Serengeti big 5 : The big 5 are among the sort after wildlife species which can be seen during safaris around Serengeti national park in the northern part of Tanzania.
The ultimate safari experience in a destination like Serengeti national park is exciting if you get to see the big 5 during a wildlife tour around the endless savannah plains in the national park through the year.
Serengeti national park being among the oldest national parks of Tanzania and also one of the large national parks of the country covering about 14,750 square kilometers is home to many other wildlife species which can be seen during safaris.
These big 5 of Serengeti national park include elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. During a safari around the national park the rhinos are the rarest of the big 5 and are a little difficult to spot when exploring Serengeti.
The big 5 are considered the most difficult wildlife species to hunt on foot and many people take part in safaris to get a chance to spot the big 5 and other wildlife of Serengeti national park during the safari activities like game drives.
Game drives around Serengeti national park in search of the wildlife species like the big 5 can be done at different times of day including the morning and also the afternoon or evening. You can also take part in full day wildlife viewing around Serengeti national park during the search for the wildlife.
During the search for the big 5, tourists can also engage in nature walks or walking safaris. This activity is done in the company of a ranger guide while exploring the savannah plains and getting close to nature in Serengeti national park.
Hot air balloon safaris are also carried out in search of the big 5 around Serengeti national park and the activity is done over the plains of Serengeti and it takes about 1 hour of enjoying the views and seeing attractions around the national park. Hot air balloon safaris are carried out in different parts of Serengeti national park including the north, south, west and central area.
The big 5 during safaris around Serengeti national park can be seen at any time of the year and the dry season is considered to be the best time to see wildlife species when exploring the national park. Here are some of the insights on the big 5 of Serengeti national park;
Lions
Lions during safaris around Serengeti national park can be seen in big numbers and they are common in the central part of the national park which is also called the Seronera area. Around the Ndutu area, the lions can also be seen during safaris.
Around kopjes in Serengeti national park lions can also be seen during safaris. It is an exciting experience to watch as the lions hunt their prey around the national park at different times of day including the morning.
Buffalos
Big 5 safaris around Serengeti national park also involves searching for the buffalos around the savannah plains. Buffalos are the most common of the big 5 which can be seen when exploring the national park in search of wildlife species around Serengeti national park.
Over 30,000 buffalos are found in Serengeti national park and they can be seen throughout the day during safaris at the destination.
Rhinos
The rarest of the big 5 are the rhinos. In Serengeti national park, the population of rhinos is not so big which makes it a little difficult to see them during safaris.
The rhinos in Tanzania are easier to see in big numbers during safaris in the Ngorongoro conservation area which neighbors Serengeti national park. For a chance to see the black rhinos, you can combine a safari to Serengeti national park and the Ngorongoro crater.
Leopards
Leopards are also part of the big 5 and they are also rare to see when exploring Serengeti national park. The leopards can be seen resting in the tree branches and also around the savannah where they are known for their ability to camouflage as they hunt their prey.
Elephants
Elephants are also common during safaris around Serengeti national park and you can see the herds as they move around the national park.
Serengeti national park is home to many other wildlife species apart from the big 5 and they include wildebeests, giraffes, cheetahs, hartebeests, waterbucks, hippos, elands, kudu, dik dik, elands, impalas, gazelles and many others.
The different ways of accessing Serengeti national park include driving and also flights. The drive from Arusha town to Serengeti national park takes about 7 to 8 hours. The option of flying is also an option of getting to Serengeti national park during Tanzania safaris.
Domestic airlines provide scheduled or charter flights to Serengeti national park airstrips such as Seronera airstrip, Kogatende airstrip, Fort Ikoma airstrip, Grumeti airstrip, Ndutu airstrip, Sasakwa airstrip among others.
