serval cats, and jackals are a few of the many predators that can be spotted hunting their prey in Serengeti. You’re very likely to spot lions and cheetahs hunting their prey! 

• Lions usually hunt wildebeests and zebras. Other predators include buffaloes and giraffes. They’re usually seen hunting at night! Lions either hunt in groups or alone as individuals. 

• Leopards are nocturnal and have a solitary lifestyle. They hunt gazelles, zebras and small antelopes along with birds. 

• Cheetahs, known for the speed with which they chase their predators and the long distance they can cover while doing so, usually hunt small antelopes during the daytime!

• Hyenas are nocturnal hunters. They hunt in groups, and take a lot of time, carefully plotting their moves. They follow their predators for a few kilometers and then finally make a kill!

• Another interesting predator that can be found in Serengeti is the Black Mamba, which is considered to be the most lethal snake in Africa. Its bite is usually referred to as the “kiss of death” because it can kill humans in 45 minutes! However, don’t worry because there are rarely any confrontations with humans!

• The Nile crocodile is also an interesting predator. It can lie motionless for days before attacking its prey. They usually grab their prey by their jaws and then use force to keep them underwater until they drown. They hunt wildebeests, fish, buffaloes and anything else that crosses their path!

Other wildlife 

Serengeti is also home to buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, hippos, black rhinos and many antelopes! Black rhinos are critically endangered species and are rarely found in Tanzania, making this one of the few places in Tanzania where you can spot the Big 5 of Africa!

Some Interesting Facts About Serengeti 

Here are some interesting wildlife facts about the Serengeti National Park:

• About 250,000 wildebeests die during the Great Migration every year! Over 6000 of these die from drowning in the Mara River while crossing it. 
• Serengeti is one of the oldest and most preserved ecosystems on the planet – very little has changed in the area over the past 1 million years!
• Over 90,000 tourists explore Serengeti National Park every year
• The three big cats – lions, leopards and cheetahs – can easily be spotted at Serengeti!

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Serengeti and have an experience of a lifetime! Tanzania is budding as a great tourist destination and there’s a lot of economic potential of Tourism in Tanzania!