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The Serengeti National Park ecosystem supports not only the largest herds of migrating ungulates but also the highest concentrations of large predators in the world. At a quick glance, the numbers are astonishing. Estimates put the wildebeest at about 1.7 million, zebras at 250,000 and Thomson's 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 cheetah in Africa with up to 40 animals per 60 sq miles found on short grass plains during the wet season.
The Migration in Serengeti
The Serengeti is particularly famous for the great migration, which describes the annual cycle of movements made by wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle and eland. The borders of the Serengeti ecosystem are defined by the movements of the dominant migrant, the wildebeest.
The great herds of wildebeest follow a fairly predictable route around the Serengeti ecosystem on a never-ending quest for fresh green grass and water. At roughly 1.7 million strong, this giant lawnmower quickly exhausts pastures. During the wet season, the highest proportions of wildebeest are located on southern and eastern plains.
During the dry season, although many of the animals have dispersed but the southern Serengeti still remains a fascinating place. There are several resident herbivores in this area that are seen year round including grants gazelle and giraffe. Elephant and impala are also seen year round but mainly in the wooded Ndutu area.
Central Serengeti
The central Serengeti is home to the beautiful Seronera valley. Several perennial rivers run through this valley enabling many resident animals to thrive year round. The combination of location and resident prey attracts the largest populations of predators in Africa.
There is simply no better place in Africa to observe these large carnivores and since many are resident, excellent encounters are available year round regardless of the season or where the great migratory herds are located. It is not unusual to see all four large predators (lion, hyena, leopard and cheetah) during the course of a day in the central Serengeti.
Game viewing in central Serengeti is at its best during the dry season as resident animals which include lion impala, buffalo, hippo, warthog, topi, hartebeest and giraffe and leopard are more concentrated in the immediate area due to the lack of water on the plains.
In addition to the resident wildlife, significant concentrations of migratory animals are found in the Central Serengeti during the dry season including cheetah, Thomson's gazelle and hyena. The Seronera Valley in the Central Serengeti is also one of the best areas in Africa to spot the elusive leopard.
Western Serengeti
The western corridor of the Serengeti is a special place seldom explored by those visiting the Serengeti. It is a remote and unique part of the famous Serengeti. The corridor stretches west from Seronera in the central Serengeti to almost Lake Victoria. The relatively narrow corridor is roughly 50 miles long and is characterized by dense stands of acacia tress interspersed with broken woodlands and open plains. The dominant feature is the Grumeti River, which runs almost the entire length of the corridor.
The western corridor straddles the northward migration route of the enormous wildebeest herds. Typically in the beginning of the dry season, the great herds begin to depart the plains and follow the Mbalageti and Seronera Rivers into the western corridor. The western corridor is the wildebeest's wet/dry transitional zone. The vast herds will remain here until when the dry season completely parches the land and they must venture north towards Kenya and its greener pastures.
The Grumeti River is infested with the Nile crocodile, the world's largest crocodile. For some of these prehistoric animals, it has been a year since they have last eaten and they eagerly await the wildebeest river crossing. Additionally, The Grumeti River also supports a unique riverine forest, which is home to the beautiful black and white colobus monkey.
Northern Serengeti
The northern region of the Serengeti is a vast pristine area of wooded rolling hills interspersed with open grassy patches and large granite outcrops. This region extends north about 55 miles from Seronera in the central Serengeti to the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. It is only rarely visited and remains an unexplored and untouched wilderness packed with stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife.
The northern Serengeti has a good number of hippo, giraffe, eland, topi, impala and Thomson's gazelle. This area is home to the largest remaining concentrations of elephants in the Serengeti.
The northern Serengeti is also home to the enormous migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra during the dry season. However, the great herds usually reside in the extreme north of the park spilling over into the Masai Mara during the height of the dry season. The zebra herds are more dispersed and are more easily seen. Game viewing is at its best it the northern Serengeti when the great herds are migrating through the area to and from the Masai Mara and the extreme northern Serengeti.
Eastern Serengeti
The eastern plains of the Serengeti ecosystem encompass a massive area. They begin roughly just east of Naabi Hill and extend all the way to the Ngorongoro Highlands and the active volcano Mount Lengai.
The eastern plains are extremely seasonal. During the dry season, they are transformed into a semi desert and only a few hearty Grant's and Thomson's gazelles survive. However, they come to life in the wet season and offer prolific wildlife viewing for certain species of animals.
The Gol Kopjes, located on the Eastern Plains, boast the highest concentrations of cheetahs in Africa during the wet season. They offer the best cheetah viewing in the Serengeti and in all of Africa. Cheetahs are strictly daytime hunters and with a little luck you will witness the fastest land animal in the world in action.
In addition to cheetahs, the eastern plains are home to the largest concentrations of lions and hyenas during the green season. >
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