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Serengeti National Park

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Overview

Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its great concentration of plains game. It lies between the shores of Lake Victoria in the east and the Kenyan border to the northwest. In addition to its vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and other plains game, the Serengeti is renowned for its lion and other predators, including wild dog, spotted hyena and jackal. Leopard may often be seen along the Seronera River. The wealth of bird life is of special interest. During May and June, or sometimes earlier, the famous Serengeti migration begins, as nearly two million wildebeest and a quarter million zebra move toward the Maasai Mara to the northwest.

The vast rolling plains of Serengeti National Park span 150km south from the Kenyan border and 100km east from almost the shore of Lake Victoria to the edge of the Eastern Rift Valley. The surface is of weathered west sloping ash from the Ngorongoro volcanoes and covers a plateau of mainly crystalline rock, dotted with rocky outcrops (kopjes). Low slightly wooded mountain ranges, mainly of volcanic origins cover the north east and run along the western corridor as well. The Mara river, a permanent river that stretches from Kogatende to Lamai crosses the northwest corner of the park. The central is a savannah that is crossed by the Grumeti and Mbalageti rivers which drain to Lake Victoria. The south is mainly open grasslands. The park is also endowed with water bodies albeit small. These are mainly small lakes, marshes and seasonal water holes that are numerous in the park.


The Serengeti is a unique ecosystem, alternating between dusty summer drought to green winter and spring lushness. The central, Seronera and other neighboring areas like Togoro plains and Musabi are mostly savanna with scattered acacia. The north, an area that spans from Lobo all the way to Kogatende at the tip of the park are thornwood long grasslands and gallery forests along the permanent river Mara. Same can be said of the western part and river Grumeti, an area that stretches from Nyamuma all the way to the Ndabaka plains. The hilly western corridor is mostly extensive woods and black clay pans.

Black rhinos are endangered because of the value of their horns in Asia. There are a few individuals surviving in Serengeti. This is a male.


Volcanic soils in combination with the ecological impact of the great migration have played a huge part in formation of one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the largest number of angulates as well as the highest concentration of predators in the world. Many of these animals migrate between seasonal water sources and grasslands, starting from the central plains to the western corridor, moving north across river Mara into Kenya before dispersing southeast and finally settling in the south to calve in midsummer. The white-bearded wildebeest dominates the migration, with around 2 million individuals partaking the never-ending slog. Around 300,000 zebras make great companions for the gnus as well as approximately 900,000 Thomson gazelles. Other herbivores found in the park include elands, topis, hartebeest, buffalos, giraffes, warthogs, waterbucks, elephants, hippos, black rhinos, 10 species of antelope as well as 10 species of primates. Normally following the herbivores are lions, estimated to be around 4,000 in population, around 1,500 leopards, 3,500 spotted hyena, striped hyenas, black backed jackals, side striped jackals, golden jackals and wild dogs. Of all these animals the black rhino, leopard, African elephant and cheetah are listed in the IUCN Red List.

The park has around 500 species of birds which are perennially and seasonally present in the park, 5 of which are endemic to Tanzania. These bird species include 34 raptors, 6 vultures and aggregations of over 20,000 water birds. Unsurprisingly the park has the highest ostrich population in Tanzania and may probably be so in Africa.


Serengeti National Park experiences a subtropical climate. The dry season is usually from mid May to August before it gets warmer, but still quite dry from September to October. Rains start falling from November to April when it also gets really hot at the same time. Short rains are experienced from October to December while heavy rains start from March to early May. July is the coldest month, but the temperatures are generally low in August and sometimes September.


Delve into planning a safari in the Serengeti and you might find that you’re faced with more than a few types of accommodation. Serengeti offers a huge array of lodging properties ranging from large modern state-of-the art hotels to tented permanent bush camps to luxurious mobile camps, to lodges, chalets to tents, and plenty more to choose with each offering its own subtle differences, quirks and distinctions


Location: 

Serengeti’s southern entrance is 321 kilometers / 200 miles from Kilimanjaro Airport, your recommended point of entry into Tanzania.  Transfer time to / from Arusha: 8 hours (approx.) 

 

By Road

  • Transfer time to / from Ngorongoro: 2 hours (approx.)
  • Transfer time to / from Manyara airstrip: 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Transfer time to / from Kilimanjaro Airport: 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

 

By Air: 

  • Flight time from / to Arusha Airport to / from Central Serengeti: 50 minutes
  • Flight time from / to Arusha Airport to / from Western Serengeti: 1 hour 05 minutes
  • Flight time from / to Kilimanjaro Airport to / from central Serengeti: 1 hour
  • Flight time from / to Kilimanjaro Airport to / from Western Serengeti airstrip: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Flight time from / to Dar es salaam Airport to / from Central Serengeti: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Flight time from / to Dar es salaam Airport to / from Western Serengeti: 2 hour 45 minutes



NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
NIsimulie Africa -Serengeti, Zanzibar and Kilimanajro tours
COVID-19 SOPs

COVID – 19: Nisimulie Africa SOP’s

In light of the world opening up slowly amidst the current pandemic, we have been preparing to welcome tourists back to Tanzania by making changes to the way we provide our services. New SOPs are in place for every touch point and guest experience that characterizes your stay with us as your esteemed hosts. Our SOPs will be updated in line with the Government of Tanzania’s instructions to the tourism and hospitality industry. Our priority is to ensure that we provide the safest possible environment for our guests while providing top-notch safari experiences.

 

Standard Operating Procedures

1.     To keep social distancing, safari vehicles with 6-window seats will be redesigned to take only 4 people in the passenger cabin. Safari vehicles with 6-window seats will still be available for families wishing to travel together in one vehicle

2.   The driver-guide will be at hand to oversee guests observe the recommended physical distancing at park entry gates, museums, picnic sites, and while checking in at accommodation facilities.

3.   City transfer and safari vehicles will be regularly disinfected before picking up clients, especially the high-touch surfaces and seats

4.   Sanitizers (anti-microbial agents) will be provided in the vehicle for guests' use

5.   The driver-guide will take necessary personal protection precautions at all times. Guests are encouraged to come with their own masks; packaged masks will be available at an extra cost.

6.   Health condition of driver-guides will be monitored for not less than a week before being assigned to take clients on safari, including measuring body oxygen level (recommended 95% and above) and body temperature not exceeding 37.5 degrees centigrade.

7.   There will be three health centers dedicated to COVID-19 rapid response and support network; one center will be in Arusha town (Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre), one in Karatu near Ngorongoro, and the third in central Serengeti at Seronera. Ambulances will be on standby.

8.   For clients needing more medical attention, Nisimulie Africa Tours and Travel will arrange evacuation by Flying Doctors. The Flying Doctors package covers evacuation to a hospital in Nairobi. We can also arrange evacuation to Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, a fine facility with high rate of recovery for COVID-19 patients. The evacuation to Dar es Salaam will involve some extra charges to be met by the patient. Clients are required to have medical insurance to cover hospitalization expenses. 

9.   The welcome briefing to guests will include details of our safety and hygiene measures in place and what is required of guests during their stay (including the use of masks and gloves and keeping safe distances from other guests).

10. Not limiting these procedures to ourselves, we work with other third-party suppliers who ensure and adhere to the set international standards of travel as defined by the Ministry of Tourism and WHO.

 

Game drives 

·      A maximum of four people will be permitted per vehicle with the exception of groups that   are travelling together.

·      Guides will wear face masks and gloves on arrival at the airstrip, when in the main area of the airstrip and when handling guests’ luggage.

·      Guests must also wear facemasks at the airstrip; however, this is optional while on the game drive.

·      Once the group has left the airstrip, the guide will remove the face mask and gloves to speak with guests, as the safety risk is greatly reduced outside of the airstrip.

·      Game drives will take place in safari vehicles, as usual, which will be disinfected after each game drive.

·      Hand sanitizer will be available for guests and guides and is to be used on arrival at the airstrip, on boarding the vehicle and throughout the game drive.

·      Guests are asked to sensibly practice social distancing throughout the game drive and if meals are served.

 

Communal Areas:

·      Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the camps and soap and individual hand towels will always be available in public bathrooms.

·      At the Bar: The barmen will wear facemask and gloves to handle drinks and snacks and serve on a tray. 

·      A staff member is assigned to regular sanitization duties of surfaces (including door handles, metallic surfaces, counters, etc).

·      Social distancing rules apply, and seating will be arranged to ensure at least one-meter distance between guests.

·      Dining:  All surfaces will be disinfected after each meal.

·      Pool water (where available) will be monitored to maintain a chlorine level between 1 to 3 parts per million and a pH level between 6.8 and 7.4 in order to provide a virus free experience.

·      In sitting areas and on sofas:

·      Guests will be encouraged to practice social distancing.

·      Around campfire: guests will be encouraged to practice social distancing.

·      Disposable towels and bins will be placed in strategic areas.

·      In harmony with our vision, our team has had a lot of fun working hard together to put our SOPs in place to ensure the safety of our guests. We are now ready to warmly welcome our guests back to Tanzania.

 

“Nature took a rest from the usual and is now more exquisite”

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