The Endless Plain.

Derived from the Maasai word 'Siringet', the Serengeti is a 30,000 square kilometer ecosystem where the horizon is broken only by the silhouettes of acacia trees.

The Serengeti is defined by its **volcanic origin**. Ash from the Ngorongoro highlands settled over the plains millions of years ago, creating a nutrient-rich soil that supports highly productive grasses. These grasses are the fuel for the "Great Migration," where over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras follow the rainfall clock in a 500-mile circular journey.

The Trophic Cascade

In the savanna, life is structured by a top-down and bottom-up balance. Predators like lions and hyenas regulate the herbivore populations, while the herbivores themselves prevent the savanna from turning into a forest by grazing on saplings. This interaction maintains the **open canopy** essential for the savanna's biodiversity.

Fire as a Sculptor

Fire is a natural and necessary component of the Serengeti. During the dry season, lightning strikes trigger grass fires that clear old, dead vegetation and return nutrients to the soil. Many savanna plants have evolved thick bark or underground storage organs to survive these pulses, ensuring that the first rains trigger an immediate explosion of new, green growth.