It came to the worlds attention when Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael made their epic film "Serengeti darf nicht sterben" (Serengeti shall not die). I remember seeing this film as a child, and ever since wanted to see the Serengeti. Finally I was there in 2009. It was spectacular!!
The Serengeti is mostly open grassland with some acacias. Around the water courses is more vegetation, with brushes and palm trees. Some areas are a little more wooded.
The wildlife is extraordinary. I saw all the larger animals that you can expect, except rhinos. I was especially happy that I saw Southeast African Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). I ended up seeing seven cheetahs, including a mother with four young cheetahs, who were dining on a Reedbuck.
The African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique) that I saw had killed a Reedbuck and hauled it up into a tree. He was sitting in the tree with his meal.
I saw quite a few Southern Lions (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). A couple of them were walking around a caravan of observation cars, completely ignoring them. I saw one lioness with a radio collar.
There are a lot of African Bush Elephants (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) in the Serengeti. At one time I saw an aggregation of something like 100 elephants.
The Western White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu) move around a lot, making their epic Wildebeest Migration. They were currently at Lake Ndutu, where I saw some of the herds. I even witnessed a Wildebeest stampede, they were spooked by some Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée).
Grant's Zebras (Equus quagga boehmi, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Grant) usually move in the same areas as the Wildebeests. I saw a migrating herd of Zebras in the same area as the Wildebeests.
The Grant's Zebra does not require (but still prefers) short grass to graze on. It eats a wide range of different grasses, preferring young, fresh growth where available, and also browses on leaves and shoots from time to time. A zebra's digestive system works quickly and can extract more protein from the fibrous and poorest plant parts. Thus zebra are less picky in foraging but they do spend much time eating. Only after animals like zebras have cropped and trampled the long top grasses, which are low in protein, do the other grazers like Western White-bearded Wildebeests and Thompson's gazelles move in to eat the newly exposed and more nutritional short grasses. Since their different complementary preferences of forage, Grant's Zebras and Blue Wildebeests often move and forage together.
A saw the various gazelles and antelopes (Thomson's Gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii, german: Thomson-Gazelle, french: Gazelle de Thomson), Southern Grant's Gazelles (Nanger granti granti, german: Südliche Grant-Gazelle, french: Gazelle de Grant), Common Impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala), and others). I even saw East African Eland Antelopes (Taurotragus oryx pattersonianus, german: Elenantilope, french: Éland), the largest antelopes. The Eland are very shy and don't let you get close. My guide told me that the reason for that is the fact that they don't have much running endurance, they can't run away from predators for too long. They therefore avoid anything that they don't like and don't let anything come close.
East African Springhare (Pedetes surdaster). This is a strange looking animal, it looks like a cross between a hare and a kangaroo. Unfortunately I didn't get a sharp picture at night with the Springhare running. (547k) Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis, german: Klippschliefer, french: Daman du Cap). (894k) Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis, german: Klippschliefer, french: Daman du Cap). (744k) Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo, german: Zebramanguste, french: Mangouste rayée). (809k) Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo, german: Zebramanguste, french: Mangouste rayée). (1125k) Cavendish's Dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii cavendishi, german: Kirk-Dikdik, french: Dik-dik de Kirk). (947k) Male Southern Grant's Gazelles (Nanger granti granti, german: Südliche Grant-Gazelle, french: Gazelle de Grant). Note the white tail. This distinguishes them from Thomson's Gazelles. (834k) Male Southern Grant's Gazelles (Nanger granti granti, german: Südliche Grant-Gazelle, french: Gazelle de Grant). (700k) Male Thomson's Gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii, german: Thomson-Gazelle, french: Gazelle de Thomson), note the dark tail. In the middle is a Grant's Gazelle with the white tail. (853k) Male Thomson's Gazelle. (1019k) Male Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca redunca, german: Riedbock, french: Cobe des roseaux). (727k) Young male Bohor Reedbuck. (843k) Female Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca redunca, german: Riedbock, french: Cobe des roseaux). (963k) Common Impala harem (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala). The male is on the right. (1233k) Common Impala harem. (1237k) Female and baby Common Impalas (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala). (1026k) Male Common Impala. (878k) Male Common Impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala). (922k) Male Defassa Waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa, german: Defassa-Wasserbock, french: Cobe à croissant). (1161k) Closer view of the male Defassa Waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa, german: Defassa-Wasserbock, french: Cobe à croissant). (934k) Herd of Kongonis (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii, german: Kuhantilope, french: Bubale roux). (846k) Kongoni (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii, german: Kuhantilope, french: Bubale roux). (450k) East African Elands (Taurotragus oryx pattersonianus, german: Elenantilope, french: Éland), the largest antelopes, among a herd of Western White-bearded Wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). They are very shy, they don't let you get close. (603k) Heat reflections of a herd of migrating Western White-bearded Wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (549k) Migrating Western White-bearded Wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (901k) Migrating Western White-bearded Wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (883k) Migrating Western White-bearded Wildebeests. These were walking through Ndutu Lake. It is a soda lake, so the water is not drinkable. (717k) These got spooked by our car. (661k) Western White-bearded Wildebeests coming out of the lake to continue their migration. (703k) Mixed herd of Western White-bearded Wildebeests and Grant's Zebras, moving from the lake up the hill. (904k) Migrating out of the Ndutu Lake valley. (1045k) Migrating out of the Ndutu Lake valley. There are frequently Grant's Zebras (Equus quagga boehmi, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Grant) with the Wildebeest. (913k) Western White-bearded Wildebeests with babies, mixed with Zebras. (1006k) Wildebeest walk in single file most of the time. (902k) Western White-bearded Wildebeest Stampede. They got spooked by some Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée), and just kept running. There were hundreds of them running past us. (1043k) Migrating Western White-bearded Wildebeests with babies. (754k) Resting Western White-bearded Wildebeest. (960k) Female Western White-bearded Wildebeest with baby (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (840k) They looked at the water, but the soda lake has no drinkable water. (715k) Closer view of Western White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (759k) Migrating herd of Grant's Zebras (Equus quagga boehmi, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Grant). (669k) Mixed herd with Grant's Zebras, Western White-bearded Wildebeests, and Eland Antelopes. (662k) Grant's Zebras, with a female Common Impala and Eastern Warthogs in the background. (1092k) Grant's Zebras (Equus quagga boehmi, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Grant). (1074k) Female Grant's Zebra with baby (Equus quagga boehmi, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Grant). (1192k) Close-up of a Grant's Zebra (Equus quagga boehmi, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Grant). (879k) Fleeing Eastern Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). (675k) Eastern Warthog mother with baby (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). (891k) Three baby Eastern Warthogs. (882k) When Eastern Warthogs run, they point up their tail. (915k) Their tusks are formidable weapons. Even Hyenas make respectfully way for an Eastern Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). (942k) These Eastern Warthog tusks are even bigger (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). (885k) Hilgert's Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti, german: Südliche Grünmeerkatze, french: Vervet bleu). (823k) Hilgert's Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti, german: Südliche Grünmeerkatze, french: Vervet bleu). (929k) Hilgert's Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti, german: Südliche Grünmeerkatze, french: Vervet bleu). (652k) Hilgert's Vervet Monkey climbing in a tree. (688k) Troop of Olive Baboons (Papio anubis, german: Anubispavian, french: Babouin olive) in a tree. (1255k) Olive Baboon (Papio anubis, german: Anubispavian, french: Babouin olive). (937k) Grooming Olive Baboons (Papio anubis, german: Anubispavian, french: Babouin olive). (707k) Olive Baboon in a tree. (624k) Baby baboon. (717k) Nursing baby Olive Baboon (Papio anubis, german: Anubispavian, french: Babouin olive). (632k) East African Crocodiles (or East African Crocodile) (Crocodylus niloticus africanus, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (900k) East African Crocodile, showing its teeth (Crocodylus niloticus africanus, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (1044k) African Crocodile in the water. (747k) African Crocodile in the water. (681k) Maasai Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, german: Massai-Giraffe, french: Girafe Masaï). (1229k) Maasai Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, german: Massai-Giraffe, french: Girafe Masaï). (1145k) Running Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, german: Massai-Giraffe, french: Girafe Masaï). They look awkward, but can run pretty fast. (735k) Feeding Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, german: Massai-Giraffe, french: Girafe Masaï). (1008k) Close-up of a Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, german: Massai-Giraffe, french: Girafe Masaï). (671k) Close-up of two Maasai Giraffes. (777k) They can look over the tree. (764k) Maasai Giraffe with baby (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, german: Massai-Giraffe, french: Girafe Masaï). (855k) Herd of Cape Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer caffer, german: Kaffernbüffel, french: Buffle d'Afrique). They come sometimes in large herds, but more often there were just a few together. (679k) Cape Buffalo with Eastern Warthogs in the back. Both have Yellow-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus, german: Gelbschnabel-Madenhacker, french: Piquebœuf à bec jaune) sitting on them. (1293k) Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer, german: Kaffernbüffel, french: Buffle d'Afrique) in a wallow with two Yellow-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus, german: Gelbschnabel-Madenhacker, french: Piquebœuf à bec jaune). (1065k) Cape Buffalo just out of a wallow with three Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. (1172k) Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer, german: Kaffernbüffel, french: Buffle d'Afrique) staring at us again. Buffaloes frequently stared at us, which was a bit disconcerting, since they are pretty aggressive animals. (1080k) Close-up of an Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer, german: Kaffernbüffel, french: Buffle d'Afrique). (866k) A group of Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie), with Western Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis ibis, german: Kuhreiher, french: Héron garde-bœufs) standing on their backs. (785k) Closer view of the Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie). (731k) Another Hippo pool. There is a dead Hippo in the background. (979k) Close-up of a partially submerged Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie). (660k) Hippo on land, playing host to a bunch of Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. Hippos are said to be the animals that kill most humans in Africa. They are very aggressive and territorial. (817k) Hippo showing its teeth (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie). (749k) Fighting Hippos. (733k) Dead Hippo. There is an African Crocodile behind it, presumably trying to feed on the Hippo. (883k) African Bush Elephant Herd (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). There were about 100 Elephants in that area. They sometimes migrate together. Individual families are much smaller, usually only on the order of 10-20 Elephants. (1114k) African Bush Elephant family walking, with several babies (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). (886k) African Bush Elephant family, finding shade under a tree. (1115k) African Bush Elephants. (822k) African Bush Elephant mother with baby. (945k) African Bush Elephant baby (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). (1027k) Adult African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). (999k) Feeding Elephant. (1029k) Feeding Elephant. (957k) Close-up of an African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). (905k) Elephant flapping his ears. (745k) Close-up of feeding Elephant. (1067k) Close-up of feeding Elephant. (1332k) Close-up of an Elephant. (789k) This Elephant lost part of its trunk. I was wondering how he was feeding, but he seemed to be in good shape. (751k) Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée). (990k) Running Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée). (950k) Southeast African Cheetah mother with four cubs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). They had just finished feeding on a Reedbuck. Cheetahs don't keep an animal that they have killed (like Leopards do). They eat their fill and then they move on. (965k) Feeding Southeast African Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). You can see the carcass. (1023k) Southeast African Cheetah cub. The cubs were about nine months old. (677k) Southeast African Cheetah mother. (1038k) Southeast African Cheetah mother watching (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). (963k) Southeast African Cheetah cub affectionately greeting the mother. (741k) Southeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). (1173k) Yawning Southeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). (1141k) Close-up of a Southeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, german: Gepard, french: Guépard d'Afrique australe). (977k) African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique) in a tree. (996k) African Leopard in a tree. (841k) African Leopard in a tree. (786k) African Leopard. (945k) African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique). (1025k) African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique). (1090k) Southern Lion couple (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion) greeting. (845k) Two male bachelor Southern Lions (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (951k) Young male Southern Lion. (822k) Female Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (843k) Male Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (908k) Close-up of young male Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (1090k) Close-up of young female Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (928k) Female Lion drinking on the road. (1110k) The Lions walked right past all the cars, completely ignoring them. They just don't realize that there is food on top of those cars (768k) Female Lion, right next to the cars. (996k) This Lion was up in a tree. That really must tick of the Leopards, since normally Leopards are safe from Lions in a tree. (1056k) Collared female Lion. (774k)
Miscellaneous
Chamu Rio, the tallest mountain in the area, northwest of the Serengeti. (513k) On the way from Kenya to the Serengeti. (668k) Local village. (787k) Pedestrian. (612k) Local pastoralists. (487k) Permanent tent in the Ikoma Tented Camp. (755k) Interior of the comfortable "tent". (631k) Bathroom in the tent has solid walls and hot and cold water. The hot water took half a day to fix, but it eventually worked. (594k) Unit in the Serengeti Serena Lodge. The rooms were very nice. (1360k) These cloths were hanging everywhere. They are there to get rid of tsetse flies. They are impregnated with insecticide. The blue color and movement attract tsetse flies and the insecticide kills them. (1003k) Tourist vehicles at the Serengeti Headquarters. (874k) This was my vehicle. (644k) Traffic jam at the leopard. When something interesting is to see, all the vehicles congregate. It gets pretty difficult to move the cars. (839k) Not all tour operators operate the Toyota Landcruisers. I am glad I didn't end up in one of these buses. (625k) In a hurry to get to the next site. (582k) There is a dirt strip in the Serengeti. (643k) View of a part of the Serengeti National Park that is a bit more wooded. (748k) Typical view of the Serengeti. (685k) Some parts have even less trees. (645k) The road in the Serengeti towards Ngorongoro Crater. (887k) Sunrise in the Serengeti. (641k) An Umbrella Thorn (Vachellia tortilis, german: Schirmakazie, french: Acacia faux-gommier) and a Flat Top Acacia (Vachellia abyssinica). You have to guess which one is which (860k) Small "Kopje" in the Serengeti. The name Kopje comes from the Dutch word for head. These outcrops are basalt intrusions into the sediment layer. When the sediment layers erode, the basalt formations remain. (854k) A large "Kopje". (1029k) Aloe (Aloe vera, german: Echte Aloe, french: Aloè des Barbades). (1411k) Flowering Agave. (798k) Whistling Thorn (Vachellia drepanolobium). (1249k) Thorns and galls of the Whistling Acacia. The galls about 2.5 cm (1.0") in diameter. Stinging ants live in these galls. The ants seem to protect the acacia, which doesn't have toxic chemicals to ward off insect pests. When the wind blows over old, abandoned galls, they can act like flutes and produce a whistling sound. (794k) Black Thorn (Senegalia mellifera, german: Schwarzdorn-Akazie). (1257k) Flowers of a Black Thorn (Senegalia mellifera, german: Schwarzdorn-Akazie). (599k) An African Elephant and a Yellow Fever Tree (Vachellia xanthophloea, german: Gelbrinden-Akazie, french: Arbre à fièvre). (1122k) Palm trees along a little brook in the Serengeti. (1144k) Rainbow over the Serengeti. (592k) A rainbow behind a Tree Euphorbia (Euphorbia candelabrum, french: Euphorbe candélabre). (860k) Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana, german: Leberwurstbaum, french: Arbre à saucisses). (1072k) Flower. (498k) Flower. (581k) Flower. (808k) Obscure Morning Glory (Ipomoea obscura). (684k) Bones of a Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie). (858k) Mud wallow. These wallows are used by buffalo, warthogs, and hyenas. (1125k) Termite mounds. (755k) Marching Driver Ants (Dorylus sp., german: Treiberameisen). (1370k) Close-up of the Driver Ants. (1405k) Wall Crab Spider (Selenopidae gen.). (717k) Blister beetle (Hycleus sp.). (500k) Spider web of a Banded-legged Golden Orb-web Spider (Trichonephila senegalensis). (1013k) Banded-legged Golden Orb-web Spider (Trichonephila senegalensis). (584k) Banded-legged Golden Orb-web Spider (Trichonephila senegalensis). (556k) Morning dew on a spider web. (716k) House Gecko (Hemidactylus sp., german: Halbfinger-Geckos). (982k) Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama (Agama mwanzae, german: Stahlblaue Felsenagame). (685k) Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis, german: Lappenchamäleon, french: Caméléon Bilobé). (1228k) Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis, german: Lappenchamäleon, french: Caméléon Bilobé). (724k) Close-up of the Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis, german: Lappenchamäleon, french: Caméléon Bilobé) with the eye pointing forward. (779k) Close-up of the Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis, german: Lappenchamäleon, french: Caméléon Bilobé) with the eye pointing back. (720k)
(768k)
Dr. Günther Eichhorn Travel Website
Soaring website