Serengeti National Park covers an extensive area of 14,763 square kms, this is Tanzania's largest national park and undoubtly the best known wildlife sanctuary in the world and as a former client once said, "even during the high season there are only a few hundred vehicles roaming around" on the area the size of Connecticut, over three million large game animals inhabit these rolling grasslands which the Maasai call "the Serengeti" meaning endless plains.
Here one can witness the unique migration of almost 1.5 million wildebeest undertake a circuit of 1000kms searching for new pasture from the central plains to the permanent water of the park corridors. The Serengeti National park ecosystem supports not only the largest herds of migration ungulates but also the highest concentrations of large predators in the world. At a quick glance, the numbers are astonishing at times of the year.
Estimates put the wildebeest at about 1.7 million, zebras at 250,000 and thomson gazelles at about 440,000. Hyenas are the most numerous of the large carnivores at about 9,000, lions at 2,800 and leopards at about 1,000. In general, Cheetahs live at much lower densities than other large predators. However the serengeti boasts the highest density of cheetahs in Africa (at certain times of the year) with up to 40 animals per 60 square miles found on short grass plains during the wet season.
The Serengeti encompasses a massive and pristine wilderness area. thousands of square miles filled with plentiful wildlife beckon your exploration. Because of its large size the Serengeti has retained a raw and wild feel that many other parks in Africa have lost. There are a few areas of the Serengeti including the Seronera valley that may feel congested during the peak travel months.
Woni Safaris a leading tour operator in the East african region ensure you visit this sanctuary and see all it has to offer.
Sweetwaters Game reserve is 24,000 acre private ranch with magnificent views across the plains to the snow capped peaks of Mount Kenya. This game santuary is the closest reserve to Nairobi 3 hours drive home to all the big five game, and has the highest ratio of game to area if any park or reserve in Kenya. Its popular water hole is flood lit by night, providing excellent and secluded environment rarley seen in game viewing.
Game viewing may also take the form of game walks accompanied by our Resident Naturalist, and Game rides on horse back. Camel riding, night game drives and "bush" lunches or dinners are a delight.
Located on the reserve is one of several Jane Goodall Institute Sanctuaries maintained in East Africa. Kept here are a group of Chimpanzees originally housed at the JGI sanctuary in Bunjumbura Burundi. When the Burundi government became unstable in 1994, the chimpanzees were relocated here.
The aim of the project was to set up a colony where chimps could be introduced, rehabilitated and taught to fend for themselves in an area similar to their natural living conditions. Priority is given to orpharned and abused chimps.
The sanctuary currently has 26 chimps, including two babies born in the Sanctuary. There is also information a visitors information center at Morani's Boma.
Morani is a tame black rhino (a rare phenomenon)born isn 1974. He was brought to the ranch after his mother was killed by poachers, and ever since is resident in his own sub-santuary. A visit to Morani is an especially wonderful treat for children. Seeing wildlife within the santuary, perched a top camels is a unique experience.
For many people "going on holiday" is an increasing central feature of contemporary western society. The tourism industry has expanded rapidly since 2004. With the coming in of new leadership in Kenya and the opening up of the economy more and more tour operator are setting up shop. The Maasai mara has been one of the biggest tour attractions in kenya and was elevated to the seventh wonder of the world due to the wildebeest migration. These animals migrate to the serengeti during the dry season.
