Travel:Ngorongoro Conservation Park to Serengeti Park. Central, Tanzania. 07/08-11/2026.
- Jul 11
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Continuation of a trip that started on July 1/2026
Fly from SFO via Dubai > Nairobi > Drive Lake Nakuru (and Lodge) > Fly > Nairobi > Arusha (Serena Lodge) > Drive > Tarengeri Park > Drive > Lake Manyara (Serena Lodge) > Drive > Ngorongoro Crater (Serena Lodge) > Drive Serengeti Central (Melia Lodge) > Drive > Serengeti Western Kirawira (Serena Tent Camp) > Fly back > Arusha > Fly back to Nairobi (Norfolk Hotel) >
Fly back via Dubai > SFO.
Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania 07/05- 06 (here)
Tarengeri Park and Lake Manyara 07/06-07. (here)
Departing from Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, from its wonderful staff and from the enchanting Carter, right after today's early morning's breakfast, at the rising of the sun, was especially moving, as was mentioned in my previous post about the visit to Ngorongo Conservation area (here)
The drive from Ngorongoro Conservation Area into Central Serengeti was bumpy and slow, but amazingly rewarding The distance between these two breathtaking locations is approximately 128 Km taking around 2.5 hours by the unpaved B14 road.
The Scenery encountered upon departing the Ngorongoro Conservation
East African wild sisal (Sansevieria ehrenbergii) is a hardy, dry-adapted succulent native to East Africa's arid regions, including northern Tanzania near Olduvai Gorge. Highly valued by local communities, its tough fibers are traditionally used for ropes, baskets, and clothing, while its leaves are used to create natural bandage.
Olduvai Gorge
A remarkable paleoanthropological site perhaps in the world, proven invaluable in furthering understanding of early human evolution, which we passed on the way, and which was officially recognized as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.. Exposed within the sides of the gorge is a remarkably rich chronicle of human ancestry and the evolution of the Serengeti ecosystem. It was here that Mary and Louis Leakey, over the course of more than 30 years of backbreaking work, unearthed the first well-dated fossils of ancient hominines and the earliest hominins, fossils that were more than 3.75 million years old. as well as the stone tools produced by the latter group of some of our earliest human ancestors.
On Donkeys and Humans
Entering Serengeti National Park
The UNESCO Heritage Serengeti National Park spans 14,763 square kilometers in northern Tanzania, bordered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the south, the Kenya border to the north, and Lake Victoria to the west.
It is best known for being the largest remaining unaltered plains for animal massive annual migration in the world, in search of pasture and permanent water holes , Vast herds of herbivores (wildebeest, gazelles and zebras), followed by their predators, is one of the most impressive natural events in the world.
The vast plains of the Serengeti are one of the last and largest functioning savanna ecosystems in Africa comprising of 1.5 million hectares of savanna.
The biological diversity of the park is very high with at least four globally threatened or endangered animal species: black rhinoceros, elephant, wild dog, and cheetah.
Park is subdivided into 5 main wildlife-rich regions,of which we visited only 2 areas: Central Seronera,+ Western Corridor,
Central Serengeti (Seronera): The park's hub and most visited area, known for its dense population of big cats and the year-round resident wildlife.
Located in the heart of the Serengeti, the Seronera River is a perennial watercourse renowned as the "Big Cat Capital of Africa". Lined with lush fever trees and sausage trees, its reliable water and deep pools, draw dense, year-round concentrations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, making it a premier wildlife destination.
(read more in this post)
Fever Tree Sausage Tree
Western Corridor: Dominated by the Grumeti River, where massive crocodiles await the migrating herds, surrounded by open woodland and plains.
The Grumeti River is a river in Mara Region, situated almost entirely within the western corridor of Serengeti National Park. flowing westward and mouths into the Speke Gulf of Lake Victoria.
On the average, there are less visitors volume to this more remote section of the park, thus, less vehicles clutter any given spot of interest, which make the experience of wild life watching more authentic and gratifying.. (more next post)
The other areas of the Park we didn't visit are:
Northern Serengeti: Extends toward the Maasai Mara in Kenya and is famous for the dramatic wildebeest river crossings, particularly along the Mara River. which we visited on another trip about 10 years ago.
Southern Plains: Famous for the short grass plains where the wildebeest calving season takes place early in the year.
Eastern Serengeti: Features rugged landscapes, rolling hills, and serves as an important wet-season grazing area.
What was seen in Central Serengeti
Kopjes are clusters of ancient granite outcrops that jut out of the endless Serengeti plains. Dating back 2.5 to over 500 million years, these "islands in a sea of grass" provide crucial micro-habitats and elevated vantage points for wildlife.
Their sculptured varied shapes is very dramatic and adds so much beauty to the Park's landscape
They influence predator behavior, support smaller ecosystems, and add striking beauty to the open plains.
Ostrich Superb Starling Kori Bustard
Kori Bustard the largest and heaviest flying bird native to Africa Because they are so heavy, these magnificent birds prefer to walk through the grass and avoid flying unless absolutely necessary to escape danger
The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) is one of the most common and iconic birds in Tanzania's northern safari circuit. It thrives in open savannas, acacia woodlands, and around human settlements, frequently spotted in Tarangire, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro
Cheetahs by the side Road
Silas our expert guide could spot from a major distance , any wildlife, among the rocks, the trees and the savanna grass, and had lead us to the right locations were 3 spotted Cheetahs were resting by road sides , or where a whole clan of Lions were lazing by the side road, and a Leopard cozily snugged up on the branches of Acacia Tree.
The Lions' Kingdom
Why Not in the Middle of the Road
Caravans of Elephants were clearly seen on the vast plains
parading slowly. protecting their babies, while constantly munching in between crossings..
Elephants Diet: Elephants spend 16 to 19 hours a day feeding, searching for and chewing food, which takes up nearly 80% of their daily schedule. eating grass, tree bark, roots, leaves, and fruit. This massive time investment is necessary because of their large body size and inefficient digestive system
They consume 100 to 300 kg (220 to 660 lbs) of plants per day. and only digests about 40% to 50% of the food they eat.
They get about 2 hours of sleep per day, mostly at night.
When elephants grow old, their final set of teeth wears down completely. Because elephants only get six sets of molars in their lifetime, they eventually run out of replacements, which limits their lifespan.. At old age they cluster around wetlands where the grass is soft and feeding is easier, but eventually the inability to feed and hunger
determine their fate.
Jackals were scouting for .leftovers prey, lonely Hartebeest was stopped to guard and Hyenas were cooling off in a pond
Ostriches were chasing for mates
The Shluf-Shtunde of the Leopard on the Tree
Serenora Marsh land
Wildebeest rely on Zebra's sense of direction and good memories to direct them during Migration
Zebras Lead from Behind - they let the wildebeest cross rivers first, and be preyed on by crocodiles and only then they follow.
Hippo yawning at the Seronera River, among many huddled wading in their own shit
Grand White Pelicans
The Lodge we stated in for 2 bights
Melia Serengeti Lodge - Central Serengeti
Nyamuma Hills, 0746 810 810
The luxury, eco-friendly hotel is set right in the central corridor area of Serengeti National Park. about a 45-minute drive from the Seronera Airstrip in the Nyamuma Hills, It offers sweeping views over the Mbalageti River Valley, and the wildlife that roams around below the hotel.
Andrea Moreira is the Resident Manager
Melia Serengeti Lodge
+255 788504725 andrea.moreira@melia.com
Originally from Ecuador, she has been working for the past 7 years in Africa, 4 month in the Melia , and she is terrific.
It take about 25 km to get to the hotel from the main road, so each time leaving the Melia for a Safairi ride, it is a quite a long distance back and forth, the same route, prior to diverting into a different path , though there are always Zebras, Gazelles , Wildebeest and other creatures to be seen, on the route down.
Great luxury accommodation at the end of a day after a long bumpy dusty ride, is part of the enjoyably experience visiting the parks. The beautiful accommodation, reviving pool, food and services at the Melia were excellent and worth staying at.
On our second and last night at Melia, though it is considered the "Dry Season" the heavens opened its rain chimneys and the downpour was long and strong , clearing the dry dust off the park's roads and vegetation as well as filling the water holes, marshes and rivers, to the delight of the park's wildlife inhabitants.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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