The word 'Serengeti' comes from a Masai word meaning 'the place where the land runs on forever, and a Serengeti safari will reveal to you exactly the meaning behind this turn of phrase. The Serengeti plains seem to go on forever, and you will experience a sense of eternity and space as you travel through the plains in search of some of the incredible wild animals that still grace these beautiful plains.
A Serengeti safari is a wonderful idea for any time of the year, but the period of time from May until October is when the plains are positively teeming with life. You will be able to see animals like wildebeest, zebra, impala, topi, warthogs, hyena, and gazelles roaming through the grasses and living wild and free – an experience ultimately unlike any zoo you have ever been to.
If you want to see the hunters of these game animals, then keep an eye open as you near the granite inselbergs known as Kopjes. You can see cheetah, caracal, leopard, and lions on these rocky islands in the grassy landscape if you are lucky. These predators are beautiful and powerful when seen from a zoo's safety, but seeing them free on the plains adds an entirely new dimension to the experience that is not easily described.
One of the most famous aspects of the Serengeti is likely the annual wildebeest migration. These fascinating animals that number in the millions make their clockwise rotation around the park, searching for water and grazing. A Serengeti safari during this migration is full of opportunities to see these incredible animals in motion and the predatory beasts of the region in action.
There are many ways to safari in the Serengeti, and you can choose your favorite to spend your time doing the things that you most enjoy while watching for the beautiful and majestic animals of the park. If you prefer the comforts of home and a little rugged touch to add to the adventure, then take a safari tour in a 4x4 vehicle and spend your days cruising the plains and your night's camping in tented camps or some of the lodges set up around the park for just such occasions.
Picture of a Serengeti elephant and antilopes by a river. [Report image]If you prefer to jump in and become a part of the landscape, then take a walking tour and spend your time as close to nature as possible, walking through the landscape and camping at night. Nature lovers who truly love to get down and dirty will adore the closeness that can be achieved by walking the Serengeti, even just for a couple of weeks.
While staying in the Serengeti, many different camps and lodges spread out across the plains to provide comfortable and convenient accommodations to tourists on safari. Spend your time in camps, close to nature, and in touch with the spirit of the plains on which you are camping. These sites are no rude tents but are carefully and comfortably constructed for your comfort. If you prefer a bit more civilization in your safari vacation, then you can spend your nights at one of the lodges instead, which feature the comforts of home and plenty of luxury and local culture to keep you happy.
If you are more interested in seeing the land spread out beneath you for miles in every direction, then a balloon safari is the way to experience the Serengeti plains. Take a flight over the Serengeti National Park and enjoy the view from above as you float through the air. There is no experience like it in the world, and it is well worth taking the adventure if that sort of thing appeals to you at all.
In Tanzania, the Serengeti Park is the nation's oldest national park and is the second largest and the single most famous wildlife preserve in the entire world. The park itself covers a remarkable 14,763 square kilometers (9,173.30 square miles). It lies between Lake Eyasi and Lake Victoria's shores and is also bounded by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Great Rift Valley.
The Serengeti is home to the most complex Earth ecosystem and one of the least disturbed ecosystems, thanks largely to careful preservation and many diverse habitats. The park supports more than 30 species of large herbivores and is home to almost 500 species of birds.
Wind, rain, and sun have shaped what was originally a volcanic landscape into a beautiful and unique land in which so many wild animals find their homes, and anyone venturing out on a Serengeti safari will find that it is a beautiful and diverse landscape with plenty to recommend it and much wild and natural beauty in Tanzania.
While you are on safari in the Serengeti National Park, remember to bring a camera along and plenty of extra film or extra memory cards for your digital camera. There are amazing sights to be seen and plenty of opportunities to capture a wild animal on film and take it home with you in more than just your memory. Share your experience with your friends and family back home as you recount your close encounters of the wild kind. A Serengeti safari provides endless opportunities for wonder and amazement and plenty of fascinating animals to watch free in their native environment. If you seek a bold adventure, then take a safari into the Serengeti and delight in the natural beauty therein.