The untouched wilderness of Singita Grumeti Reserves is located in northern Tanzania and forms part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, on the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park – Africa’s No. 1 World Heritage Site. The word ‘Serengeti’ comes from the Masai word ‘Siringit’, which means ’the place where the land stretches to forever.”

The famous Great Migration, an annual trek of 2 million animals through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, bisects our reserve annually. Called The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth it has, since time immemorial, been the dramatic backbone of this enormous wilderness.

The successes of conservation as well as diverse habitats have ensured that, since its inception in 2003, Singita Grumeti Reserves has a well-established resident game population that inhabit the area throughout the year. In addition to the annual wildebeest migration some notable highlights include: large mixed herds of impala, zebra, topi, eland, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle. Good numbers of reedbuck, waterbuck, dik dik, klipspinger, oribi and Coke’s hartebeest are to be found and large breeding herds of buffalo, up to 400 strong, compliment the abundant small bachelor groups of bulls. Herds of elephants number up to 450 – concentrations seldom seen elsewhere in Africa.

Large carnivore regulars such as lion, hyena, cheetah and leopard top the predator pile while the smaller aardwolf, jackal, mongoose species, serval, caracal, civet, genet, porcupine, pangolin and aardvark top a total of about 70 mammal species found in the area.

The migration movements can expect to be witnessed in June, July and August as the herds move northwards. However, in September and October some large wildebeest herds remain, along with inflated numbers of topi, zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and eland - really the best time of year. In November, southbound wildebeest, returning from the Masai Mara in Kenya, move back into the reserves along with the onset of the first light rains followed by fresh new grazing.

Extra special year round highlights on the Grumeti River include the beautiful black and white Colobus monkeys. Continuing the special primate theme there is a chance to spot the world’s fasted primate – the rare Patas monkey, out in the open woodlands. A herd of Roan antelope can be seen as well.

For birders special endemic highlights include the Grey Crested Helmet-shrike, Fischer’s Lovebird, Rufus-Tailed Weaver, Karamoja Apalis and the Grey-breasted Spurfowl. They head up an impressive bird list of 400 species on the concession.

Lee Fuller
Guide
Singita Grumeti Reserves