Compare Serengeti and Kruger National Parks
Serengeti and Kruger National Park are national parks that are located within the African continent. These are among the popular destinations that travelers visit for safaris. These two destinations have diverse and best places that travelers on their safaris can encounter. Comparing these parks ensures that travelers have the best experience in Africa.
Location and size
Kruger National Park is located in South Africa. It covers 9 provinces covering a total area of about 19485 square kilometers. It was established in 1926 and it is one of the oldest parks in South Africa. More so, Kruger National Park is at the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. This park is surrounded by towns with improved infrastructure.
On the other hand, Serengeti National Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania. The park covers a total area of 14590 square kilometers. Additionally, Serengeti National Park is situated at the border of Tanzania and Kenya. It is also part of the ecosystem of the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Accessibility and accommodation
We can also use accessibility to compare Serengeti and Kruger National Park. To begin with, Serengeti National Park is in the northern part of Tanzania which is about a 5-hour drive from Arusha. This is not the case with accessing Kruger National Park. If you don’t fancy long driving hours, you may opt for a flight from Arusha to one of the airfields in Serengeti National Park.
Talking of accommodation, Serengeti has some of the best safari lodges in Africa. These lodges offer amazing safari treats with exceptional services like full-time internet connectivity, delicious meals, comfortable rooms and tents, and many more. Accommodation facilities in Serengeti National Park are categorized into lodges, tented camps, and hotels. Some of these accommodation facilities include; Serengeti Safari Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti Kirafu Tented Lodge, and many others.
On the other hand, Kruger National Park has one of the best easily accessible roads. It will not take you longer before you reach Kruger National Park from Johannesburg. It will take you about 4 hours which is less than the 5 hours for Serengeti National Park. Like Serengeti National Park, Kruger National Park has fancy accommodation facilities. Some of these facilities include; Balule Satellite Camp, Bateleur Bushveld Camp, Boulders Bush Lodge, and many others.
Safari Experience
A safari experience in Kruger National Park and Serengeti National Park differs. Serengeti National Park is more remote, wild, and less congested except during the migration period. Safari activities in Serengeti National Park offer a close encounter with the wildlife. More so, the park is home to several wildlife including the big five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes) and wildebeests. Other wildlife species encountered in Serengeti National Park include; zebras, cheetahs, warthogs, and many others.
On the other hand, in Kruger National Park, the safari is modernized with tarmacked roads that make the safari more modern. If you are looking for a remote safari experience, you better choose Serengeti National Park over Kruger National Park.
Scenery and landscapes
Serengeti National Park is made up of savannah open plains, endless savannah grasslands, scattered acacia, rocky outcrops, and several river valleys where wildlife migration takes place. This kind of landscape is enough to make one’s safari dreams come true. Seeing wildlife in such an environment is easier. The viewing of wildlife during the game drive because of the classic open plains. On the other hand, Kruger National Park is made up of more varied landscapes. They are made up of savannah plains, woodlands, rivers, and mountains. This can also make it a fancy destination depending on one’s safari needs.
Wildlife and biodiversity
Serengeti National Park is one of the most popular destinations in the heart of Tanzania with several wildlife that range from the big five animals including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. The other predictors in this park include the hyenas, and cheetahs, which are usually encountered at any point in the park. In this park, there is usually a wildlife migration that usually takes annually. This makes the Serengeti National Park for wildlife migration and predator encounters. The Kruger National Park is also home to several wildlife like the big five, over 500 bird species, and several rare wildlife like wild dogs and the sable antelopes. This makes the park more diverse.
Overall verdict about Serengeti and Kruger National Park
For travelers interested in and wanting to witness the wildlife migration plus also experiencing the remote and classic African safari. They can engage in safaris in the Serengeti National Park. Travelers interested in the all-year-round game viewing that is mixed with landscapes and self-drive safaris can engage in the Kruger National Park.
