Serengeti National Park

The famous Serengeti National Park is located in the central northern part of Tanzania. Due to its awe-inspiring savanna plains and abundant wildlife, it was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park is split into three regions based on the terrain there--the endless swathes of grassland known as the Serengeti Plains, the Western Corridor of the Grumeti River with its black clay swamps, and the Northern Serengeti of open, hilly woodlands.

The sprawling ecosystem supports spectacularly large herds of wildebeest, zebra and many other creatures including the 'Big Five'. The most notable event of the area is the annual migration of over 1.5 million brindled wildebeest and 250,000 zebra. Game drives through the plains are the main draw for tourists hoping to see a thundering herd as they crash down the banks of the Grumeti in a famous crossing. In addition to the emblematic migratory herds, there are leopards, elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, cheetah, many types of antelope, hyena, baboons, wild dogs, impalas, ostrich, crowned cranes and martial eagles. To get a more intimate experience of the park, experienced guides offer bush walks, nighttime game drives and hot air balloon safaris. A true mecca for wildlife photographers, the abundance is so incredible that visitors will leave with impressive shots to remember the adventure by.

Many lodges, permanent camps and fly camps have been established to accommodate the high demands from tourists. Several top of the line luxury lodges are available, but there are options to suit everyone's budget, even the most frugal. Access to the area is available by car or plane--arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, or the small Seronera airstrip in the heart of the Serengeti.