A Wild Wild Escape – The Serengeti Files
Lions at Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania (Adobe Stock).
Venturing Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park offered a profound perspective on nature, shifting from a cinematic spectacle to an empathetic encounter with living creatures. The journey showcased diverse landscapes, from the Ngorongoro Crater to the Maasai Boma, with the awe-inspiring action of zebras and wildebeest.
It’s no secret that Africa boasts some of the most pristine natural environments and diverse ecosystems in the world.
When I first landed in Tanzania, I had eagerly anticipated the trip, ready to be overwhelmed by the vast natural landscape and witness a cinematic spectacle put on by the Serengeti National Park. I left with a different perspective on nature. The wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and lions were no longer actors on the natural stage performing for our entertainment; they were living, feeling creatures whom I could empathize with.
Our trip started with a flight to the JRO-Kilimanjaro airport, where we were given lodging for the night. Powering through jet lag, we visited a museum owned by a local South Asian-descended businessman. The next day, we took a small plane from Arusha to Lake Manyara, where we began our journey into the Serengeti with our guide, Emmanuel (endearingly known as “Eman Jeru”).
We first explored the Ngorongoro Crater, just south of the entrance to Serengeti National Park. Our first day was riveting. We saw a sleeping lion, many zebras, giraffes, and hippopotamuses. It was like the “Madagascar” movie in real life. At this point, our night accommodation were camps grounded in the wilderness. Growling lions and gale winds made for a lively night.
The next day, we visited the Maasai Boma, or village. The Maasai are a large ethnic group in Tanzania and Kenya, famous for their handicrafts and brightly colored clothing. It was a humble village, with around 15 dwellings and lots of herded goats. I was touched seeing that younger children of the village attended school in a one-room schoolhouse with a temporary roof. The simplicity and warmth was appreciated. The next leg of our journey was a visit to the southern half of the Serengeti.
The Serengeti is a vast expanse— unlike what the “Lion King” movies may depict, the southern entrance was somewhat sparsely populated. Getting deeper into the Serengeti expanse, we saw animals packing in the oases of trees and rocks. Numerous herds of lions rested after their afternoon hunts. Elephant herds traveled to eat feasts of leaves together. Finally, an ostrich making an elephant herd turn back.
We traveled north for the final leg. We viewed the migration of zebra and wildebeest across the Mara River. This migration is considered the largest yearly migration of mammals on Earth, with over a million zebras and wildebeest participating in this trek. We awaited the migrations with patience as we learned that all it took was for one intrepid wildebeest to cross the river; the rest would follow the “leader” until stopped by their peers. A magical spectacle ensued as the hordes of wildebeest crossing, grunting and encouraging their brethren to keep going. Unfortunately, the prey and predator dynamic came to live action. One of the migrators got their foot stuck underneath some rocks and quickly fell victim to a crocodile waiting nearby. Talk about nature in action.
As we settled in at the Nasikia migration camp for the night, we were welcomed by the loud grunts of the wildebeest roaming nearby. They say the city never sleeps? Well the jungle never sleeps!
A very meaningful trip. The ostrich represented the size of the fight within you matters. The wildebeest represented the need to make decisions and stick with them.
Asante sana (thank you) Tanzania.
