Serengeti: The Land of Unique Wildlife Migration

Serengeti Nation

dŚĞ>ĂŶĚŽĨhŶŝƋƵĞtŝůĚůŝĨĞDŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ

dŚĞ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟEĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬŝƐĂůĂƌŐĞŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉĂƌŬŝŶdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ͘^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ĐŽŵĞƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞDĂĂƐĂŝ ǁŽƌĚ͞^ŝƌŝŶŐ͟ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ ͞ŶĚůĞƐƐWůĂŝŶ͕͟ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌĞĂůůLJŵĞĂŶƐŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽĨŬŝůŽŵĞƚĞƌƐŽĨŇĂƚ ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞůĂŶĚ͘dŚĞĮƌƐƚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐĂďŽƵƚ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟĐŽŵĞƐĨƌŽŵŝƚƐ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵ ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂůWĂƌŬŝƚƐĞůĨ͘Η

SĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ŝƐ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ Ϯϳ͕ϬϬϬ ƐƋƵĂƌĞ ŬŝůŽŵĞƚƌĞƐ͘ /ƚ ĐŽǀĞƌƐ ϭϰ͕ϳϲϯ Ŭŵϸ ;ϱ͕ϳϬϬ ƐƋƵĂƌĞŵŝůĞƐͿŽĨŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚƉůĂŝŶƐĂŶĚ savanna as well as riverine forest and woodlands. The park lies in the north ŽĨƚŚĞĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ďŽƌĚĞƌĞĚƚŽƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚ ďLJƚŚĞŶĂƟŽŶĂůdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂĂŶĚ<ĞŶLJĂŶ ďŽƌĚĞƌ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ DĂĂƐĂŝ DĂƌĂ EĂƟŽŶĂů ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͘ To the south-east of the park is EŐŽƌŽŶŐŽƌŽ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ƌĞĂ͕ ƚŽ the south-west lies Maswa Game ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͕ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ ďŽƌĚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ /ŬŽƌŽŶŐŽ ĂŶĚ 'ƌƵŵĞƟ 'ĂŵĞ ZĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ͕ĂŶĚĮŶĂůůLJƚŽƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚĞĂƐƚ lies Loliondo Game Control Area.

dŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ŝƐ absolutely huge. If you are intent ŽŶ ǀŝĞǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞĂƚ DŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ͕ then where you stay is as much ĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ ŽĨ LJĞĂƌ LJŽƵ are travelling as it is the style of camp or hotel you are looking for. Get the ůŽĐĂƟŽŶǁƌŽŶŐĂŶĚƚŚŝƐƉĂƌŬŝƐƐŽďŝŐ that you will not see the herds.

dŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ŝƐ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ĨŽƵƌ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƚ ĂƌĞĂƐ͗ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů^ĞƌŽŶĞƌĂsĂůůĞLJ͕ƚŚĞtĞƐƚĞƌŶ ŽƌƌŝĚŽƌ͕ ƚŚĞ EŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ >ŽďŽ ĂŶĚ <ŽŐĂƚĞŶĚĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĮŶĂůůLJ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚĞƌŶWůĂŝŶƐ͘ xThe Center - Seronera Valley: In ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉĂƌŬ͕ Seronera is a network of river valleys that ensure year-round water supplies and keep the region incredibly rich in wildlife throughout the year. Seronera has all the best features of the ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ĂŶĚ ĂůƐŽ͕ ƐĂĚůLJ͕ ŝƚƐ ǁŽƌƐƚ͘^ĐĞŶŝĐĂůůLJ͕ŝƚ͛ƐĂůŽǀĞůLJĂƌĞĂ

al Park

ʹ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƉĞŶ ƉůĂŝŶƐ͕ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶĂů kopjes and lines of hills to add interest. The resident game ŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƉŚĞŶŽŵĞŶĂů͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝŐŚ ĚĞŶƐŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ƌĞůĂdžĞĚ ůĞŽƉĂƌĚƐ͕ cheetah and lion. These live Žī ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŚĞƌďŝǀŽƌĞƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůůĂƐƚŚĞŵŝŐƌĂƟŶŐŐĂŵĞ͘dŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶƉĂƐƐĞƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŚĞƌĞŝŶ ƉƌŝůͬDĂLJ͕ďƵƚ^ĞƌŽŶĞƌĂŝƐǁŝƚŚŝŶ reach of both the Southern WůĂŝŶƐĂŶĚƚŚĞtĞƐƚĞƌŶŽƌƌŝĚŽƌ ʹ ƐŽ ĨƌŽŵ ĂďŽƵƚ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ ƚŽ :ƵŶĞ͕ŝƚĐĂŶďĞƵƐĞĚĂƐĂďĂƐĞƚŽ x ƐĞĞƚŚĞŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ͘ Western corridor: Stretching ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǁĞƐƚ͕ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƚŽ >ĂŬĞ sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ŶĂƌƌŽǁƐ into what’s known as the Western Corridor. The key feature of this area is the two ƌŝǀĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ƌƵŵĞƟ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DďĂůĂŐĞƟ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌƵŶ ĂůŵŽƐƚ

ƉĂƌĂůůĞů͕ĞĂĐŚƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐĂďĂŶĚ ŽĨ ŵŽŝƐƚ͕ ĞǀĞƌŐƌĞĞŶ ƌŝƉĂƌŝĂŶ forest. This area sustains a very good permanent game ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƉůĞŶƚLJ ŽĨ njĞďƌĂƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚ͕ Ăůů ƚŚĞ predators and forest ‘specialists’ like colobus monkeys. The ďŝƌĚŝĨĞ ŝƐ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ǀĂƌŝĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ƉĂƐƐĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĂďŽƵƚ DĂLJ ĂŶĚ :ƵůLJ ʹ pausing to gather momentum before crossing the crocodileƌŝĐŚǁĂƚĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞ'ƌƵŵĞƟZŝǀĞƌ͕ x ŝŶƚŽƚŚĞ'ƌƵŵĞƟZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͘ EŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ: The landscape is dominated by open woodlands (predominantly ŽŵŵŝƉŚŽƌĂͿ ĂŶĚ ŚŝůůƐ͕ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ^ĞƌŽŶĞƌĂ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ͕ ƚŽ the Mara River on the border ǁŝƚŚ <ĞŶLJĂ͘ ƉĂƌƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ migratory wildebeest and

zebra (which occur from July to ƵŐƵƐƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌͿ͕ ƚŚĞ bushy savannah is the best place ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ĞůĞƉŚĂŶƚƐ͕ ŐŝƌĂīĞƐ ĂŶĚ x dik dik. ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ƉůĂŝŶƐ: dŚĞ ĞŶĚůĞƐƐ͕ almost treeless grassland of the

ƐŽƵƚŚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞŵďůĞŵĂƟĐ scenery of the park. This is ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚďƌĞĞĚ͕ĂƐ they remain in the plains from

December to May. Other hoofed

ĂŶŝŵĂůƐͲ njĞďƌĂ͕ ŐĂnjĞůůĞ͕ ŝŵƉĂůĂ͕

ŚĂƌƚĞďĞĞƐƚ͕ ƚŽƉŝ͕ ďƵīĂůŽ͕ ĂŶĚ waterbuck- also occur in huge numbers during the wet season. <ŽƉũĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŐƌĂŶŝƚĞ ĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƐ which are very common in ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ ŐƌĞĂƚ

ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƉŽƐƚƐĨŽƌƉƌĞĚĂƚŽƌƐ͕ as well as a refuge for hyrax and pythons.

^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ŝƐ ƵŶĚŽƵďƚĞĚůLJ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚͲŬŶŽǁŶ ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞ ƐĂŶĐƚƵĂƌLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ƵŶĞƋƵĂůůĞĚ ĨŽƌŝƚƐŶĂƚƵƌĂůďĞĂƵƚLJĂŶĚƐĐŝĞŶƟĮĐ ǀĂůƵĞ͘tŝƚŚŵŽƌĞƚŚĂŶƚǁŽŵŝůůŝŽŶǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚƐ͕ ŚĂůĨĂŵŝůůŝŽŶdŚŽŵƐŽŶ͛ƐŐĂnjĞůůĞ͕ĂŶĚĂƋƵĂƌƚĞƌŽĨ ĂŵŝůůŝŽŶnjĞďƌĂ͕ŝƚŚĂƐƚŚĞŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƉůĂŝŶƐ ŐĂŵĞ ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ͘ dŚĞ ǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ njĞďƌĂ͕ŵŽƌĞŽǀĞƌ͕ĨŽƌŵƚŚĞƐƚĂƌĐĂƐƚŽĨĂƵŶŝƋƵĞ ƐƉĞĐƚĂĐƵůĂƌĂŶŶƵĂů^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ͘

dŽĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ͕ ƚŚĞ EŐŽƌŽŶŐŽƌŽ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ƌĞĂ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DĂĂƐĂŝ DĂƌĂ 'ĂŵĞ ZĞƐĞƌǀĞĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞďŽƌĚĞƌŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͕ protect the greatest and most varied ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚĞƌƌĞƐƚƌŝĂů ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞ ŽŶ ĞĂƌƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ŵŝŐƌĂƚŽƌLJ ƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ƐƟůů ŝŶƚĂĐƚ͘ dŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ũĞǁĞů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƌŽǁŶ ŽĨdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ͛ƐƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚĂƌĞĂƐ͕ǁŚŝĐŚ altogether make up some 14% of the ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͛Ɛ ůĂŶĚ ĂƌĞĂ͕ Ă ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ record that few other countries can match.

,ŝƐƚŽƌLJŽĨ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟEĂƟŽŶĂůWĂƌŬ &Žƌ ĐĞŶƚƵƌŝĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƐƚ ǁŝůĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ WůĂŝŶƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ virtually uninhabited but about hundred years ago the nomadic Maasai came down from the north ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌĐĂƩůĞ͘dŚĞĮƌƐƚƵƌŽƉĞĂŶ to set foot in the area was the German explorer and naturalist Dr. KƐĐĂƌ ĂƵŵĂŶŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ƉĂƐƐĞĚ ďLJ ĂƐ ĂŶĂŐĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞ'ĞƌŵĂŶŶƟͲ^ůĂǀĞƌLJ ŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ ŽŶ ŚŝƐ ǁĂLJ ƚŽ ƵƌƵŶĚŝ͘ He was followed by his compatriots who built Fort Ikoma in the north ǁŚŝĐŚǁĂƐƵƐĞĚĂƐĂŶĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĞ ƵŶƟů ŝƚ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƟƐŚ ŝŶ 1917.

dŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ŚƵŶƚĞƌƐ ĐĂŵĞ in 1913. They found the wildlife ƉůĞŶƟĨƵů͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ƚŚĞ ůŝŽŶƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƐĂǁŶŽĞůĞƉŚĂŶƚƐ͘^ĞǀĞŶLJĞĂƌƐůĂƚĞƌ͕ an American arrived in a strange new ĐŽŶƚƌĂƉƟŽŶŬŶŽǁŶĂƐĂ&ŽƌĚŵŽƚŽƌͲ car and news of the wonders of the ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ŚĂĚ ƌĞĂĐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞŚƵŶƟŶŐŽĨůŝŽŶƐ made them so scarce (they were ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ͚ǀĞƌŵŝŶ͛Ϳ͕ŝƚǁĂƐĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ƉĂƌƟĂů 'ĂŵĞ ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ ŝŶ the area in 1921 and a full one in 1929. With the growing awareness ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͕ ŝƚ was expanded and upgraded to a EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ŝŶ ϭϵϱϭ͘ ŝŐŚƚ LJĞĂƌƐ ůĂƚĞƌ ƚŚĞ EŐŽƌŽŶŐŽƌŽ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ Area was established in the southeast as a separate unit.

In the open grass plains during the rainy months from November to May hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and Burchell’s zebra ĐŽŶŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ͘dŚĞĂƌĞĂŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ point for one of the great wonders ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͗ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ĂŶŶƵĂů ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ͘ dŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨDĂLJ when the grass becomes dry and ĞdžŚĂƵƐƚĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƚŽ mass in huge armies. All is far from ƉĞĂĐĞĨƵů͕ ĨŽƌŝƚŝƐƚŚĞƌƵƫŶŐƐĞĂƐŽŶ and each male tries to establish a ƐƚĂŵƉŝŶŐ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ ǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ͕ ĂŌĞƌ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĚƵŵŵLJ ƌƵŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ begin their trek in a column several miles long to the permanent waters ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƌƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ WĂƌŬ͘ ŌĞƌ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ ǁĞƐƚǁĂƌĚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ĚŝǀŝĚĞƐ ďLJ ƐŽŵĞ ƵŶĐĂŶŶLJ ŝŶƐƟŶĐƚ͕ one group turning north-east and ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĚƵĞ ŶŽƌƚŚ͘ KŶĐĞ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ͕ ůŝƩůĞ ƐƚŽƉƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂŵƉĞĚĞ͗ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽŌĞŶ ĚƌŽǁŶĂƚĂ ƟŵĞŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďƌŽĂĚ Mara River in the north. This mass movement has a following of ĐĂƌŶŝǀŽƌĞƐ͕ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ƌĞĂĚLJ ƚŽ ĚŝƐƉŽƐĞ of the weaklings

The River crossings happen at any ƟŵĞ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ ŽĨ LJĞĂƌ͕ ďƵƚ ĂƌĞĞůƵƐŝǀĞ͕ ƌĂƉŝĚĂŶĚƵŶĨŽƌŐĞƩĂďůĞ experiences. The wildebeest are easily spooked by real or imagined ƚŚƌĞĂƚƐ͘WĂƟĞŶƚƐǁĂŝƟŶŐŶĞĂƌĂŚĞƌĚ ďLJƚŚĞƌŝǀĞƌŵĂLJŽŶůLJƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĂƉƵī of dust as they turn on their heels and run away. Or maybe the herd is just not ready to cross the river and they are milling around contentedly. ƵƚŝĨĞǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐŝƐƌŝŐŚƚƚŚĞŶ͕ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƵƩĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƚƌĂŽƌĚŝŶĂƌLJ ĐŚĂŽƐ as the herds struggle to get to the ŽƚŚĞƌƐŝĚĞŽĨĂŵĂũŽƌƌŝǀĞƌĮůůĞĚǁŝƚŚ crocodiles.

^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ>ĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ Originally formed by volcanic ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ͕ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐĐƵůƉƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚĞĚ ĂĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ǁŝŶĚ͕ ƌĂŝŶ ĂŶĚ sun. It now varies from open grass ƉůĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŽƵƚŚ͕ ƐĂǀĂŶŶĂŚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐĐĂƩĞƌĞĚĂĐĂĐŝĂƚƌĞĞƐŝŶƚŚĞĐĞŶƚƌĞ͕ ŚŝůůLJ͕ǁŽŽĚĞĚŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚŝŶƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚ͕ to extensive woodland and black ĐůĂLJƉůĂŝŶƐƚŽƚŚĞǁĞƐƚ͘^ŵĂůůƌŝǀĞƌƐ͕

ůĂŬĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐǁĂŵƉƐ ĂƌĞ ƐĐĂƩĞƌĞĚ throughout. In the south-east rise the great volcanic massifs and craters of the Ngorongoro ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚƐ͘ ĂĐŚ ĂƌĞĂ ŚĂƐ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ ĂŶĚ wildlife.

The Maasai

It’s not all wild animals out on there: there are the people of the ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ͗ the Maasai. A striking ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ƚĂůů͕ ƚŚŝŶ ĂŶĚ ĐůŽƚŚĞĚ ŝŶ their instantly recognisable red ĐůŽĂŬƐ͕ ƚŚĞ DĂĂƐĂŝ ;ĂůƐŽ DĂƐĂŝ͕ DĂƐĂĂŝͿ ŚĂǀĞ ƌĞůŝĞĚ ƵƉŽŶ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚǁŽ hundred years. The Maasai are an indigenous group of seminomadic people who have lived ŝŶĂƐƚĨƌŝĐĂ ĨŽƌŵŝůůĞŶŶŝĂ͘KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůůLJ recognised African ethnic ŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ revolves around ŶŽŵĂĚŝĐ ĐĂƩůĞ ŐƌĂnjŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƐƚŽƌĂůŝƐŵ͘ The Maasai rely heavily upon their herds of cows and goats for ƐƵƐƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ŵŝůŬ ĂŶĚ͕ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶĂůůLJ͕ ŵĞĂƚ͘ dŚĞLJ believe they were ŐŝŌĞĚ Ăůů ĐĂƩůĞďLJƚŚĞƌĂŝŶŐŽĚ͘

^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟŝƌĚ͛Ɛ>ŝĨĞ dŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ŝƐ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ ŽǀĞƌ ϱϬϬ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ species of birds including ϯϰ ƌĂƉƚŽƌƐ͕ ϲ ǀƵůƚƵƌĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŐŐƌĞŐĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŽǀĞƌ ϮϬ͕ϬϬϬ ǁĂƚĞƌ ďŝƌĚƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŽƐƚƌŝĐŚ͕ ŵĂƌĂďŽƵ ƐƚŽƌŬ͕ ůĞƐƐĞƌ ŇĂŵŝŶŐŽ͕ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ĮƐŚ ĞĂŐůĞ͕ ƚĂǁŶLJ ĞĂŐůĞ͕ ůĞƐƐĞƌ ĨĂůĐŽŶ ;ǀƵůŶĞƌĂďůĞͿ͕ ƐĞĐƌĞƚĂƌLJ ďŝƌĚ͕ ŚĞůŵĞƚĞĚ ŐƵŝŶĞĂĨŽǁů͕ ĐƌŽǁŶĞĚ ĐƌĂŶĞ͕ ŬŽƌŝ ďƵƐƚĂƌĚ͕ďůĂĐŬͲǁŝŶŐĞĚƉƌĂƟŶĐŽůĞ͕ ďůĂĐŬͲǁŝŶŐĞĚ ƉůŽǀĞƌ͕ ĂƐƉŝĂŶ ƉůŽǀĞƌ͕ǁŚŝƚĞͲǁŝŶŐĞĚďůĂĐŬ ƚĞƌŶ͕ &ŝƐĐŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ůŽǀĞďŝƌĚ͕ ƉƵƌƉƵƌĂƚƵƐ͕ ƐŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŚŽƌŶďŝůů͕ ŐƌĞLJ ĐƌĞƐƚĞĚŚĞůŵĞƚƐŚƌŝŬĞ͕ <ĂƌĂŵŽũĂ ĂƉĂůŝƐ;ǀƵůŶĞƌĂďůĞͿ͕ƌĞĚƚŚƌŽĂƚĞĚ ƟƚĂŶĚƐĞǀĞƌĂůďŝƌĚƐŽĨƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƚĞĚ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƐƵĐŚĂƐƌƵĨŽƵƐͲƚĂŝůĞĚ weaver.

͞ ƐƉĞĐƚĂĐůĞ ƉĂƌŬ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ LJŽƵ ĂƐ Ă ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂĚǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ͘ ůůŽǁ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĚĂLJƐ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ LJŽƵƌ ǀŝƐŝƚ ĂŵĞŵŽƌLJ ŽĨ Ă ůŝĨĞƟŵĞ͘͟

Nature & Wildlife Safari

ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ Tanzania’s oldest and most ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉĂƌŬ͕ ĂůƐŽ a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th ǁŽƌůĚǁŝĚĞ ǁŽŶĚĞƌ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ůĂŶĚ ŝƐ ũƵƐƟĮĂďůLJ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ ĨŽƌ ŝƚƐ ŚƵŐĞ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞ͕ especially when some six million ŚŽŽǀĞƐ ƉŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞŶ ƉůĂŝŶƐ͕

ĂƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϮϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ njĞďƌĂ ĂŶĚ ϯϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ dŚŽŵƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ŐĂnjĞůůĞ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. zĞƚ ĞǀĞŶ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ƋƵŝĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ ŽīĞƌƐ ĂƌŐƵĂďůLJ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐĐŝŶƟůůĂƟŶŐ ŐĂŵĞͲ viewing in Africa: great herds of ďƵīĂůŽ͕ ƐŵĂůůĞƌ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ŽĨ ĞůĞƉŚĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŐŝƌĂīĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐ ƵƉŽŶ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ĞůĂŶĚƐ͕ ƚŽƉŝ͕ ŬŽŶŐŽŶŝ͕ impala and Grant’s gazelle. The spectacle of predator versus prey dominates Tanzania’s greatest park. Golden-maned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia ƚƌĞĞƐůŝŶŝŶŐƚŚĞ^ĞƌŽŶĞƌĂZŝǀĞƌ͕ǁŚŝůĞ a high density of cheetahs prowls the south-eastern plains. Almost ƵŶŝƋƵĞůLJ͕ Ăůů ƚŚƌĞĞ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ũĂĐŬĂů ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ŽĐĐƵƌ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ĂůŽŶŐƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƉŽƩĞĚ ŚLJĞŶĂ ĂŶĚ Ă ŚŽƐƚ ŽĨ ŵŽƌĞ ĞůƵƐŝǀĞ ƐŵĂůů ƉƌĞĚĂƚŽƌƐ͕ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐĞĐƟǀŽƌŽƵƐ ĂĂƌĚǁŽůĨ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƐĞƌǀĂů ĐĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ƉĂƌŬ ĂůƐŽƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐŵĂŶLJ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĐŚĞĞƚĂŚ͕ dŚŽŵƐŽŶ͛Ɛ ĂŶĚ 'ƌĂŶƚ͛Ɛ ŐĂnjĞůůĞ͕ ƚŽƉŝ͕ ĞůĂŶĚ͕ ǁĂƚĞƌďƵĐŬ͕ ŚLJĞŶĂ͕ ďĂŶ͕ ŝŵƉĂůĂ͕ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ǁŝůĚ ĚŽŐ ĂŶĚ ŐŝƌĂīĞ͘ dŚĞ ƉĂƌŬ ĂůƐŽ ďŽĂƐƚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ϱϬϬ ďŝƌĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŽƐƚƌŝĐŚ͕ ƐĞĐƌĞƚĂƌLJ ďŝƌĚ͕ <Žƌŝ ďƵƐƚĂƌĚ͕ ĐƌŽǁŶĞĚ ĐƌĂŶĞ and marabou stork.

DŝŐƌĂƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟEĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ dŚĞ ǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ͕ ůŝŬĞ Ă ĚŝƐĐĞƌŶŝďůĞ ƚŚƌĞĂĚ͕ ĞŵďƌĂĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚƐ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ͛Ɛ ĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵ much as it has done for at least ƚǁŽ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ ǀĞƌLJ LJĞĂƌ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽŵĞ ƐĞĂƐŽŶĂůůLJ ĚŝĐƚĂƚĞĚ ǀĂƌŝĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƟŵŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐĐĂůĞ͕ ŽŶĞ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ wildebeest leave the southern ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ͛Ɛ ƐŚŽƌƚ ŐƌĂƐƐ ƉůĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ search of the grass and water they need to survive. During their annual

pilgrimage they will travel some 2.000 miles devouring 4.000 tonnes ŽĨŐƌĂƐƐĂĚĂLJ͘ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌŽĨĂŵŝůůŝŽŶ ǁŝůůďĞďŽƌŶ͕ŵĂŶLJǁŝůůĚŝĞ͘ dŚĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ͗ tŚŝƚĞ ďĞĂƌĚĞĚ

Wildebeests, Burchell’s Zebras and

dŚŽŵƉƐŽŶ͛Ɛ'ĂnjĞůůĞƐ xdŚĞ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ

ĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵ͕ŶŽƚĨŽƵŶĚĂŶLJǁŚĞƌĞ ŝŶƚŚĞǁŽƌůĚ͕ŝƐƚŚĞŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶŽĨ the animals thus the reason to ǀŝƐŝƚ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟEĂƟŽŶĂůWĂƌŬĂŶĚ x DĂƐĂŝDĂƌĂEĂƟŽŶĂůZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͘ dŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ consists of White Bearded tŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚƐ͕ ƵƌĐŚĞůů͛Ɛ ĞďƌĂ x and Thomson’s gazelles. dŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ǁŝůĚĞďĞĞƐƚƐ͕ŐĂnjĞůůĞƐĂŶĚnjĞďƌĂ͛Ɛ own innate biological triggers determined to search for water x and greener pastures. dŚĞ ŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ĂƩƌĂĐƚƐ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ

ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƉƌĞĚĂƚŽƌƐ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ďĞŝŶŐ͗ ,LJĞŶĂƐ͕ >ŝŽŶƐ͕ >ĞŽƉĂƌĚƐ͕ ŚĞĞƚĂŚƐ͕ ƌŽĐŽĚŝůĞƐ ĂŶĚ x WLJƚŚŽŶƐĞƚĐ͘ Over a million wildebeests begin ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŝƌĐƵŵĂŵďƵůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ĂŶĚ

DĂƐĂŝ DĂƌĂ EĂƟŽŶĂů ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͘

Over half a million Burchell’s ĞďƌĂƐĂŶĚdŚŽŵƉƐŽŶ͛ƐŐĂnjĞůůĞƐ

ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ͘

'ĞƫŶŐƚŚĞƌĞ LJ WůĂŶĞ - Scheduled and private ĐŚĂƌƚĞƌ ŇŝŐŚƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƌƵƐŚĂ͕ >ĂŬĞDĂŶLJĂƌĂĂŶĚDǁĂŶnjĂ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƵƌŝĐ ŝƌ͕ ŽĂƐƚĂů ǀŝĂƟŽŶ͕ Flight Link and Safari Air. LJ ZŽĂĚ ʹLJŽƵĐĂŶĚƌŝǀĞ ĨƌŽŵƌƵƐŚĂ͕>ĂŬĞ DĂŶLJĂƌĂ͕ dĂƌĂŶŐŝƌĞ Žƌ EŐŽƌŽŶŐŽƌŽ Crater.

ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐŝŶ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟEĂƟŽŶĂůWĂƌŬ You won’t be disappointed to have Ă ĨĞǁ ĚĂLJƐ ĨŽƌ ƐĂĨĂƌŝ ŝŶ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ͘ dŚĞ ƉĂƌŬ ŝƐ ŝĚĞĂů ĨŽƌ Ă ĚĂLJ ƚŽƵƌ͕ ŚŽƚ Ăŝƌ ďĂůůŽŽŶ ƐĂĨĂƌŝƐ͕ ǁĂůŬŝŶŐ ƐĂĨĂƌŝ͕ ƉŝĐŶŝĐŬŝŶŐ͕ ŐĂŵĞ ĚƌŝǀĞƐ͕ ďƵƐŚ ůƵŶĐŚͬĚŝŶŶĞƌ ĐĂŶ ďĞ arranged with hotels/tour operators. DĂĂƐĂŝ ƌŽĐŬ ƉĂŝŶƟŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ musical rocks. Visit neighbouring EŐŽƌŽŶŐŽƌŽ ƌĂƚĞƌ͕ KůĚƵǀĂŝ 'ŽƌŐĞ͕ Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and Lake EĂƚƌŽŶ͛ƐŇĂŵŝŶŐŽƐ͘

When to go

dŚĞ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟŝƐŽŶĞŽĨƚŚĞǀĞƌLJĨĞǁ places in Africa of which you can say the game viewing is outstanding at ĂŶLJƟŵĞŽĨLJĞĂƌ͘ƉƌŝůĂŶĚDĂLJƐĞĞ ƚŚĞŚĞĂǀŝĞƐƚƌĂŝŶƐďƵƚĞǀĞŶƚŚĞŶ͕ƚŚĞ lodges are ridiculously good value ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌŬ ŝƐ ƋƵŝĞƚ͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌLJ ďĞƐƚ ƟŵĞ ŽĨ LJĞĂƌ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ the park is either from January to March which includes the spectacle ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞĂƚ DŝŐƌĂƟŽŶ ĐĂůǀŝŶŐ͕ Žƌ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞůLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚĚůĞ of July all the way to the middle of November when the herds are crossing the Mara river to or from <ĞŶLJĂ͘

ĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶ Whether a visitor decides to drive Žƌ ŇLJ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͕ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ from large hotels to small luxury ůŽĚŐĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƐĂŶũĂ ĨƌŝĐĂ͕ ƐŝůŝĂ >ŽĚŐĞƐ Θ ĂŵƉƐ͕ &ŽƵƌ ^ĞĂƐŽŶ ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ >ŽĚŐĞƐ͕ DďĂůĂŐĞƟ >ŽĚŐĞ͕ ^ŽƉĂ>ŽĚŐĞ͕^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ^ĞƌĞŶĂ>ŽĚŐĞ and many more.

zŽƵ ĐĂŶ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĂĨĂƌŝƐ͕ ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞĂŶĚƚŚĞďĞĂƵƚLJŽĨ^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ďLJ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƟŶŐ LJŽƵƌ nearest tour operator.

amps, Asilia Africa Picture Courtesy of Moiz Husein, Roy Safaris, Asilia Lodges & C