National parks: Serengeti. Flora and fauna of Africa

Africa is often associated with different wild animals. Here the highest density of representatives of wild nature, as well as the richest variety of fauna in comparison with other continents of the Earth.

There are a variety of national parks. Serengeti is one of them. By the way, the mainland has the largest number of national parks on Earth - 335 pieces. They were able to find protection for about 100,000 species of insects, 1100 species of mammals, 3,000 species of fish and 2,600 species of birds. Also there are various reserves, natural parks, national, marine and forest reserves.

The continent is rich in a variety of habitats. Plains of arid savannas and moist tropical forests in the Sahara have become a shelter for various representatives of wildlife. Here lives a huge number of fascinating animals, some of them are threatened with extinction. In addition, there is an opinion that this is the place where the first people appeared.

Tanzania

There are various national parks here. Serengeti is a famous park, which every tourist dreams to get to, trying to learn real Africa.

Without a doubt, this place is the most famous treasury of wildlife in the whole world. He does not know his peers on scientific value and beauty. The Serengeti National Park - the most popular and oldest park in Tanzania - is famous for its annual migration: more than 6 million pairs of feet trample the plain, while 300,000 gazelles and 200,000 zebras, together with wildebeest, are looking for fresh food. But in the Serengeti, even without migration, a vivid safari in Africa is possible: a herd of huge buffaloes, groups of giraffes and elephants, an incredible amount of swamps, Öland, impala, grant gazelles and congonies.

Location of the park

In the Tanzania region, which is the Great African Rift, the famous Serengeti Park is located (the map is presented in this article). Its northern neighbor is the Kenyan Masai Mara Reserve, and in the southeast it borders on Ngorongoro.

A bit of history

These land for a long time remained absolutely wild. But about a hundred years ago in this place came the Masai - the northern nomadic tribes, who had domesticated cattle.

The first European to arrive in the Serengeti region in 1891 was Oscar Bauman (German), who was an explorer and naturalist. Here in 1913 the first hunters began their activity. For several years in this place the process of forming the reserve territory was carried out, which became the basis for the present national park, which it became in 1951. This activity was promoted by understanding the need for conservation of African wildlife, as frequent hunting could lead to a rapid reduction in the number of lions that at some time were considered pests.

From Serengeti, eight years later, a reserve was given, which was called Ngorongoro.

In 2009, at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the park, scientists reported that these unique lands must be protected from frequent visits by foreigners, due to which in Africa tourism is actively developing now. To this end, they suggested limiting access to national parks. Serengeti does not apply to them. But travelers today can not get to the Olduvai gorge, in which at the present moment they trace the traces of ancient people. This is done for the purity of research and the preservation of all findings.

Name of the park

The name of this area means "extended site". Here the climate is specific, which contributes to the riot of all forms of life. It also affects the way of life of the inhabitants of the area.

Climate

Basically, the Serengeti is warm and dry, although there is a rainy season. Here it comes in the spring. In the middle of autumn precipitation is also possible, but there are already significantly fewer.

Landscapes in the rainy season are full of flowers and greens, while the rest of the time gradually comes a drought. At this time, the inhabitants of the National Park are beginning to migrate to find water to save lives.

The air temperature here does not particularly fluctuate - in the vicinity of 15-25 ° C. In the Serengeti, the coolest period is June-October, especially in the evening.

Landscape

The Serengeti National Park also has different landscapes:

• Center - savannah;
• South - meadows;
• West - numerous plains and forests;
• Southeast - volcanoes;
• North - forests with hills.

In each part you can find a small river, a swamp or a lake.

Modern landscapes are very far from the original ones, which were here a long time ago, when the general appearance of the earth's surface was formed by the activity of volcanoes. Then a lot of time passed, on earth elements acted, thus creating the current image, which can be assessed by viewing the Serengeti photo.

Animals

Special conditions make it possible to develop different kinds of fauna and flora, which have dispersed national parks in themselves. Serengeti represents the largest number of its inhabitants:

• Birds (about 500 varieties);
• Animals (about 35 species);
• Reptiles (about 350 species).

Here among the animals there are:

• Thompson's gazelles (more than 0.5 million);
• Antelope wildebeest (about 2 million);
• Zebra (more than 0.25 million);
• Elephants;
• Giraffes;
• Rhinoceros;
• Baboons;
• Porcupines and others.

You can meet other predators:

• Cheetahs;
• About 3000 lions;
• Jackals;
• Hyena;
• Leopards.

Famous birds of Africa:

• Vultures;
• Flamingo;
• Fighting eagles ;
• Storks;
• Ostriches.

There are also reptiles:

• Crocodiles;
• Snakes;
• Lizards.

Migrating animals

Travelers in the Serengeti reserve are attracted by several fragments from the life of wild inhabitants, the main one of which is the great migration of ungulates, to be more precise, the wildebeest and zebras. Million herds of these animals sweep across the picturesque and endless areas of the Serengeti.

They are followed immediately by predators, not missing any suitable moment for fruitful hunting. Behind them, and scavengers are racing, which are an indispensable link in the food chain of these places.

Such migration in the National Park occurs in the period of February-June. The herds move north at this time, moving along the eastern part. In September, they are sent back, and reach December south through the western lands.

The rainy season forces the herbivores to move to Masai Mara - there are fresh pastures. If there is no rain, then the plains in the north become almost deserts. And this happens all the time - the inhabitants of the Serengeti Park (Africa) are chasing huge distances for food, all the while risking their lives.

Conditions for tourists

In the national park there are all conditions for a comfortable pastime for tourists. A large number of hotels, campsites and tent camps provide the convenience of visitors. On the territory of the park there are restaurants where you can taste delicious, satisfying and inexpensive snacks. Excellent time to visit this park is a dry season. Then tourists can see firsthand how the life of predators proceeds. During the wet season it is possible to see how the migration of herds of ungulates is going on.

It is worth noting that the visit to the Serengeti will not leave anyone indifferent and for a long time will provide emotions to even the most sophisticated tourists.