North Serengeti

Witness the most amazing wildlife spectacle in Africa at the Mara River.The Mara River is most famous for the legendary wildebeest crossing, a dramatic event, which is featured in countless wildlife documentaries. One of Tanzania’s best kept secrets is the fact that nearly half of the Mara River is situated in the North Serengeti versus the Masai Mara’s segment in Kenya. While there are hordes of vehicles just a few miles upriver in the Masai Mara, the Serengeti side is virtually devoid of tourists.

Lamai is a triangular shaped watershed area just north of the Mara River.Lamai’s fresh water and verdant grasslands serve as a critical refuge for the wildebeest and zebra during the dry season. In fact, the majority of the migration usually resides here from July until November. It’s one of East Africa’s best secrets that during the dry season, the secluded Lamai Triangle holds more of the migration then the more heavily touristy Masai Mara game reserve just to the north in Kenya. Lamai was added to the park in 1965.

Permanent water sources sustain an abundance of wildlife in Lobo Valley. The spectacular Lobo Valley offers the best big cat viewing opportunities in the North Serengeti. Lions, leopards and cheetahs abound. Lobo, a pristine valley scattered with woodlands, open plains, ranges of hills and studded with spectacular granite kopjes, is a remarkable place of great beauty and solitude. Some the world’s most ancient rock formations estimated at 2-3 million years old can be seen here.

Verdant acacia woodlands support a myriad of herbivores in these woodlands. Giraffe (the national emblem of Tanzania) dominate the Grumeti woodlands as they feed exclusively on the tender leaves of acacia trees. The main feature in this area is the Grumeti River, which flows across the top half of the Serengeti before emptying into Lake Victoria. A distinctive gallery forest lines the banks of the Grumeti River. This lush habitat supports species such as hippos, monkeys, baboons and fish eagles.

Wogakuria is a special region full of unexpected wonders. Wogakuria’s relatively open grasslands are strikingly different from the heavy woods that envelope the rest of the North Serengeti. This allows for the highest concentration of cheetahs in the North Serengeti, while the surrounding broad-leafed woodlands sustain the rare and beautiful oribi antelope. The centerpiece of this region is the beautiful Wogakuria Kopjes, home to old buffalo bulls and the surefooted klipspringer antelope.

Ample shade and fresh water are magnets for an abundance of animals.Bologonja is a lush and idyllic spot hidden away in the remote reaches of the North Serengeti. Many varieties of colorful birds can be found here including kingfishers, hoopoes and rollers. Bologonja’s flourishing resources support some unusual antelope species including the mountain reedbuck and steenbok. The nearby Larelemangi salt lick is a haven for wildlife and large herds of buffalo and elephant are regular visitors.