Serengeti: A Spectacular Story
Jambo! That’s Swahili for hello. Saying it was an incredible experience would be an understatement, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.
First, we went to Tarangire National Park, which was a preview of what was to come. Then, we spent 4 days wandering the Serengeti, and since it was that time of year, we watched the wildebeest crossing the Mara River over the border into Kenya. Then, we visited the picturesque Ngorongoro Crater, located in a volcano. Finally, we hiked up Materuni Falls, learned how to make coffee, and bought souvenirs at the Masai Market in Arusha, Tanzania. We don’t want to spoil it for you, so we’ll do little Q&A session instead of an essay.
Questions:
- What was the single best moment of the trip and why?
Vainav: For me, it’s the wildebeest crossing the river because it was a top thing to see or do on my bucket list for years, so to witness it is undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life.
Vihaan: Watching the wildebeest river crossing and the crocodile hunts happening at the same time. I really liked it because we got to see it live which is an experience which only a few people have seen. - Which animals felt the most satisfying to see and why?
Vainav: Honestly, I’m having a tough time deciding here! It’s a toss-up between the leopard or the rhino. Although, the leopard was closer, and we saw it more clearly, there are only a few rhinos left in the wild, so seeing an animal that many researchers will never see was just as surreal as seeing the leopard. I’m calling it a tie!
Vihaan: In my opinion, it’s got to be the leopard! Seeing a leopard was always a dream of mine, so that’s why I kept searching for it the entire safari. Eventually my hard work would be rewarded with a leopard coming towards our angle, showing off its beauty up close, so that has to be the most satisfying animal for me to see. - How was the culture (food, people, language, etc.)?
Vainav: At first, we were a bit concerned about the food situation. As it turned out, we had absolutely nothing to worry about! Every place we stayed provided us with a plethora of options that we loved. Also, driving along the roads on our way to different parks gave us a glimpse into Tanzanian life. And it was the smaller things, like the way people greeted each other, that I found most fascinating.
Vihaan: The Tanzanian culture is unique from the rest of the world by every factor possible. Their food, clothing, way of life all fascinates me. And its food of course was superb. It was fresh, flavorful, and spicy all at the same time, something which us Indians love. - What advice would you give to people who are planning go on a safari in Tanzania? Vainav: One of the most important things is that you should be prepared to sit there in the van for hours together from 6-7AM to 6PM, with only a few breaks every few hours or so. Additionally, I would say that a safari is very “go with the flow”, meaning that you have to be happy with the experience you get, regardless of what you did or didn’t see. After all that’s the true beauty of a safari, the fact that everyone who goes has a different story to tell at the end.
Vihaan: You’ll experience the “African Massage” because you’ll be in for a REAL bumpy ride because the jeep will shake 24/7, so you must withstand that. Also, the dust is a real problem and can mess with your breathing, so it’s recommended bringing a mask with you on a safari.
Did you Know?
- You can see the Great Migration of wildebeest from space.
- Only 27,000 rhinos are left in the wild.
- 30% of Tanzania’s land area is dedicated to national parks and conservation areas.
- Tanzania has the kingfisher; along with hummingbirds, these are the only birds which can hover in midair.
- Tanzania has the highest concentration of animals per square mile in the world.