Tanzania

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Serengeti National Park

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We started from Ngorongoro farm house. We went to through the same route as Ngorongoro Crater that we went yesterday for some part. Then we took a turn towards Serengeti national park. We packed our lunch and started the trip.

We booked the Ole Serai Camp in Kogatende in Northern Serengeti because this is where the crossing of the heard will be there during July for Great Migration. Seronera is also a good place to stay. Seronera also has air strip.

Seven hours in a car is a long time. All of our luggage was tucked in and we went through the large Serengeti national park to our camp. We drove for a long time and we reached a break with good bathrooms.

https://goo.gl/maps/gt5YA4qZUYwjNaN16

* Ngorongoro Farm House, Oldeani Road, Karatu, Tanzania
* Olduwai Gorge, Tanzania
* Naabi Hill Gate, 5X9W+5XJ, Eden Valley, Tanzania
* Ikoma Gate Camping, RP5F+M9H, Robanda, Tanzania
* Tabora ‘B’ Village, Tanzania
* Ole Serai Luxury Camps – Kogatende, Serengeti National Park Serengeti Head Office: Wellworth Collection, Box 361 DSM Tanzania Serengeti National Park TZ, 0361, Tanzania

First stop is Olduwai Gorge . There were well maintained rest rooms in this stop. If you have time, you can visit the museum.

Serengeti National Park…Stop for picture.

Grasslands of the Serengeti may be Tanzania’s most iconic destination. Only place in Africa where there is still migration of animals takes place. It is best known for its huge herds of plains animals (especially gnu [wildebeests], gazelles, and zebras), and it is the only place in Africa where vast land-animal migrations still take place.
In a nutshell, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is famous for being the location of the Great Wildlife Migration, which sees two million wildebeests, zebras and antelopes stretched across its plains. It’s also an extremely large and wild game park, and is home to the Big Five.

Naabi Hill Gate, Seems like every vehicle and guests have to register. They have to show the accommodation as well. Very nice picnic area and rest rooms. Surprisingly there are good rest room stop on the way.

Our driver spotted the Cheetah right next to the road. It is so hard to It was camouflaged and we might not be able to find it.

First one of Big Five is elephant in Serengeti. We did see Elephants in Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro.  But here lot of Elephants were having baby elephants with them. They were very protective. Baby elephants were right behind moms/dads.  These elephants blocked the path and we had to take different route to go pass them.

Game drives are fun.. we go around in the national park looking for different animals. Our driver/guide was very active and he was taking us to right spots.

Next stop we spotted Lions. It is hot and lions were sleeping. I got to take real good pictures.

We missed the Tree Lions in Lake Manyara, but found couple of them in Serengeti. Interesting to see the Lions on the tree.

Impala, Waterbuck and Topi. These are every where.

Found Giraffe multiple times…

Wildebeest and Zebras together…

 

This is the Hippo spot in the Serengeti. It was smelling bad as one Hippo was dead in there.

Finally reached the Camp Ole Serai Luxury Camps – Kogatende. We were welcomed with Maasai people singing and dancing. Right after entering inside there were Zebras roaming next to the rooms. Beautiful Luxurious place in the middle of nowhere.

Free African massage all along the ride today in Serengeti.

leopard from the Big Five.

Evening sun set with Elephants. Amazing time with at least 50 elephants around our vehicle big and small.

 

 

Great time today in Serengeti. Experience it and Enjoy it.

 

Time of the Travel : July 2022

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Great Migration

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Great Migration, Each year around the same time, the circular great wildebeest migration begins in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of the southern Serengeti in Tanzania and loops clockwise through the Serengeti National Park and north towards the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya. This migration is naturally caused, by the availability of grazing.

The initial phase lasts from about January to March, when the calving season begins – a time when there is plenty of rain-ripened grass available for the 260,000 zebras that precede 1.7 million wildebeest  and around 470,000 gazelles and many more.. During February, the wildebeest are on the short grass plains of the southeast part of the ecosystem, grazing and giving birth to approximately 500,000 calves in 2 to 3 weeks. Few calves are born ahead of time and of these, hardly any survive, largely because very young calves are more noticeable to predators when mixed with older calves from the previous year.

As the rains end in May, the animals start moving northwest into the areas around the Grumeti River, where they typically remain until late June.

The crossings of the Grumeti and Mara rivers begin in July are a popular safari attraction time because crocodiles are waiting in the river. The herds arrive in Kenya in late July / August, where they stay for the rest of the dry season, except that the Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles move only east/west.

In early November, with the start of the short rains, the migration starts moving south again, to the short grass plains of the southeast, usually arriving in December in plenty of time for calving in February.
About 250,000 wildebeests die during the journey from Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, a total of 800 kilometres (500 mi). Death is usually from thirst, hunger, exhaustion, or predation including by big cats.

 

Great Migration, One of Greatest Natural Wonders of the World: No Words. What can I say? Animals that doesn’t have sense of direction traveling every year same path (some what) around 1200 miles round the year between Serengati and Masai Mara. Crossing the river is a big deal for them, they stay at the tip of the bank for days without crossing. Between 1 million wildebeest, 200K zebras and migrate every year in search of good grazing.

These animals communicate through sight and smell, but are also very vocal. Blue wildebeest males can bellow loud enough that the sound travels up to 1.24 miles (2 kilometers), according to the ADW. As territorial creatures, gnu herds have a certain area they call their own. The herd of zebra joins the wildebeest migration as they are great in looking at any threat. The wildebeest have a good sense of hearing and smell that helps both to protect from the predator and searching in food. The zebra has a great eye sight to see any threat.

There are rules that tourist vehicles can’t go close to the animals and also they can’t block the path that Wilderbeests are going. Our driver was stuck in the other vehicles and he couldn’t take back up. Unfortunately he got ticket from the ranger. Rangers take the license of the driver and driver has to go in person to the rangers office to get the license back.

Wondering how does Wildebeest look? The wildebeest, also known as gnu is a member of the antelope family. They have a large, box-like head with curving horns. The front end of their body is heavily built, while the hindquarters are slender with spindly legs. They have a gray coat and a black mane as well as a beard that can be black or white.

Out first priority was to watch the great migration. Drivers to communicate with each other on radio. We heard there is one happening and our driver took us to a good spot.

Noise of the Wildebeest and the mad rush near the crossing is a feast to watch. So many Wildebeests keeps running going towards the water and tourist vehicles keep going next to see them cross.

Another attempt to watch the migration from different spot. This time we had to wait long time as they keep going back and fourth and not crossing the river. Finally it happened.

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Ngorongoro Conservation Area

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Ngorongoro is situated 2 hours from Lake Manyara or 3 hours from Arusha. I debated long time on staying on the rim vs close by village. Read lot of articles about traffic at the Ngorongoro entrance, drive in the morning, fog, views etc., Finally choose Ngorongoro Farm House.

Ngorongoro Farm house was amazing with vegetable farms, coffee plantation and relaxing environment. Very fresh food.

Flowers , vegetables and coffee plantation with in the farm house. They have tours to explain and guide to walk with us.

Evening snacks, entertainment and dinner.

 

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater,  the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera part of Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania. It’s also known as ‘the Garden of Eden’. The Maasai have given Ngorongoro Crater its name, meaning “the black hole” . Crater is 610 metres (2,000 feet) deep and its floor covers 260 square kilometres (100 square miles).

This is not a National park. The main difference between National park and conservation area is, in conservation area people can live and there are around 40K Masai people living together with incredible amount of animals. Black Rhino is main attraction in this area.

As the sun begins its gentle ascent each morning, a veil of mist unfurls over the rim of the crater, casting a spellbinding aura that beckons you to embrace the day ahead within its captivating confines. Stepping into the crater is akin to stepping into a realm lost to time, where an enchanting array of wildlife awaits discovery – from the noble black rhino and the majestic lion, to the graceful elephant and the elusive spotted hyena, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the crater walls adorned in lush greens. Yet, the magic extends beyond the crater floor, as the rim offers a world of its own – with verdant forests, teeming wildlife, and the vibrant traditions of Maasai villages waiting to be explored. It’s an experience that promises to captivate and inspire, making it a destination of unparalleled reward for any traveler seeking the extraordinary.

 

Our drive was bumpy. Road to the crater is an introduction to the bumpy ride. Heard this would be worse in the rainy season with pot holes. Fog all around us. We started early after breakfast and packing our lunch. It was a cold day in the crater. It started with full fog and slowly by afternoon it got cleared.

So many animals in one spot. From lions to buffalo to zebras in the Ngorongoro crater is filled with wildlife. This has the densest populations of large mammals in Africa. Due to its enclosed nature, the Ngorongoro Crater has effectively formed its own ecosystem. The were many cool animals like the ostrich and pumba. We saw a lion cross in front of us and Lion tried hunting a buffalo.

There was a picnic site open to tourists and a huge swamp fed by the spring and the area is inhabited by hippos. Only place we were allowed to get down for wash rooms or rest rooms and Lunch break.

Lions walking and hunting Buffalo…

 

Buffaloes

Wildebeest and Zebras are together most of the times..

Break for lunch with hippos in the water…

 

We have seen plenty of lions, Buffaloes, Zebras, Hyenas, Warthog, Ostrich, Elephants, Hippos, Gazelles, Impalas and Jakael. No Black Rhino today. As they say game drive is a game. You might win or loose. The time we stay at each place is very short and you might see what you wish for or you might miss some. We still hoped to see the Rhino on our next part of the trip.

Realized there were no Giraffe in the Crater, seems like due to steep descent they can’t go there.

 

Summary of animal sightings:

Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo

Wildebeast, Zebra

Hyena, Pumba(Warthog), Jakael

Ostrich, Gazelle , Impala

 

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Tanzania-MountKilimanjaro and Lake Manyara

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Tanzania is a country in East Africa with vast wilderness. the plains of Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. Zanzibar is the destination with marine park home to whale sharks and coral reefs.

Capital: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling
Official languages: Swahili, English

Visa for US Citizens: Visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Tanzania. Foreign nationals may apply for a visa online in advance of travel. … U.S. citizens may also obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Tanzania. The cost is $100 USD. Apply your visa online via https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/

Best time to Go TANZANIA
Peak / High Season June – October (dry winter)
Low / Green Season November – May
Wildebeest Migration January – March (calving / birthing season)
May – September / October (river crossings)
Rainy Seasons November – December (short rains)
April – May (long rains)

Top places to visit (not in any order)

  • Serengeti National Park
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area
  • Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Stone Town
  • Ruaha National Park
  • Lake Manyara National Park
  • Arusha National Park
  • Lake Natron
  • Mikumi National Park
  • Mount Meru
  • Selous Game Reserve
  • Pemba Island
  • Tarangire National Park
  • Mafia Island
  • Zanzibar

Our Itinerary in Tanzania

Day 1 : Arrive in Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport

Day 2 : A Day Hike to Mandara Hut, Mount Kilimanjaro

Day 3 : Lake Manyara National Park and to Ngorongoro Farm House

Day 4 : Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Day 5 : Northern Serengeti, Ole Serai Luxury Camp-Kogatende

Day 6 : Serengeti National Park

Day 7 : Flight from Serengati to Arusha and drive to Amboseli National Park

 

We arrived very late in Arusha. Advantage booking with travel agency is they had some one waiting for us at the airport and dropped us at hotel very late. Due to jet lag we barely slept for couple of hours. We were first ones to go to breakfast at the hotel.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Largest free standing mountain on earth. Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 meters (19340.55 ft) above sea level, is the highest free-standing peak in Africa. Located on the volcanic cone Kibo, as part of Mt. Kilimanjaro, reaching Uhuru Peak is the end goal of 20,000-35,000 hikers each year. With beautiful scenic views of Tanzania, Uhuru is a breathtaking hike.
Full trek : 9 days
Mount Kilimanjaro is made up of five major ecological climate zones. They are as follows; Cultivation Zone, Forest Zone, Heather-Moorland Zone, Alpine Desert Zone and Arctic Summit climate zones.

There are seven established routes that lead to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. They are: Lemosho, Machame, Marangu, Rongai, Northern Circuit, Shira and Umbwe.

Here is a brief overview of the seven routes

  • Marangu Route – The Tourist Route.
  • Machame Route – The Popular Route.
  • Lemosho Route – The Most Scenic (But Most Expensive) Route.
  • Shira Route – The “Poor Acclimatisation” Route.
  • Rongai Route – The Easiest Route.
  • Umbwe Route – The Most Difficult Route.

 

We decided to do Mount Kilimanjaro National Park day hike to flex and give some exercise to the body. Added this activity to our trip last min to give variation.

The trek was flexible, but we have to be back to gate before 18.00hrs.  The actual hike begins at the Marangu, park gate (6,000′) and hike 5.5 miles up to Mandara Hut (8,860′) near the upper edge of the forest line. The hike takes about 4-6 hours. The path is interesting, starting off through the rain forest vegetation, and then opening up to giant heather.

We reached Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Marangu early. It was cold and didn’t expect that. Our guide and driver pick up a box lunch on the way. Guide went to register and seems like the network was down at the counter and it almost took 2 hours to get the hiking permit. We started our hike at 11AM with guide and his assistant.

This day hike route is fully through rain forest, it was wet and cold. Hike was OK, not too bad. We went without any pre training. So struggled at the elevation. But easily doable. We stopped for Lunch break and rest room break in the middle.

If time and weather permit, a short walk from Mandara hut to Maundi Crater is worth it and up to end of forest zone and then down passing the waterfalls.

 

 

Lake Manyara National Park

We started our drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara.

Lake Manyara is a small National park on the way to Ngorongoro Crater located in the northern part of Tanzania. This is famous for tree-climbing lions and the vast elephant herds. There were elephants, impalas, zebras and lot of monkeys. It is very hard to find the tree climbing lion though. Between Nov-Apr it also attracts thousands of pink flamingos.

We stayed in Kahawa House in Arusha. It was very hard to find this place in the night. But the hotel staff and guide waited for us and welcomed us. They kept the dinner buffet ready for us. Very nice staff.

It is recommend to bring Duffel bags for Safari trip to Africa instead of suite cases. There is not enough space in the vehicles for suite cases. With travel in 4 x 4 vehicles, easy to fit these bags and travel. Very convenient.

At Lake Manyara

Our first siting of the Elephants and first safari experience. Driver opened the Safari Vehicle roof and we can stand and view. Very excited to the experience of standing in the vehicle and going through those small bumpy roads.

Lot of different monkeys. Don’t feed monkeys.

Animals with Lake view.

There are good rest rooms at the entrance of the park and picnic area for lunch.

Next stop is Ngorongoro Farm house, where we stayed for a 2 nights here.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Located between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the famous volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and is one of Tanzania’s most popular wildlife viewing areas.

 

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East Africa – Kenya and Tanzania

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East Africa, There are multiple countries together are called East Africa. Some of them are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. We decided to go to Kenya and Tanzania in this trip.

East Africa is famous for its diverse wildlife and is home to some of the most iconic national parks and game reserves in the world, including the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

East Africa is known for its varied geography, including the Great Rift Valley, vast savannas, highlands, and the Great Lakes region, which includes Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi.

Swahili is a widely spoken language in the coastal areas.

From childhood many of us has a dream to visit Africa because of wild life. First thing gets to mind “The Lion King” Circle of life.

 

Booking the trip

I started planning my trip with what I want to do and where all I want to go. Then started getting quotes from different travel agents. There 4 tiers of companies/Agents.

1. US based companies, which arrange private tours.  My top reference is Monograms/Globus. About $8K US dollars per person.

2. There are many UK based companies doing Africa tours. Like African Mecca, Yellow Zebra Safaris etc., Quoted around 10K US dollars per person. These tours tell that the personalized safaris with local guides etc.,

3. Local companies . Get some recommendations . Companies like Bateleur Eagle Safaris, AJ Kenya Safaris, Africa Keys, Memphis tours and Discover Safari Tours etc., Around $5K to $6K based US dollars per person.

4. Book yourself individual hotels and tours.

Few things we considered while picking the agent.

1. Many travel companies don’t have companies in Kenya and Tanzania together. If the company is in Kenya, they partner with another agent in Tanzania.

2. Communication during booking process. how they interacting and responding.

3. Giving flexibility.

4. Recommendations.

We went with “Bateleur Eagle Safaris” and Mathew from that company was very responsive and worked for us.

Kenya
  • Maasai Mara National Reserve
  • Amboseli Game Reserve
  • Lake Naivasha
Tanzania
  • Serengeti National Park
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area
  • Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Lake Manyara National Park
  • Arusha

Our Trip Itinerary

Here is our high level plan

Day 1 : Arrive in Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport

Day 2 : A Day Hike to Mandara Hut (8,860′) , Mount Kilimanjaro

Day 3 : Lake Manyara National Park and to Ngorongoro Farm House

Day 4 : Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Day 5 : Nothern Serengeti, Ole Serai Luxury Camp-Kogatende

Day 6 : Serengeti National Park

Day 7 : Flight from Serengati to Arusha and drive to Amboseli National Park

Day 8 : Amboseli National Park

Day 9 : Flight from Amboseli to Nairobi and drive to Lake Naivasha

Day 10 : Lake Naivasha to Mara

Day 11 : Masai Mara Game Reserve

Day 12 : Masai Mara Game Reserve

Day 13 : Mara to Nairobi Flight -> to Home

 

Game Drives/Safaris

What is a Game or Game Drive?

You will keep hearing Game or Game Drive during your planning. Actually Game is nothing but Tourists will go and look for animals in their natural habitats for observation and photography. Also, there is no guarantee that you will see some of the animals in Game Drives. You will always have fun regardless of Win or lose in Game. Similar concept here.

Apart from Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros), popular game species include giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, hippos, wildebeests, and various species of antelope.

What is Safari?

Safaris offer visitors the opportunity to observe these animals in their natural habitats, often from the safety and comfort of safari vehicles accompanied by knowledgeable guides. Seeing these magnificent creatures up close and witnessing their behaviors in the wild is a highlight of many safari experiences.

What is difference between National park , Game Reserve and Conservancies?

One major difference between these spaces is that the parks are owned and maintained by their respective national service while conservancies are owned and managed by the indigenous people of the area. Often the Maasai people.

National Parks: National parks are large, publicly-owned protected areas that usually cover vast distances. Due to their large size, national parks are home to a much larger number of wildlife and offer much more variety in terms of landscapes than a game reserve or conservancy would.

Game Reserve: Game reserves are privately owned pieces of land which may also be maintained by governments or communities and aim to sustain large populations of wild animals. Game reserves function independently, because of this you’ll have the freedom to take advantage of more unusual activities and experiences. You’ll be able to head out at night to explore the reserve, explore the area on foot with a qualified guide or ride through the region on horseback.

Conservancies: Conservancies are pieces of land that are owned and then leased from local communities. They are located adjacent to national parks which means the wildlife-viewing opportunities are very similar to what you’d find in national parks. What makes a safari in a conservancy so special is the privacy and intimacy they offer. Conservancies only allow permitted vehicles that belong to the conservancy on safaris. They also restrict the number of vehicles (and tourists) allowed in an area at a time which generally means that when you get a sighting, you have it all to yourself.

Can I go for a night game drives?

National parks doesn’t allow night safaris, but some of the private reserves allow the night game drives. The typical timing is from 7pm to 9pm. Stay in some Conservancy to experience the night Game drives.

Accommodations

What kind of accommodations are in National parks?

If you are staying in the middle of National parks, there are different kinds of accommodations. Lodges, Tented Camps, Campsites, and Luxury Camps.

Luxurious Tents with private baths and Chef cooked food,  small tents and shared showers, Lodges and etc.,

How do you pick the accommodations?

Depends on your budget and how close you want to stay to the animals.

What is Full board means?

Most of the lodges and camps provide full broad during your stay. Which means all Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is covered.

Where do I stay in the National Park?

 

Roads and Drive

How is the roads in Serengeti National Park?

Serengeti Highway is a unpaved road with bumpy ride. Prepare for a bumpy ride and go slowly. All safari vehicles are 4 x 4 vehicles and there is full of dust raising.  Government is intentionally not developing the roads to controls the traffic of safari vehicles and not disturb the animals.

These dusty trails lead adventurers on a journey through a realm where lions roam, elephants lumber, and wildebeests thunder across the plains. With every bump and turn, the Serengeti roads weave tales of wonder and excitement, beckoning explorers to embrace the wild heart of Africa.

This is a once in a life time experience to feel and and enjoy.

How is the road and drive in Kenya?

Except the road to Amboseli national park, rest of the roads to the main places are fine. Road to Amboseli national park drive was again through a unpaved roads.

Great Migration

When is the Great Migration?

Great Migration is where two million wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes traverse through plains. It involves the movement of millions of animals across the plains of East Africa in search of food, water, and breeding grounds. Migration happens between the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, and vice versa.

Each year around the same time, the circular great wildebeest migration begins in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of the southern Serengeti in Tanzania and loops clockwise through the Serengeti National Park and north towards the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya
This migration is naturally caused, by the availability of grazing. The initial phase lasts from about January to March, when the calving season begins – a time when there is plenty of rain-ripened grass available for the 260,000 zebras that precede 1.7 million wildebeest and the following hundreds of thousands of other plains game, including around 470,000 gazelles

The migration typically follows a pattern: during the dry season, the herds gather in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, where they graze on the nutrient-rich grasslands. As the rains approach, they begin their journey northward, crossing rivers and plains, facing predators and various obstacles along the way. Once they reach the lush grasslands of the Maasai Mara in Kenya, they stay until the dry season approaches again, and the cycle repeats.

The Great Migration is not only a remarkable display of wildlife in motion but also a vital aspect of the ecosystem, contributing to the health of the grasslands and sustaining a diverse array of predators and scavengers that depend on the migrating herds for survival. It’s an iconic spectacle that attracts travelers and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world.

While most of us think of the Great Migration occurs in Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara, but it actually takes place in the following five protected areas:
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
Loliondo Game Controlled Area (Tanzania)
Grumeti Reserve (Tanzania)
Maasai Mara National reserve (Kenya)

 

Where the River Crossing Takes Place?

There are two major river crossings along the path of the Great Migration. They are the Grumeti River crossing in Tanzania and the Mara River crossing in Kenya. The Grumeti River is the first water obstacle that these bumbling herds will encounter on this journey. Here, large Nile crocodiles lie in wait as the herds are forced into the water in spite of the obvious threats. This predator activity is beyond anything you can imagine. It is a spectacular event to behold, but it is not as challenging as what they’re about to face when crossing the Mara River further north.

The Mara River is almost 400 km long and is deep, wide, craggy and treacherous. It is also home to Africa’s largest crocodile population as well as a robust population of hippos. As the herds clamor and struggle to cross the river to get to the greenery on the other side, these large Nile crocodiles and territorial hippos await, unfolding what is without a doubt one of the most dramatic and chaotic scenes in the animal history of the world. In many ways, this river crossing represents the climax of a long and arduous journey. The rivers are torrential, swollen with water and the two game reserves are teeming with enough animals hungry for the flesh of the migrating beings.

* May and June — As the rainy season comes to a stop, the south and eastern plains of the Serengeti start to dry out,prompting some of the herds to move towards the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River, which they must cross as they head north towards the Masai Mara plains.
* ‍July to October — By this time, the herds are congregating around the Mara River and crossing in large numbers.

What to Expect ?
The river crossing is not a single event so you can expect to see animals crossing the river throughout the dry season in large groups ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands. When a particular herd arrives at the banks of the river, they usually search for a place to cross where the banks are not too steep. Naturally, they are hesitant to cross and it may take hours before they amass the courage to take that dreaded plunge.
During this time, tourists will be required to stay out of sight of the animals so as to not spook them with the sounds of their safari jeep engines, windshield reflections, and any other distractions.It is only when the wildebeests have begun to cross that the safari vehicles will surge forward so that visitors can score the best viewing spot the greatest animal migration in Africa along the river bank.
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Where is the best place to see the Great Migration?

Herd Tracker – “https://www.discoverafrica.com/herdtracker/”

Search for “Wildebeest migration tracker today” and there are lot of posts that says where is sighting and where to stay.

What about restrooms during Game Drives in National Parks?
Bush Toilet.
What is Bush Toilet means…“An area in a national park where the grass isn’t too high, there is some privacy, and your guide can keep an eye out for wildlife while you do your business. That’s right! Your driver will find a safe spot and you’ll step out of your safari vehicle to do your business.”

While on game drives, forget about flushing toilets, toilet seats, and toilet paper! It’s all about finding the nearest bush for a bathroom break. Ladies, pack tissues and a small disposal bag for a more hygienic experience, along with some hand sanitizer. Remember, guides are mostly male and may assume everyone is accustomed to outdoor relief. If you’re not, start mentally preparing now!

Before hopping onto the vehicle, make sure to use the restroom and go easy on the tea or coffee to avoid uncomfortable situations. While it might not sound glamorous to drop your pants behind a bush in Africa, it becomes routine (and sometimes a necessity). Your guide will schedule regular stops, but if nature calls at other times, just let them know for a safe and private pit stop (likely among some bushes, sans lurking lions!).

 

 

Time of the Travel : July, 2022