Question 1 of 10 . The migrating herds cross into which Kenyan reserve for the dry season? Updated Aug 21, 2026 · 100 questions 100 free The Serengeti trivia questions with answers — geography quiz, new questions added Aug 2026. This Serengeti trivia quiz covers the endless plains of northern Tanzania and south-western Kenya, home to the largest overland animal migration on Earth and Africa's biggest lion population. The easy questions handle the basics: which country the national park is in, what the name is said to mean, the animal that makes up the bulk of the great migration, the Kenyan reserve the herds cross into, and the famous song that put Kilimanjaro in the wrong place. From there it moves through the migration itself, the calving on the short-grass plains, the Grumeti and Mara river crossings, the crocodiles and the quarter of a million animals that die each year. The harder half is for safari veterans and naturalists: the 1940 founding of the park, the split that created the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the world's largest intact caldera, Mary Leakey's 1959 skull at Olduvai, the Grzimeks' Serengeti Shall Not Die and the vulture that killed Michael, the 1994 distemper outbreak among the lions, kopjes and volcanic grasslands, the wild dogs that vanished and returned, and the highway plan that refuses to die. If you enjoyed our Kalahari, Kilimanjaro or big cats quizzes, this is the deep dive on Africa's most famous wilderness. Every answer was checked against the encyclopaedia entries for the Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Olduvai Gorge and the people and animals named before publishing. The Serengeti trivia questions and answers 30 of 100 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz Questions 1 – 10 Q 01 The Serengeti National Park lies in the north of which country? A Uganda B Kenya C Tanzania D Zambia Show answer ✓ Tanzania The brine The wider Serengeti region also extends across the border into south-western Kenya. Q 01 The Serengeti National Park lies in the north of which country? The wider Serengeti region also extends across the border into south-western Kenya. Q 02 The name Serengeti is popularly said to come from a Maasai word meaning what? A Land of lions B Endless plains C Great river D Place of thirst Show answer ✓ Endless plains The brine Oddly, the supposed source word does not actually appear in dictionaries of the Maa language. Q 02 The name Serengeti is popularly said to come from a Maasai word meaning what? A Land of lions B Endless plains D Place of thirst ✓ Endless plains Oddly, the supposed source word does not actually appear in dictionaries of the Maa language. Q 03 Roughly how many zebra travel with the great migration each year, ahead of the main herds? A About 250,000 B About 25,000 C About 2.5 million D About 5,000 Show answer ✓ About 250,000 The brine Up to half a million Thomson's gazelle and smaller herds of eland travel too. Q 03 Roughly how many zebra travel with the great migration each year, ahead of the main herds? A About 250,000 C About 2.5 million ✓ About 250,000 Up to half a million Thomson's gazelle and smaller herds of eland travel too. Q 04 The migrating herds cross into which Kenyan reserve for the dry season? A Tsavo East B Amboseli C The Maasai Mara D Lake Nakuru Show answer ✓ The Maasai Mara The brine 'Mara' means 'spotted' in Maa, after the short bushy trees dotting the landscape. Q 04 The migrating herds cross into which Kenyan reserve for the dry season? C The Maasai Mara ✓ The Maasai Mara 'Mara' means 'spotted' in Maa, after the short bushy trees dotting the landscape. Q 05 Roughly how long is the complete great migration route? A About 5,000 km B About 200 km C About 2,000 km D About 800 km Show answer ✓ About 800 km The brine It is the world's second-longest overland migration, after that of the caribou. Q 05 Roughly how long is the complete great migration route? A About 5,000 km C About 2,000 km It is the world's second-longest overland migration, after that of the caribou. Q 06 Roughly how many wildebeest die each year on the migration from thirst, hunger, exhaustion or predators? A About 25,000 B About 250,000 C About 2,500 D About 1 million Show answer ✓ About 250,000 The brine Around 30,000 zebras die too, and for every wildebeest a crocodile takes at the river, fifty drown. Q 06 Roughly how many wildebeest die each year on the migration from thirst, hunger, exhaustion or predators? B About 250,000 D About 1 million ✓ About 250,000 Around 30,000 zebras die too, and for every wildebeest a crocodile takes at the river, fifty drown. Q 07 About how many calves do the wildebeest give birth to on the short-grass plains in a two-to-three-week window in February? A 500,000 B 50,000 C 5,000 D 2 million Show answer ✓ 500,000 The brine Calves born early rarely survive because they stand out among the previous year's youngsters. Q 07 About how many calves do the wildebeest give birth to on the short-grass plains in a two-to-three-week window in February? Calves born early rarely survive because they stand out among the previous year's youngsters. Q 08 Which two rivers do the herds have to cross, with around 3,000 crocodiles lying in wait? A The Grumeti and the Mara B The Nile and the Congo C The Zambezi and the Limpopo D The Rufiji and the Ruvuma Show answer ✓ The Grumeti and the Mara The brine The crossings begin in July and are one of the most popular sights on safari. Q 08 Which two rivers do the herds have to cross, with around 3,000 crocodiles lying in wait? A The Grumeti and the Mara B The Nile and the Congo C The Zambezi and the Limpopo D The Rufiji and the Ruvuma ✓ The Grumeti and the Mara The crossings begin in July and are one of the most popular sights on safari. Q 09 Which is the only permanently flowing river in the Serengeti ecosystem? A The Mara B The Grumeti C The Mbalageti D The Orangi Show answer ✓ The Mara The brine It rises on Kenya's Mau Escarpment and drains into Lake Victoria; deforestation of the Mau Forest has changed its flow. Q 09 Which is the only permanently flowing river in the Serengeti ecosystem? C The Mbalageti It rises on Kenya's Mau Escarpment and drains into Lake Victoria; deforestation of the Mau Forest has changed its flow. Q 10 In which year was the Serengeti National Park established? A 1966 B 1921 C 1959 D 1940 Show answer ✓ 1940 The brine Major Richard Hingston had proposed national park status in 1930, and strict protection came in 1948. Q 10 In which year was the Serengeti National Park established? Major Richard Hingston had proposed national park status in 1930, and strict protection came in 1948. Questions 11 – 20 Q 11 In 1959 an 8,300-square-kilometre tract in the park's east was split off for the resident pastoralists. What was it re-established as? A The Maswa Game Reserve B The Ngorongoro Conservation Area C The Loliondo Game Control Area D The Grumeti Game Reserve Show answer ✓ The Ngorongoro Conservation Area The brine It was set up as a multiple land-use area where Maasai pastoralism could continue. Q 11 In 1959 an 8,300-square-kilometre tract in the park's east was split off for the resident pastoralists. What was it re-established as? A The Maswa Game Reserve B The Ngorongoro Conservation Area C The Loliondo Game Control Area D The Grumeti Game Reserve ✓ The Ngorongoro Conservation Area It was set up as a multiple land-use area where Maasai pastoralism could continue. Q 12 The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest inactive, intact and unfilled example of what? A A volcanic caldera B A meteorite crater C A sinkhole D A rift lake bed Show answer ✓ A volcanic caldera The brine It formed when a huge volcano erupted and collapsed two to three million years ago; the floor covers 260 square kilometres. Q 12 The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest inactive, intact and unfilled example of what? A A volcanic caldera B A meteorite crater D A rift lake bed ✓ A volcanic caldera It formed when a huge volcano erupted and collapsed two to three million years ago; the floor covers 260 square kilometres. Q 13 How deep is the Ngorongoro Crater? A 610 m B 110 m C 1,200 m D 3,000 m Show answer ✓ 610 m The brine The original volcano may have stood 4,500 to 5,800 metres tall before it collapsed. Q 13 How deep is the Ngorongoro Crater? The original volcano may have stood 4,500 to 5,800 metres tall before it collapsed. Questions 21 – 30 Q 21 Roughly how many lions live in the Serengeti ecosystem, the largest population in Africa? A About 300 B Over 3,000 C About 1,000 D Over 10,000 Show answer ✓ Over 3,000 The brine Since 2005 the park and the neighbouring Kenyan reserve have together formed a Lion Conservation Unit. Q 21 Roughly how many lions live in the Serengeti ecosystem, the largest population in Africa? Since 2005 the park and the neighbouring Kenyan reserve have together formed a Lion Conservation Unit. Q 22 An outbreak of which disease killed roughly a third of the Serengeti's lions in 1994? A Rinderpest B Canine distemper C Anthrax poisoning D Rabies virus Show answer ✓ Canine distemper The brine Mass rabies vaccination of domestic dogs has since protected both people and endangered wild dogs. Q 22 An outbreak of which disease killed roughly a third of the Serengeti's lions in 1994? B Canine distemper C Anthrax poisoning ✓ Canine distemper Mass rabies vaccination of domestic dogs has since protected both people and endangered wild dogs. Q 23 Which predator became extinct in the Serengeti National Park in the early 1990s before being returned in 2012? A The African wild dog B The cheetah C The striped hyena D The caracal Show answer ✓ The African wild dog The brine Lions and spotted hyenas steal their kills and kill them directly, keeping numbers low across the region. Q 23 Which predator became extinct in the Serengeti National Park in the early 1990s before being returned in 2012? A The African wild dog C The striped hyena ✓ The African wild dog Lions and spotted hyenas steal their kills and kill them directly, keeping numbers low across the region. Play the quiz → Q 14 The name Ngorongoro is said to imitate the sound of what? A A cowbell B A lion's roar C Rolling thunder D A waterfall Show answer ✓ A cowbell The brine The Maasai pastoralists named it; the first European to enter the crater was Oscar Baumann in 1892.

Q 14 The name Ngorongoro is said to imitate the sound of what? B A lion's roar C Rolling thunder The Maasai pastoralists named it; the first European to enter the crater was Oscar Baumann in 1892. Q 15 Which steep ravine in the eastern Serengeti plains is one of the world's most important sites for early human fossils? A Blyde River Canyon B Kalambo Gorge C Fish River Canyon D Olduvai Gorge Show answer ✓ Olduvai Gorge The brine Its name comes from the Maasai for 'the place of the wild sisal', which grows all through the ravine. Q 15 Which steep ravine in the eastern Serengeti plains is one of the world's most important sites for early human fossils? A Blyde River Canyon B Kalambo Gorge C Fish River Canyon D Olduvai Gorge ✓ Olduvai Gorge Its name comes from the Maasai for 'the place of the wild sisal', which grows all through the ravine. Q 16 Which husband-and-wife team pioneered the excavations at the Serengeti's famous fossil ravine in the 1950s? A Jane and Hugo van Lawick B Bernhard and Erika Grzimek C Louis and Mary Livingstone D Louis and Mary Leakey Show answer ✓ Louis and Mary Leakey The brine Their family continues the work today; the site is one of the country's National Historic Sites. Q 16 Which husband-and-wife team pioneered the excavations at the Serengeti's famous fossil ravine in the 1950s? A Jane and Hugo van Lawick B Bernhard and Erika Grzimek C Louis and Mary Livingstone D Louis and Mary Leakey ✓ Louis and Mary Leakey Their family continues the work today; the site is one of the country's National Historic Sites. Q 17 In July 1959 Mary Leakey found the skull of which hominin at Olduvai's FLK site? A Homo neanderthalensis B Homo erectus C Zinjanthropus boisei D Australopithecus afarensis Show answer ✓ Zinjanthropus boisei The brine Its sagittal crest and huge molars suggested a diet of tough plants; Homo habilis remains followed in the 1960s. Q 17 In July 1959 Mary Leakey found the skull of which hominin at Olduvai's FLK site? A Homo neanderthalensis C Zinjanthropus boisei D Australopithecus afarensis ✓ Zinjanthropus boisei Its sagittal crest and huge molars suggested a diet of tough plants; Homo habilis remains followed in the 1960s. Q 18 Which German zoo director and his son made the Oscar-winning 1959 documentary Serengeti Shall Not Die? A Konrad Lorenz B Heinz Sielmann C Bernhard Grzimek D Werner Herzog Show answer ✓ Bernhard Grzimek The brine He was director of Frankfurt Zoo and a household name in West Germany through his TV series Ein Platz für Tiere. Q 18 Which German zoo director and his son made the Oscar-winning 1959 documentary Serengeti Shall Not Die? A Konrad Lorenz B Heinz Sielmann C Bernhard Grzimek D Werner Herzog ✓ Bernhard Grzimek He was director of Frankfurt Zoo and a household name in West Germany through his TV series Ein Platz für Tiere. Q 19 How did Michael Grzimek die during the filming of Serengeti Shall Not Die in January 1959? A His vehicle overturned in the Mara B He was trampled by a buffalo herd C He contracted cerebral malaria D His plane hit a vulture over Ngorongoro Show answer ✓ His plane hit a vulture over Ngorongoro The brine He was flying the zebra-striped Dornier the pair used for aerial animal counts; the bird was probably a Rüppell's griffon. Q 19 How did Michael Grzimek die during the filming of Serengeti Shall Not Die in January 1959? A His vehicle overturned in the Mara B He was trampled by a buffalo herd C He contracted cerebral malaria D His plane hit a vulture over Ngorongoro ✓ His plane hit a vulture over Ngorongoro He was flying the zebra-striped Dornier the pair used for aerial animal counts; the bird was probably a Rüppell's griffon. Q 20 Which Academy Award did Serengeti Shall Not Die win in 1960? A Best Foreign Language Film B Best Documentary Feature C Best Cinematography D Best Original Score Show answer ✓ Best Documentary Feature The brine The companion book, published in English in 1961, became a bestseller. Q 20 Which Academy Award did Serengeti Shall Not Die win in 1960? A Best Foreign Language Film B Best Documentary Feature C Best Cinematography D Best Original Score ✓ Best Documentary Feature The companion book, published in English in 1961, became a bestseller. Q 24 To roughly what number did 1980s poaching reduce the Serengeti's eastern black rhinos? A About 500 B About 100 C About 10 D About 1,000 Show answer ✓ About 10 The brine Fewer than 70 survived in the park as of the mid-2020s. Q 24 To roughly what number did 1980s poaching reduce the Serengeti's eastern black rhinos? Fewer than 70 survived in the park as of the mid-2020s. Q 25 How many Masai giraffes were estimated to live in the park in 2010, down from 10,750 in 1977? A About 500 B About 8,000 C About 3,520 D About 15,000 Show answer ✓ About 3,520 The brine Numbers have stabilised in the centre of the park but keep falling around the edges. Q 25 How many Masai giraffes were estimated to live in the park in 2010, down from 10,750 in 1977? Numbers have stabilised in the centre of the park but keep falling around the edges. Q 26 What are the granite outcrops of the Serengeti plains, used as lookouts by predators, called? A Tors B Kopjes C Mesas D Buttes Show answer ✓ Kopjes The brine They are ancient plutons uplifted 180 million years ago, and their trapped soil supports trees where the plain has only short grass. Q 26 What are the granite outcrops of the Serengeti plains, used as lookouts by predators, called? They are ancient plutons uplifted 180 million years ago, and their trapped soil supports trees where the plain has only short grass. Q 27 The Serengeti's volcanic grasslands grow on ash from Kerimasi and which still-active volcano famous for its natrocarbonatite lava? A Ol Doinyo Lengai B Kilimanjaro C Mount Meru D Mount Kenya Show answer ✓ Ol Doinyo Lengai The brine Rapid weathering of that unusual lava created layers of calcareous tuff and hard-pan soils. Q 27 The Serengeti's volcanic grasslands grow on ash from Kerimasi and which still-active volcano famous for its natrocarbonatite lava? A Ol Doinyo Lengai ✓ Ol Doinyo Lengai Rapid weathering of that unusual lava created layers of calcareous tuff and hard-pan soils. Q 28 What is the main settlement inside the Serengeti National Park, home to its primary airstrip and research institute? A Musoma B Arusha C Karatu D Seronera Show answer ✓ Seronera The brine Human habitation in the park is otherwise forbidden except for park staff, researchers and lodge workers. Q 28 What is the main settlement inside the Serengeti National Park, home to its primary airstrip and research institute? Human habitation in the park is otherwise forbidden except for park staff, researchers and lodge workers. Q 29 Which of the park's early game wardens is credited with bringing its rampant poaching under control? A Myles Turner B Richard Hingston C George Adamson D Ian Douglas-Hamilton Show answer ✓ Myles Turner The brine Even so, a 2001 study estimated that around 200,000 animals are still killed by poachers every year. Q 29 Which of the park's early game wardens is credited with bringing its rampant poaching under control? B Richard Hingston C George Adamson D Ian Douglas-Hamilton Even so, a 2001 study estimated that around 200,000 animals are still killed by poachers every year. Q 30 A plan mooted in 2005-12 and revived in 2024 proposed building what through the park? A An international airport B A hydroelectric dam C A high-speed railway D A 452 km highway Show answer ✓ A 452 km highway The brine Conservationists warned it could disrupt the wildebeest migration; southern routes bypassing the park were proposed instead. Q 30 A plan mooted in 2005-12 and revived in 2024 proposed building what through the park? A An international airport B A hydroelectric dam C A high-speed railway D A 452 km highway ✓ A 452 km highway Conservationists warned it could disrupt the wildebeest migration; southern routes bypassing the park were proposed instead. More Geography trivia Safari Trivia 49 Q → Tanzania Trivia 50 Q → Africa Trivia 80 Q → キリマンジャロ Trivia 30 Q → Savanna Trivia 50 Q → ライオン Trivia 30 Q → National Park Trivia 144 Q → Kenya Trivia 48 Q → Colorado Trivia 194 Q → New York City Trivia 164 Q →