Destinations
Serengeti Kopjes: The Granite Islands of the Plains
The Serengeti's kopjes are granite outcrops rising from the plains, home to lions, leopards, klipspringers and hyraxes. What they are and which to visit.
Rising from the flat Serengeti plains like islands, the kopjes are clusters of granite boulders that have been worn smooth over millions of years. They are some of the most striking features of the park and some of the best places to look for wildlife, especially lions, which love to lie on the warm rocks with a view.
What kopjes are
Kopjes (pronounced “copies”, from an Afrikaans word for “little head”) are the exposed tops of ancient granite rock. Over time, the softer soil around them eroded away, leaving the hard rock standing above the plains. Cracks and hollows in the rocks collect water and soil, so trees, figs and shrubs grow among the boulders, creating small, sheltered habitats in the middle of the grassland.
Wildlife on the kopjes
- Lions: use the rocks as lookouts and resting places, and hide their cubs in crevices.
- Leopards and cheetahs: use them as vantage points.
- Klipspringers: small antelopes that live on the rocks.
- Rock hyraxes and agama lizards: common on the boulders, with brightly coloured male agamas basking in the sun.
- Birds: eagles and owls nest in the trees and crevices.
Famous kopjes
- Simba Kopjes: in the central Serengeti, named for the lions often seen there.
- Moru Kopjes: south of Seronera, with rock paintings and a rock that rings when struck, known as the Gong Rock. A small population of black rhinos lives in the area.
- Gol Kopjes: in the southeast, on the short-grass plains, excellent for cheetahs and for the migration during the calving season.
- Masai Kopjes: in the central area, with resident lion prides.
Visiting the kopjes
Kopjes are best explored on a game drive in the morning or late afternoon, when cats are active and the light is golden. Do not climb the rocks unless your guide says it is safe; predators may be resting out of sight.
Read our guides to Seronera and the klipspringer.
We plan private safaris across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, and write from time spent in these parks.
