Serengeti plains

The Serengeti Plains, located in the northern region of Tanzania within Serengeti National Park, are situated a seven-hour drive from the tourist hub of Arusha. The Serengeti plains constitute the extensive Serengeti ecosystem, encompassing regions of Central Serengeti, Southern and Northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Northern Maasai Mara environment.

The expansive Serengeti plain extends from North Central Tanzania to the Kenyan border. The plains are primarily recognized for the substantial populations of various species, particularly wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and several types of antelopes. Serengeti National Park is the sole tourism location that accommodates the yearly wildlife phenomenon known as the wildebeest migration.

The Serengeti plains derive their name from the Maasai term “Siringet,” which translates to “endless plains,” a description used by the Maasai to characterize the region. The plains are level, adorned with scattered acacia trees, allowing for unobstructed visibility. The plain is situated in the Serengeti district, which constitutes one of the seven districts of the North Arusha region of the Mara region. The district is governed by minor administrative units, with the Serengeti district headquarters located in Mugumu town, a few kilometers from the Ikoma gate in the western region of the park.

The Serengeti plain served as the ancestral home for the Maasai people, who resided there for years as herdsmen and hunters until the Tanzanian government evacuated them and designated the plains as a national park in 1951, subsequently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. The park encompasses 18,600 square miles, equivalent to 30,000 square kilometers.

The plain is a level expanse of grassland with an elevation between 3,020 and 6,070 feet, equivalent to 920 and 1,850 meters. The plains stretch 160 kilometers southeast, approaching the coasts of Africa’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Victoria, which lies around 100 miles to the north, adjacent to Kenya.

The plains serve as a habitat for wildlife, encompassing 35 species of terrestrial animals and over 450 avian species. The predominant inhabitants include zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, topis, oribis, kobs, and antelopes, alongside the African Big Five: the rare black rhinos, elephants—recently introduced to the park—leopards, buffalo, and lions, the apex predators.