Plant Life Serengeti: A Guide to Plants and Trees in Serengeti National Park - Tanzania

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Serengeti National Park Plants and Trees

Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana)

The Sausage Tree, thriving along dry river banks in the Serengeti, often grows sporadically in these areas. It bears long, succulent, yet poisonous fruits up to 50 centimeters in length, which drop and decompose to release seeds. The fruit stalks linger for months, often mistaken for a leopard’s tail.

Fig Trees (Ficus sp.)

Numerous fig tree species thrive in Serengeti National Park. Their distinctive grey smooth bark, large buttressing roots, and saucer-sized dark green leaves make them easily recognizable. These fig trees are are commonly found along riverbanks or nestled in rocky kopjes.

Wild Date Palm (Phoenix reclinata)

As monocotyledons, wild date palms are related to lilies, bananas, and orchids. They are the most prevalent palm trees in the Serengeti, often found by rivers and in swamps. Although their fruits are edible, they are not palatable. However, their sugary sap can be fermented into wild date palm wine. These trees provide ample shade favored by resting lions.

Commiphora (Commiphora africana)

Commiphora trees, distinguishable from other grasses by their peeling, papery blue/yellowish bark and small round leaves, are prevalent throughout the Serengeti, especially in the east. Local medicine utilizes their roots, bark, and berries for various ailments, including rashes and liver issues. Commiphora africana, or African myrrh, is the most common species.

Yellow Fever Tree (Vachellia xanthophloea)

The yellow fever tree is a common sight in wet areas like riverbanks, swamps, and floodplains. With its tall, graceful stature, large white thorns, wide branches, and yellow bark, it’s hard to miss. Early settlers mistakenly blamed these yellow trees for malaria, hence the name yellow fever tree or ‘Yellow Fever Tree.’

Umbrella Tree (Vachellia tortilis)

Iconic to Africa, the umbrella tree breaks the flat landscape of the Serengeti plains. Its dramatic arching shape, prominent white thorns, dark bark, and flat top are unmistakable. Giraffes and elephants favor umbrella trees and its seedlings. Unable to survive bush fires, umbrella trees have only established en masse twice in the last 125 years, resulting in most being 125 or 45 years old.

Whistling Thorn (Vachellia drepanolobium)

This unique tree features hard, hollow spheres at the base of its thorns, inhabited by biting ants. The tree provides shelter and food for the ants in exchange for protection. The name ‘whistling thorn’ comes from the sound made by the ants entering the hollow galls. These short trees flourish in seasonally waterlogged soils.

Grasses

Red Oat Grass (Themeda triandra)

Red oat grass, or rooigras in Afrikaans, turns a pinkish-red as it dries and is a dominant grass species in Serengeti’s woodlands and long-grass plains. In the former long grass plains, it grows densely, resembling wheat fields with its flat, fan-like seeds swaying in the wind. Wildebeest consume red oat grass after exhausting more palatable options.

Finger Grass (Digitaria macroblephora)

Finger grass is likely the most common grass in the Serengeti. Its nutritious leaves are a favorite among grazers, and it’s hard to find an untouched specimen. True to its name, the seed heads resemble thin fingers pointing skyward.

Pan Dropseed (Sporobolus ioclados)

Alongside finger grass, pan dropseed is a dominant species in the short-grass plains. Both also grow in a dwarf form, making differentiation challenging. The seed head of pan dropseed resembles a Christmas tree, with seeds dangling and hanging like ornaments.

Invasive Plant Species

Non-native plants pose a threat to the Serengeti by displacing indigenous vegetation. The Mexican Marigold, introduced with wheat seeds, grows rapidly, making areas unfarmable and outcompeting native plants. Other invasive species, like Prickly Pear and Custard Oil, also threaten the ecosystem. These species, found along roadsides, can quickly take root, altering the park’s vegetation and wildlife behavior.