A couple weeks ago, we spent a week in the Northern Serengeti, just a few kilometers south of the Kenyan border. Elizabeth’s parents came out and met us for the trip, and we all had a blast!
We were there during the Great Wildebeest Migration, when more than 2 million of these animals move south. They were everywhere, and at one point, we had the opportunity to watch thousands of these wildebeest line up and cross a river together in order to continue on their path.
We learned that in many ways, a safari comes down to luck, and we were lucky enough to spot 4/5 of the “Big Five” (Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard and Lion – just missing a Rhino) and spotted all 5 of the “Ugly Five” (Warthog, Crocodile, Marabou Stork, Vulture and Hyena). We even got to see a cheetah with her three cubs catch and eat their lunch together – gruesome, but a spectacle nonetheless. We loved seeing the baby animals, with the baby elephants probably being the cutest in our book, but followed closely by the lion cubs rolling around with each other.
Before we get to the good part (photos!) we have a few logistical recommendations in case anyone is looking to plan a similar trip:
We’d highly recommend the travel company we used to help plan our trip, Extraordinary Journeys.
The camp we stayed at was run by a company called Nomad Tanzania. There were elephants strolling through one morning, lions roaring in the distance at night, and an amazing staff. We especially loved a few touches at Nomad: in lieu of plastic water bottles, each guest received a reusable bottle as a gift with free filtered water available throughout the trip; also, the camp surprisingly had wifi in the communal tent (while it’s nice to disconnect, we appreciated being able to check in with family).
Our guide, Rem, was professionally trained and could spot animals from so far away it was insane. He made our safari very special. We think it’s possible to request him if going to any of the Nomad camps. Worth a try! (@RemtulaNassary on Instagram)
Being up close and personal with these animals was unforgettable, but we know we don’t need to write a ton for you to get the idea. The photos say it all!
We took hundreds (or maybe thousands) over the course of the week. Check out some of our favorites below!
