The Africa Series - The Serengeti Safari
The Wildest Ride Of A Lifetime…
The Bucket list Item
Hello, Explorers!
Something that I have always wanted to do is a Safari. It is usually on most people’s bucket lists. It is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Africa. The pure experience of watching nature unfold before you is breathtaking, and it stirs the senses.
I celebrated my birthday while on the Safari of my dreams. I was very excited to finally see these incredible animals in their environment. Although I knew that nothing would be guaranteed, I still knew that I would be in the middle of The Great Migration, which is an incredible spectacle to see. It is truly magical to be able to be in the presence of such incredible animals without having to see them in a zoo setting.
(P.C. @thejourney.man)
The Company
Mawe Camps are where we stayed and Kilidove Safari (a partner) is the company that provided our guide and transportation. This was such a great choice for us. Their customer service was fantastic. The guide that was assigned to us was very knowledgeable in the land, and in the animals that we came across. His name was Joshua. Through the walkie-talkie radio system, the company Jeeps would interact and communicate with each other concerning the whereabouts of certain animal sightings.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were provided within the cost of the Safari. For being in the middle of the savanna, the food was quite good. We would always sit in this lovely restaurant-looking setting with the other Safari guests. My favorite meals were lunch and dinner. At lunchtime, we would receive a little paper bag with a well-rounded meal inside. A piece of fruit, bread, a main course, and dessert. It was quite a lot to eat and I was very happy that the portions were quite abundant. We would enjoy eating our lunch while watching the animals also enjoying their lunch. We would be grazing, while they would be grazing. There is nothing more fascinating than enjoying your meal while watching a live nature channel in front of you.
Dinners were the fanciest meals of the day. You would be eating your entree while looking up at the night sky while trying to recognize certain constellations that you've never seen before.
As for the accommodation, it was the most wonderful form of glamping possible. In the middle of the savanna, you could see the camps in the distance. As soon as you arrive, and get off the Jeep from a long day driving, they would be outside waiting for you with a fruity cold drink, and a cold towel to refresh yourself. The staff would introduce themselves and take your bags while guiding you to your tent for the night.
The tents were semi-permanent tents that were made from incredibly tough canvas material. As you unzip the door of your tent, you are presented with three, incredibly spacious rooms. In the first room, the welcome area/living area is where you could sit down and enjoy a good conversation. In the second area, the bedroom contains a queen-size bed that is made up with a lovely mosquito net hanging over, just in case. Lastly, the third room, the incredible bathroom area. What really shocked me was the inclusion of an actual full-sized, tent bathroom. I was shocked because they were able to put an actual toilet, shower, and sink, all within the compounds of the tent. As someone who spent an entire week using the bathroom outdoors, and having to go outside your tent to use the bathroom, these really were not ordinary tents. They were so big and so spacious. It was the most incredible way to experience a safari.
The Landscape
The landscape of the Serengeti was absolutely stunning. From the golden brown high grass of the savanna to the green oasis of the Sun River. The drastic changes in the geography were simply breathtaking. You would see certain animals in one area, and not see them in the next. Being there during the month of July definitely has its perks. It is considered Africa’s wintertime, and the weather is a comfortable 70 degrees Fahrenheit. During this time is when The Great Migration takes place. Hordes upon hordes of Wildebeests (Ngu) would come from far away to the watering holes and river crossings. The Great Migration is a time when animals travel from afar to hydrate and rejuvenate. However, many animals die of dehydration before they reach their destination, or become prey when drinking out of the river.
The Animals
The amazing thing about being on a safari is being in close proximity to these wild animals. You get to see the grandeur of being in their environment, in their presence. They are so majestic. We literally saw about 3 million animals. Some animals, like the wildebeests, travel in big groups. Zebras, and all types of antelope like the gazelle and caribou, would also travel in large groups together. There definitely is safety in numbers. We also saw large families of giraffes and elephants. Through the low-lying bushes, you would peek at families of warthogs. The combination of all these animals coming together, in one place, was an absolute sight to behold. All the herbivores live peacefully among each other, grazing the same grass, leaves, and trees. It felt like Utopia.
There was an abundance in numbers when it came to the antelope. There are so many species of antelope present during The Great Migration. Topi, Springbok, Wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle, Impala, and lesser kudu are all different types of antelope. These animals are born to run, gallop and hop. The speed at which they move is quite impressive. My favorite antelope that I was lucky enough to witness was the Dik Dik. The Dik Dik is the smallest species of antelope in the entire world; even at full size, they are still the size of a miniature baby deer.
On the rocks, hiding low in the bushes, or perched upon the high branches of some trees would be the predators of these lands. The big cats were the tops of the food chains. They were absolutely fascinating to observe. Most of them usually sleep during the day, since they are nocturnal hunters.
An animal that I grew to love and appreciate on the Safari was the cheetah. It was stunning to roll up next to them and see a mom with her two four-month-old cubs. They were just laying on the grass relaxing but, as soon as they saw us, they came closer and closer to us. They actually wanted the shade that the Jeep provides, which is why they got extremely close. My window is wide, sort of low to the ground, and the window was wide open. How close was I? If I wanted to, I could have touched them. The mom was resting while the two babies were looking at us with very curious eyes. They are incredibly photogenic animals. They stay incredibly still, which is perfect for capturing a beautiful photo. The cheetahs are the fastest animals in the entire world, reaching speeds of 65-75 MPH. Considered to be the most docile of all the big cats, they are playful and naturally curious.
We also learned more about hyenas. Hyenas have the strongest bite amongst these predators. They have night vision and are considered scavengers. They usually attack in groups but have an infamous rivalry with the lions. Hyenas are part of what people call “The Ugly 5”. The Ugly 5 consists of hyenas, vultures, hippos, warthogs and Marabou stork. The Big Five consists of the lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and, last but not least, the rhino. We were lucky enough to see four out of The Big Five. However, we were not able to catch a rhino sighting, since rhinos are nearly extinct. We were lucky enough to see a sleeping leopard, which is very rare since leopards are quite reclusive.
The origins of The Big Five are from the days when hunters considered these animals to be the most dangerous to pursue. However, a lot of these animals are tragically endangered, making it more important than ever to protect them as much as we can. During these moments of being surrounded by nature, I couldn’t help but think about how lucky I am to be in this incredible environment. There are some species that are going extinct, and perhaps my children will never get to see. These incredible images are cemented in mind and kept in a permanent vault where I can replay it whenever I want to experience it again. Taking a safari has inspired me to do even more in my conservation efforts to aid the protection and health of these beautiful animals.
Goodbye, Explorers!