Cats are definitely the king of the Serengeti. Lions can be found throughout the National Park, while cheetahs prefer the Southern Plains. On the other hand, Leopards prefer the trees' shelter along the Seronera River.
Larger herds of elephants and giraffes can be found in the open woodlands of the Northern Serengeti.
During the Great Migration, around 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebra die from either predators, drownings, hunger, thirst or sheer exhaustion.
The Southern Plains are dotted with giant volcanic granite rock formations known as kopjes, which provide great vantage points for predators as well as hiding places for lizards and pythons.
One of Disney’s most successful films, The Lion King, is based on the Southern Plains of the Serengeti National Park.
No other region in the world has biodiversity like the Serengeti. For this reason, it has been declared a region of significant ecological importance and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Masai tribespeople, proud, nomadic warriors known for their distinctive red cloaks and beaded collars, have been herding cattle for thousands of years.
Historically, the Masai lived in harmony with the wildlife of the Serengeti, living off the meat, meat and blood of their herds instead.
Very little has changed in the Serengeti ecosystem, which goes back millions of years. The plants, rivers and landscape today are largely the same as they were a million years ago.
The oldest ever human remains thought to date back to 2 million years ago were found by palaeontologists between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park, leading scientists to believe that the first humans evolved in East Africa.
The Great Migration has only been happening since the 1960s. In the late 19th century, nearly all of the wildebeest population in the Serengeti were wiped out because of a widespread epidemic.
Inoculations were introduced to increase their numbers, which subsequently boomed. By the 1960s, numbers were so high the land could no longer sustain them, so they began to migrate north, following the rains in search of food and water.
Whether you want to see the big five, witness the Great Migration first-hand, or want to see wildlife in general, the Serengeti National Park offers an unforgettable opportunity to experience the beauty and savagery of nature at its very best.