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We recently visited Serengeti Safari Camp:
We drove away from the Ngorongoro Crater with heavy hearts as it is such a magical place but as we drove down the crater wall towards the Serengeti plains, passing the masai bomas and farmers going about their day to day business, the heat building as we descended onto the dusty plains. And boy is it dusty!
Stopping at the gate into the Serengeti National park, we took a small hike up onto a kopje that overlooked the plains and as we caught our breath, we began to take in the sheer enormity of the Serengeti Plains. It really does just go on and on and on! In the distance we could see a mass of slowly rolling movement which we discovered was thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and zebra. We were witnessing part of the mass southern migration. Between November and March, huge herds of wildebeest make this huge journey from the Masai Mara down into the northern Serengeti and into the south where they can begin their calving and where grass, food and water is in abundance for their young.
As we weaved our way down the bumpy roads towards this small mobile camp, we came across hippo, hyena, elephants, buffalo, even two lionesses in a tree! Then just as we were approaching the area the camp was located in, we began to see a mass of movement ahead. The great migration really is a sight to behold and the noise as well, the constant grown from Wildebeest and feisty zebra stallions chirruping and chasing one another, trying to impress the ladies! We were all speechless, you really cannot describe the sheer volume of animals that surround you, it literally is as far as the eye can see, once you think you have got to the end, you squint that tiny bit more and it goes on.
We eventually pulled ourselves away from this spectacle and made our way to camp. As this is a mobile camp, the layout and facilities are quite basic, very comfortable with running water and eco loos, but basic all the same. This camp moves with the migration, following it up north, then back down south as well. We couldn’t quite believe we had absolutely nailed our arrival to perfection, as we were completely immersed by the migration. As we arrived in camp, the heavens opened, the smell of rain on dry earth (petricor) hitting us and it was extremely refreshing having travelled through a pure dust to get to this camp.
As the rain came down, we settled ourselves with a cup of coffee and/or gin and tonic and listened intently to the stories from the guides and other guests of migration tales.
Once the rain had stopped – if it rains, it barely lasts for 10 minuets and soon disappears – we made our way to our rooms; canvas tented accommodation with cosy ‘hospital’ styled beds, a bathroom with bucket shower and eco loo towards the back of the tent – simple interiors but everything you would want. Because it is a mobile camp, there is no wifi here, so you can really leave the world behind and immerse yourself in nature.
Having settled ourselves into our rooms, we came back to the main mess area for supper; the table was lit beautifully by candlelight and supper was delicious. Supper was finished listening to the groans and grunts of the migration surrounding us – apparently there were lion in the area as well…!
Morning wake up call, cup of coffee in hand and the sound of the cape turtle dove. We journeyed out into the Serengeti and straight into the thick of the migration again. The area in which the camp is situated in at this time of year almost looks like a set on a film – its consists of the flat grassy plains, with mounds of rock or boulders appearing out of the ground, covered in fresh foliage, it almost looks like they have simply been placed there temporarily.
Before we stopped off for breakfast, we came across three male lions sunning themselves on one of these kopjes. With the sun creeping up behind them, along with the sights and sounds of the migration behind was quite a sight. We then set up for breakfast slap bang in the middle of zebra and wildebeest, what they must have thought of us I do not know, but we were enjoying every moment.
Our afternoon game drive was less exciting as the migration had slowly petered further south. The lion sightings were brilliant though. Ian took us for sundowners on the most sensational rock adorned with divots in some of the rocks which are known as singing rocks.