The Serengeti National Park is the only place where you can witness millions of wildebeest migrating over the acacia plains. This alone makes it worth visiting, but it is also considered the cradle of human life and possibly the closest to an untouched African wilderness you will ever find. Here, time seems to stand still, even though thousands of animals are constantly on the move.

The magic of theSerengeti National Park is difficult to describe in words, as it is a feast for the senses. The views are incredible, but so are the sounds, as millions of wildebeest on the move create a symphony of noise. The numbers of wildebeest and zebra are so high that the air vibrates through your entire body. This is something you will try to describe to friends and family before realizing it’s impossible. You can also enjoy vistas of honey-lit plains at sunset so beautiful that it’s worth the trip just for this alone.

The Serengeti Serengeti National Park is also home to the Maasai people: friendly natives who are happy to meet visitors and share their way of life. Visiting the Serengeti National Park is magical year-round, but it’s particularly special between July and October, when the famous river crossings of the Great Migration occur in the Northern Serengeti. As you usually pass it on your way to the Serengeti, you may also want to check out our guide to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The Never-Ending Cycle of the Great Migration

In 1972, the Serengeti National Park was one of the first locations listed as a World Heritage Site. The area had been recognized as a unique ecosystem in the 1950s, showing us how dynamic ecosystems really are and providing many insights into how the natural world functions.

Today, most visitors come to witness the Great Migration—millions of wildebeest, gazelles, elands, and zebras on a mass journey to quench their thirst for water and fresh grass. The fact that Serengeti National Park is home to the Great Migration means that, for many, Tanzania is Africa’s top safari destination.

 During this great cyclical movement, these ungulates move around the ecosystem in a seasonal pattern, defined by rainfall and grass nutrients. These large herds of animals on the move can’t be witnessed anywhere else. The Serengeti National Park is protected but unfenced, allowing animals to make the same return journey they’ve been making for millions of years.

Beyond the Great Migration

Even though the migration is one of the main reasons to visit Serengeti National Park, it’s worth looking beyond this immense spectacle because nature can’t be directed and having realistic expectations is crucial. For example, a river crossing can sometimes only last a few minutes and can be easy to miss. However, don’t let this discourage you, as there are many other reasons to visit the Serengeti. It’s to see a vast stretch of land where you can drive forever and never get enough.

 It’s to see incredible skies of dazzling colors. It’s to experience the primal feeling of excitement when a deep dark-grey thunderstorm appears on the horizon. Or you might come to the Serengeti just to see one of the largest concentrations of predators in the world: the herds support about 7,500 hyenas, 3,000 lions, and 250 cheetahs. And let’s not forget the silent gray giants. Elephants in the Serengeti amble over the plains into the woodlands, dining on leaves and tree branches.

Tribes in the Cradle of Human Life

While animals still rule the Serengeti plains, the area also has a long history of human occupation as humans and their ancestors have lived here for almost four million years. Today, the Serengeti is still home to several indigenous tribes; one of the most famous is the Maasai, who are unique because of their long-preserved culture.

 Despite western cultural influences, the Maasai people have clung to their traditional way of life, making them a popular symbol of Tanzanian culture. Consider one of our Tanzania safari trips, which offer guests the opportunity to meet the Maasai and other people of Tanzania.

Vibrancy, Variety, and Vastness in the Serengeti

On your Serengeti holiday, you will soon realize that amazement doesn’t have boundaries in this world-renowned national park of Tanzania. The Serengeti is a transition area, with distinct changes from rich flat soils to poor hilly soils in the north, attracting a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Whether you’re looking for big cats, birds, or even smaller creatures, Serengeti National Park delivers. Even understanding and experiencing just a small part of this ecosystem will change your vision of our world and the environment.