The Serengeti, translated “endless plains,” represents the largest eco-highway in the world. A migration of wildlife in the millions from Tanzania into Kenya and back around again makes for the largest and longest migration on land in the world. The entire plains of the Serenget spans over 18,000 square miles with the migration path traveling 500 miles north from the plains in Tanzania to the Masai Mara plains in Kenya.
Wildebeest account for the largest part of the migrating herd, but other wildlife includes zebras, gazelles and buffalo. The migration is what attracts many of safari goers and nature lovers, but the Serengeti is an amazing wildlife encounter at any time of the year. Thousands of wildebeest and other grazers remain in the Serengeti without making the the 500 mile trek. This may well be a wise decision because over 250,000 wildebeest and grazers lose their life to crocodiles, lions, other predators and starvation through the journey.
Over 80% of the Serengeti ecosystem is protected by the governments of Tanzania and Kenya through national park and reserve designation. The Serengeti is the epitome of the African safari experience with over 70 large mammal species available for capturing with eyes, photographs, and videos. The Big 5, including elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion, can all be found in the Serengeti.
Most of the Serengeti is grassland plains but intermittently can be found riverine forests, woodlands, small hills, and swamps that create a varied ecosystem that both attracts and supports this incredible variety of wildlife. Hippos, cheetahs, lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, giraffe, gazelles, wildebeests, hyenas, elands, buffalo, rhinos, baboon, warthogs are just a sampling of what may be experienced in the Serengeti. It is also a bird lovers paradise with thousands of birds to encounter in the various ecosystem settings.
- Have you been to the Serengeti? What was your favorite part?
- What wildlife did you see?
- What was your most unusual experience?
The Serengeti is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Africa.