Welcome to the Serengeti Trip series of blog posts! This series of posts covers the planning, packing and progress of a massive 70-day trip through 6 African countries early in 2011. The trip started on 20 January 2011 in Pretoria, South Africa, and is heading north through Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania to the legendary Serengeti National Park! From there the guys will head back south through Malawi, another part of Zambia and Zimbabwe… These blog posts are syndicated from the Official Trip Website.
Wow, we just sat reading all your wonderful comments on this weekend’s posts – thanks for those! And yes, we also couldn’t believe how cold it was on the crater rim. We’re only going down after our week in the Serengeti, so we’ll keep you posted. We spoke to three American guys earlier today who managed to get into the Ngorongoro Crater without a guide, so we might just make it in alone yet…
- Villiers, freezing at Simba A
We got up at 06:00 this morning, still freezing our bums off, and headed north-west towards our main destination – the Serengeti National Park! As we reached the lowlands below the crater rim JI spotted something walking towards us. It was a caracal (aka lynx) and it was surprisingly relaxed. We were able to look at it for what seemed like a long time and fortunately we could also get this shot:
- A caracal surprise on our way to the Serengeti
Soon after we came across a spotted hyena family right next to the road. One of the three adults was VERY full and had to hungry pups following her everywhere she went.
- Someone’s very full indeed
It was in the same area, close to the main park entry gate, that we came across our first massive herd of wildebeest. It’s so difficult to estimate how many there were, but let’s just say it was black as far as the eye could see over the open plains. Wildebeest were not the only animals in abundance. We drove down to Lake Ndutu and saw thousands of flamingos wading in the shallow water.
- Our first big herd of wildebeest
- Flamingos at Lake Ndutu
Next to the lake we finally saw our first cheetahs of the trip – a mother with two cubs feeding on a carcass right next to our car. Unfortunately the light was poor, but we enjoyed it none the less. After we set up camp in Seronera’s public campsite we went for a short afternoon drive, which produced sightings of more hyenas, elephants and nearly 300 buffalo, as well as a few stunning birds.
- Cheetahs next to Lake Ndutu
- A lilac-breasted roller in golden afternoon light
Our campsite consists of an unfenced piece of veld approximately 5 km from the park headquarters. There are quite a few other people camping here tonight, but it doesn’t feel over-crowed. Something disturbed a flock of guinea fowls and some baboons and monkeys earlier, so we think there’s a leopard close by. Let’s hope it visits tonight!
Oh, and if you were wondering: YES, the Serengeti is as beautiful as it looks on TV!
- A scene near our campsite
I nearly started crying this afternoon on our safari when I realised that another life-long dream of mine has just come true…! Thanks again for following our adventure on this blog!
Bye for now
Villiers
Highlight of the day:
Villiers: Wildebeest! Thousands upon thousands of wildebeest!!! And the caracal.
JI: To be in the Serengeti!
Lowlight of the day:
Villiers: The road between Naabi Hill Gate and Seronera.
JI: Not to have my girlfriend, Talita, with me!
