Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Serengeti National Park (Tanzania). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Serengeti volcanic grasslands, Tourism in Tanzania, and Serengeti. Also, be sure to include Seronera Airstrip in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Serengeti National Park (Mara).
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Serengeti volcanic grasslands
The Serengeti volcanic grasslands is a tropical grassland ecoregion of Tanzania. The Serengeti volcanic grasslands are distinctive grasslands growing on deposits of volcanic ash in northern Tanzania. It includes the eastern portion of Serengeti National Park and areas south and east of the Ngorongoro Highlands.[1]
Tourism in Tanzania
Also known as: Vivutio vya Tanzania
Tanzania is a country with many tourist attractions. Approximately 38 percent of Tanzania's land area is set aside in protected areas for conservation. There are 17 national parks, 29 game reserves, 40 controlled conservation areas and marine parks. Tanzania is also home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa.
Travel and tourism contributed 17.5 percent of Tanzania's gross domestic product in 2016 and employed 11.0 percent of the country's labour force (1,189,300 jobs) in 2013. The sector is growing rapidly, rising from US$1.74 billion in 2004 to US$4.48 billion in 2013. In 2016, 1,284,279 tourists arrived at Tanzania's borders compared to 590,000 in 2005.
In 2019, the Tanzanian tourism sector generated USD 2.6 billion in revenues with 1.5 million tourist arrivals.
In 2020, due to Covid-19, travel receipts declined to USD 1,06 billion and the number of international tourist arrivals declined to 616,491.
In October 2021, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism of Tanzania has been granted TZS 90 billion for the financial year 2021-2022, part of the IMF loan for emergency financial assistance to support Tanzania’s efforts in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.[2]
Serengeti
Regional park in Tanzania. The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa, spanning northern Tanzania. The protected area within the region includes approximately 30,000 km2 of land, including the Serengeti National Park and several game reserves. The Serengeti hosts the second largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, which helps secure it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world.
The Serengeti is also renowned for its large lion population and is one of the best places to observe prides in their natural environment. Approximately 70 large mammal and 500 bird species are found there. This high diversity is a function of diverse habitats, including riverine forests, swamps, kopjes, grasslands, and woodlands. Blue wildebeest, gazelles, zebras, and buffalos are some of the commonly found large mammals in the region.
The Serengeti also contains the Serengeti District of Tanzania. There has been controversy about a proposal to build a road through the Serengeti.
The name "Serengeti" is often said to be derived from the word "seringit" in the Maasai language, Maa, meaning "endless plains". However, this etymology does not appear in Maa dictionaries.[3]
Seronera Airstrip
Airstrip in Tanzania. Seronera Airstrip is the primary airstrip in the Serengeti National Park.[4]