Do People Live In The Serengeti?


The Serengeti has been famous for a long time for its great sceneries of wildlife including its great migration of wildebeests. In fact, it’s the only park in Africa where a large migration of animals still takes place. Many mammals and bird species live in the Serengeti too.

Yes, there are many tribes who live in areas in and around the park. However, other people are not allowed to move into and reside in the park due to its conservation status. The Eastern frontiers of the Serengeti are populated by the Maasai people who practice farming and look after their cattle. Living in the Serengeti is not safe because of a vast number of dangerous wildlife.

Is The Serengeti Safe?

Visiting the Serengeti is safe. Travel booking agents will take you through all the safety precautions before the time of the visit. Your safari guide will ensure your safety throughout your stay but you must follow instructions. Tourists can also drive themselves in the Serengeti and it is advisable to use a four wheel drive vehicle for a smooth ride.

Since there is a lot of wildlife in the Serengeti, there are rules and regulations when viewing wildlife. You should not jog and walk in the wildlife area as it will attract predators. Hanging onto the window, standing or sitting on the roof of the car is prohibited.

There are also many mosquitoes in the area. Ensure that your arms and legs are covered and always use mosquito repellent to protect yourself. You should not leave any food in the tent to avoid attracting wildlife.

You should also not drive too close to animals and avoid going close to animals if you sense they are hostile. Other safety precautions you should observe during your visit are:

Can Anyone Live In The Serengeti?

Serengeti was made a national park in the year 1951 hence people were banned from residing in the park. Poaching is also another reason why people were prohibited from living there. The white rhino for example was poached in the period between 1960 and 1970 making it almost extinct.

The Serengeti National Park stretches 160 kilometers (100 miles southeast from Lake Victoria’s coast and 160 kilometers (100 miles) south from the Kenya-Tanzania border. The heights vary from 920 to 1850 meters (3,020 to 6,070 feet) with many of the park’s animals moving over to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

There are many tribes living in the areas around the Serengeti, the most popular being the Maasai that are densely populated in the Eastern frontiers. The Maasai have been residing in the Serengeti for more than 200 years grazing their animals, hunting and farming.  

The Maasai community is an amazing group of people. They have interesting cultural, social and spiritual beliefs. Some part of the Maasai live in the areas around the park but if you want to have a full experience of the ‘real’ Maasai, you should drive further into their villages.

There are other communities like the Sonjo, Kuria, Ikoma and Hadzabe who are scattered the rest of the area in the Serengeti.

Population Distribution In The Serengeti?

The great Serengeti has 3,000 lions and large numbers of spotted hyenas, 1,000 leopards, 5,000 elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, giraffes, cheetahs, and baboons. There are also 70 large mammal and 500 bird species in the Serengeti which include the blue wildebeest, gazelles, zebras and buffaloes.

Many crocodiles live near the Mara River. Similarly, over 350 species of birds, which include ostriches, vultures, and flamingos live in the Serengeti. Apart from the large mammals in the Serengeti, we also find the gaudy agama lizards and rock hyraxes living in the many granite kopjes.

The largest and the most well-known mammals that make the Serengeti famous is the wildebeest also known as the gnu. There are over 1.2 million wildebeests and 300,000 zebras along with topi and gazelle that constantly migrate in a cycle to search for grass and water.

Can You Drive Yourself In Serengeti?

What makes the idea of visiting the Serengeti more appealing is, the park is the only place in Tanzania that you can have a chance of viewing the ‘big five’ that is; the lion, African leopard, African elephant, black rhinoceros, and the African buffalo in one place.

It is interesting to note that you can drive yourself in the Serengeti but you must have a land cruiser for you to have a smooth ride. The road is rocky, and the speed allowed is 25km/h to avoid losing control and rolling over.

There is also an incredible experience of having a hot-air balloon safari. You can tour the Great Plains and have a magnificent view of animals as they graze in the morning. You also enjoy taking photos of the amazing wildlife experience.

A game drive is also one of the best activities that you can do during your visit to the Serengeti. You can also do a walking safari if you are a fan of camping and backpacking. Similarly, you can experience the wildlife at night in a tent.

Ultimately

You can never get bored visiting the Serengeti because there are so many attractions around the area that you can visit including the Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Singing Rocks, Lake Natron and Oldoinyo Lengai.

As you can see, the Serengeti is the best place for adventure, learning, and relaxation. Its beautiful scenery and natural atmosphere make your mind at peace. You can make the Serengeti your area of choice for your holidays.

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