Serengeti Dreams: What Makes This Park So Magical

There is hardly any part of the world that can arouse the soul more than Serengeti does. It makes me imagine long belts of gold, stamping hoardes of wildebeest, and burning sunsets that burn the sky with gold and crimson. The Serengeti National Park is not just another tourist attraction site where people can go to see wild animals in their natural habitats; it is a living, breathing art piece in nature that is found in northern Tanzania. Of its dramatic scenery to its incredible wildlife, every inch of this vast ecosystem is full of stories of survival, migration and the wild crazy spirit of Africa.

In a Land Where Nature Rules The Roost.

Serengeti covers an area of almost 15,000 square kilometers which makes it one of the biggest and the most well-known ecosystems in the world. It is named after the Maasai word of Siringet meaning the land that may be stretched indefinitely. That is, in fact how it seems, a great expanse of grasslands leading off to the horizon, with the occasional flat-topped acacia trees or granite kopjes, which seem the watchmen of the plains of old times.

This ancient terrain has stayed in near the same condition as it existed millions of years ago. It is the plains which seasonal rains give life to and turn dry plains into green carpets. Such rivers as the Grumeti and the Mara flow through the land and provide water and refuge to millions of animals. It is an untouched wilderness which still is functioning in the rhythm of nature that has not been disturbed by the chaos of the modern world.

The Wildebeest Migration: The Greatest Show on Earth.

The Serengeti magic culminates at the great migration which is one of the most incredible wildlife reveals on earth. More than 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles all set off on a journey without an end upon the safaricom after the rains in a search of better pastures.

These animals cover almost 1,000 kilometers in a circular motion between Kenya and Tanzania every year between the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti. This is a dangerous expedition- at every turn there are foes, lions in the thick grasses, crocodiles in ambush on a river-bank.

However, the migration is not merely a show of movement, it is the beat of the Serengeti. It moves the life cycle through the plains. With thousands of new borns every day during the calving season in the southern Serengeti, the plains becomes a nursery to the wildlife. It is an untamed, emotional, unbelievable experience of the wild Africa, and an experience that people will not forget.

The Wildlife Kingdom

One of the highest concentrations of wildlife on earth can be found in the Serengeti. It is one of those few places where the visitors get to observe all the big five of elephants, spectators, rhinos, leopards, and buffalos in their natural habitat.

The park is home to the biggest number of lions in Africa that can be spotted lying under acacias or hunting in packs. Leopards are elusive and graceful creatures, which may be frequently found resting on the branches of trees on the daytime. Elephants can be seen strolling so beautifully in the forests, and cheetahs can be seen racing in the plains in marvelous gallops.

The Serengeti is not only home to big five, but to more than 500 species of birds ranging in size, color, and type; lilac breasted rollers and giant ostriches that walk on the grasslands. Each game drive has its surprises; hyenas fighting over food, giraffes chewing on the branches of trees, or hippies relaxing in muddy pools. The fact that wild and beautifully balanced is a reminder on every encounter.

The Sunrises, the Sunsets and the Starlit Nights.

That the Serengeti is a place where nature colours its canvas on a daily basis is perhaps one thing that defines the Serengeti experience. The earth wakes up at sunrise to the sounds of a chorus: it is the roar of a lion, the cry of a fish eagle and the murmur of the wind across the plains.

The day is ever changing in light, and the shadows cast on the grass and the shadows under the acacias are always soft gold. And as the evening gets on the horizon blazes forth in its garlands of oranges and purples and fades away into a sky of innumerable stars.

When surrounded by nothing but the Serengeti night, once you have left any skety light behind, you are aware of how insignificant but nonetheless interrelated you are to the hugeness of the universe. The Serengeti leaves its mark on your soul whether you are just sitting by a blaze in a luxury lodge campfire or sleeping under a tent and hearing the nocturnal cry of the hyenas.

Cultural Tapestry: Maasai Connection.

There is no Serengeti story that would not mention the Maasai people whose culture and traditions are interwoven with this country. Since time immemorial, the Maasai have lived with wildlife because they have led a pastoral life, which is pastoral based on cattle herding.

A trip to Maasai village can give you an idea of their vibrant traditions such as red shukas (robes), dances, and generation-old stories. The lessons they can teach us are their strong appreciation of nature and sustainable lifestyle.

The fact that Maasai have a long-standing association with the land adds extra mystique to the Serengeti. It serves as a reminder to the visitor that the magic of the park does not merely lie on the wildlife but also on the people who have been living in the land over centuries.

Saving: Saving a Living Legacy.

There is a lot of responsibility associated with the magic of the Serengeti. Being one of the most essential ecosystems in the world, it is threatened by the climate change, poaching, and human intrusion. Nevertheless, the government and the international conservation bodies have taken great steps in saving this natural wonder in Tanzania.

The anti-poaching measures, community-based tourism and sustainable tourism of safari have been very important factors that have helped in maintaining the fine balance of the park. The visitors, as well, are part of conservation by simply enjoying the park in a responsible manner; they can do so by staying in lodges that are eco-friendly, adhere to wildlife, and patronize local communities.

With such efforts, the Serengeti has remained a vibrant UNESCO world heritage site and one of the final remaining pure wilderness hotspots on earth.

The Magic That Stays With You

Going to Serengeti is not like a journey but a metamorphosis. It opens your eyes, makes you less spiritual, and re-unites you with nature in ways you could never have dreamed of. The beauty of the park is not only the wildlife and the scenery but the feelings one gets when visiting it; and it is awe, wonder and gratitude.

Many years later, when you are no longer on its plains, you will be dreaming of the Serengeti the grass in the wind, the lions on a golden horizon, the thunder of the hooves in a migration.

That is why the Serengeti is so magic, it is not only a place that you see but a feeling which cannot be forgotten ever.