Maps courtesy of Lonely Planet.
Kenya
Masai Mara Game Reserve
Amboseli National Park
Tanzania
Serengeti National Park
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word
“Siringet” which means “endless plain.”
The
plains were formed 3 - 4 m
illion
years ago when ash blown from volcanoes in the Ngorongoro highlands covered the
rolling landscape. The thick layers of ash established the rich soil which
supports the vast grass plains. It was originally declared a game reserve in
1929. In 1951, the reserve became the first national park
in what was then known as Tanganyika. Covering 5,700 square miles, the park is
roughly the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut. One of the biggest
attractions is the annual migration of over one million wildebeest that travel
north during the dry season in search of water and food. Wildebeest survive as a
species due to their sheer numbers. During the calving season in February, more
that 8000 wildebeest calves are born every day. Calves are nudged by their
mothers to stand within 5 minutes of birth since they must be mobile to escape
predators.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake
Manyara National Park is only 127 square miles in area and during the rainy
season the lake covers
about two thirds of this area. Despite its small size, the park has a
variety of habitats that includes acacia woodland, areas of open grassland,
ground water forest, the lake shore, and swamp. The park has been the
location for a number of movies including Hatari released in 1961.
Photo by Laurie Schoder
Ngorongoro Crater
Approximately 12 miles in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater is
the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. It supports a year
round population of 25,000 animals. These include zebra, giraffe, wildebeest,
gazelle and warthogs. Approximately 20
endangered black rhinos also reside
inside the crater. The swamps and forest provide sanctuary for hippos,
elephants, waterbuck, baboons and vervet monkeys. Leopards live in the forests
as well, but they are solitary creatures, secretive and hard to spot. Other
predatory animals such as lions and cheetahs live off the abundant wildlife and
hyena roam the crater making their own kills and scavenging from others. One
of the earliest signs of mankind is found at nearby Laetoli where hominid
footprints from 3.6 million years ago were discovered preserved in volcanic
rock.
Photos by Laurie Schoder
Africa Video click here.
All images copyright © 2005 Phil Cherner
