Serengeti National Park
We arrived there around midday – it was hot, dry and we were tired, but I was armed with a bottle of water, a cameras and my binoculars, and nothing could dampen my spirits when I saw the vast plains of the Serengeti expanded around me. The name comes from the Masai word “siringet”, meaning endless plain. This terrain was simply perfect for spotting wildlife. It is almost hard to imagine that so many animals thrive here – it looks simply too barren and dry. But even here, the drama of the natural world unfolds day after day – you just need to know where to look for it.
Our first major spot came just as we entered the national park boundaries. It was a lion – a beautiful, strong female, seeking shade from the hot African sun...nestling on the thick bough of a huge tree! I had hoped to see a tree-climbing lion, but was fully aware that this is a very rare spot. I was utterly delighted to see such a beautiful specimen, dozing contentedly and occasionally glancing down at us with her golden eyes.
Continuing further into the national park, we spotted another big cat. This time, it was a leopard. We stopped for minutes on end to take pictures, look through binoculars, and simply gaze at this sleek and adaptable hunter. Leopards are notoriously shy and elusive creatures, and we knew we were lucky to have spotted one. It was starting to seem like there was a surprise for us around every corner!
Our suspicions were confirmed when we happened upon a huge clump of deep green doum palms, impossibly shiny and succulent in the dry heat of the Serengeti. Wanting a closer look, we drove on, only to find a veritable oasis in the heart of the Serengeti. There were hippos – and plenty of them. Hippos in the water, hippos on the banks, hippos in the grass, and hippos wandering on the huge rocks. Amongst the much larger hippos in the group there were also a handful of juvenile hippos which looked miniature when standing side by side with their elders. However, even these younger specimens simply dwarfed the other species at the watering hole – crocodiles. The hippos were utterly unperturbed by the presence of these prehistoric, sinister and utterly motionless creatures, sometimes even nudging them out of their path to the water!
After another day of sheer wildlife wonder, we decided to head for camp. Along the way, we passed the same tree where we had spotted a leopard earlier that day. Only this time, the leopard was resting on the ground beside the tree. Puzzled by this unusual behaviour, we glanced up into the higher reaches of the tree and spotted a crumpled shape stuffed between the branches. It was a gazelle – the leopard’s kill. Knowing that the leopard – a highly adaptable and opportunistic hunter – had pounced on this unsuspecting gazelle during the course of our safari day, only made the whole experience more real, and more wonderful.
Read more about: The Serengeti l Tanzania's Northern Parks l Tanzania's Top Attractions l More of Tom's Safari
