Safari in Yellowstone National Park is North America's own Serengeti

Instead of travelling to Africa, locals and even travelers can head for the "Serengeti of North America", the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. With a magnificent mountain view, each aspect of the Yellowstone National Park makes a different first impression to tourists.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem spreads across the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Visitors can actually trail the Yellowstone River through the Paradise Valley to the town of Gardiner and then Mammoth Hot Springs, popular of its thermal terracing and resident elk herd. Visitors can also enter through a grand stone arch.

From West Yellowstone, Mont., south of Bozeman, visitors can easily access the park, following the Madison River and arriving near the geyser basins and Old Faithful. This West Gate is by far the most popular. On the other hand, the park's south entrance is on its border with Grand Teton National Park. Moose Falls is found in the Yellowstone and you can follow the tiny sign telling you where to go.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks form the 34,375-square-mile swath, which contains a lot of different wildlife than anywhere else in the lower 48 states. In addition, egione is considered as one of the last large, nearly intact temperate ecosystems in the world.

Summer is the peak season in the Jackson Hole Valley. When a tourist wants to avoid the crowds and desires to see the wildlife closely, plan a trip during a shoulder season, like spring or fall. Winter approaches with immense herds of wildlife, especially to the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming. The snowy season makes it very convenient to spot fox, coyotes, and wolves.

During Spring, Summer, and Fall in Yellowstone, around nine lodges and a dozen campgrounds are in operation. During Winter, the Jackson Hole, Wyoming provides easy access to both parks, most especially the Grand Teton. The travelers can also book a room in Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs & Cabins, which is an effortless stroll in the Lamar Valley.

Meanwhile, Jason Williams, founder of Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris, leads the tourists for wildlife tours in the parks. He helps tourists learn where and how to spot wildlife. He claimed, "We teach people why we look in certain places and give an idea of the life cycle of animals," he says. "[That way,] people can follow up with the knowledge we've given them and spend more time searching in the park."

The off-peak "shoulder" seasons, May to early June and September to October, are the easiest time to enjoy the wildlife in the parks. Not only that the weather is nicer, but it also means that baby animals are close to the road. Fall also means bugling elk and clashing antlers.