Exploring the Serengeti in Tanzania
Few people in the world have the opportunity to experience this. Every year, many travelers pack comfy clothes, insect repellant, and a camera to witness the Great Migration, which happens between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania, covering a total area of 30,000 square kilometers (11,583 square miles). Herbivores such as zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, and other large mammal species pass through this protected savannah area in southern Kenya near the border with Tanzania to reach fresh water and grassy areas.
It is a long-awaited destination, and we finally had the opportunity to visit this captivating savanna region of Africa. However, like many other first-time visitors to this impressive spot, our expectations were centered on the great migration and the crossing of the famous Mara River, which flows from Kenya to Tanzania and into Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the African continent.
Getting There
Kilimanjaro Airport is Tanzania's main international airport. Different routes and travel times may be available depending on your location. It is possible to travel there from Europe via Amsterdam or Addis Ababa, or from the US via Qatar, Istanbul, or Zurich. There are plenty of different possibilities available depending on one's interests.
Beyond the Average Luxury Travel
It was a privilege and extremely rewarding experience to discover a hidden treasure in the world of hospitality. andbeyond was in charge of leading our wonderful journey. We must acknowledge that we have been privileged to stay in places with outstanding hospitality; nonetheless, everything &Beyond offers is unmatched. The level of detail is such that you get the idea they already know what you want before you ask. However, it is because of its two basic characteristics that we can use the word "unrivaled." These include experience and empathy.
As soon as we arrived at Kilimanjaro airport, &Beyond wowed us with a warm greeting and quickness. In minutes, we passed through security and migration controls and were taken to the waiting area, having avoided the enormous lines that formed during peak season. Our charter from Coastal Company arrived on schedule, ready to take us to our destination, the center of Serengeti.
The Experience
We arrived with a list of animals that we hoped to see and photograph, including the renowned Big Five: the buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion, and leopard, as well as zebras, giraffes, antelopes, birds, and snakes, among others; yet, we later discovered nothing can prepare you for what you actually experience. From a natural landscape that embraces you and awakens your senses, a plate of food that tastes like home, to a warm greeting with genuine smiles from people who are proud to show the treasure that their country possesses, without realizing that they are a part of it, and perhaps the most valuable one.
We chose "Serengeti Under Canvas" from &Beyond, and the only regret we have is that we had to leave too soon. As soon as we stepped off the plane, Marco, our designated ranger, greeted us with warm coffee and snacks before escorting us to the Camp Center, which had been carefully selected in consideration of the migratory route and security procedures, as he explained. We saw lions, gazelles, a troop of elephants, warthogs, baboons, and other animals throughout our 30-minute trip. We discovered that we had been really fortunate, as seeing some of them can take hours if not days.
Soon, songs began to play, with the entire &Beyond crew singing and dancing, and they were waiting for us with a welcome drink to introduce themselves. Moses was to be our personal butler, but he quickly became the guy with whom we would laugh and share unforgettable moments. That day, Moses showed us our tent, which looked exactly like a hotel room except for the attention to detail and the fact that you were in the middle of the savanna. We then took a bucket shower under the stars and ate the most wonderful dinner before resting for the night.
The Safari
It's six o'clock in the morning, and we've already begun our safari day. The schedule to start and finish the daily exploration, as well as any breaks in between to return to the camp, are always agreed upon with each visitor based on their preferences. We chose to have breakfast and lunch in nature that day (a must-do in our opinion) and hiked for 12 hours in a row, not realizing how quickly the time had passed, and got to view the big five we had been looking forward to witnessing.
A safari trip is much more than a car ride with your ranger looking for animals; it's hours of being amazed by your ranger's skill to spot lions that blend into the yellow-pale grass and giraffes that can be easily confused with the tall trunk of an Acacia tree. It's where you learn how to identify different footprints, how to tell a female from a male by their colors or even their behavior, how the hyena is the only animal capable of eating one of its own species, or how the warthog is able to flee from a predator and return minutes later.
A must on the bucket list
It's not possible to anticipate what your eyes will see or experience, such as the color transition from a slow sunrise to the setting sun, a bucket shower under a sky full of stars, the surrounding silence at times, and assuming what animal the sounds that lull you to sleep before going to bed come from. The songs, the bonfire, the smiles, the dance, and genuine kindness. Far more than the photos and movies we brought home, the ones we took with our eyes will be with us forever. This is without a doubt a bucket-list visit for any naturalist and cultural enthusiast. If you can't go right now, Tanzanians will tell you in Swahili, "Hakuna Matata," which means "don't worry" or "no problem," and just save it at the top of your bucket list.
They will be awaiting you to start singing the song that still resonates in our minds:
Jambo, jambo Bwana (Hi, hi sir)
Habari gani (How are you?)
Mzuri sana (Very good)
Wageni, mwakaribishwa (Guests, welcome)
Serengeti, hakuna matata (Serengeti, there is no trouble)
When that day comes, you, like us, will remember what you saw but remember what you felt forever. The Serengeti is a place to remember not only with excitement but also with admiration.
Security Measures
This is one of the most frequently asked questions when considering attending an experience like "Under Canvas." If you ask us, we will tell you that once we saw &Beyond's professionalism, all of our concerns about traveling vanished. They have well-trained rangers who understand animal behavior and can tell when it's safe to approach. They stressed that animals are not interested in trespassing barriers, so staying inside your car or tent is a safe area, which you can confirm when zebras or lions pass by during the rides and show no interest in you.
The private butler always joins the guests from and to their accommodation when traveling to the main area of the camp, which is only meters away, and they allow a walkie-talkie to be in contact with them at all times. We felt completely safe throughout our entire experience with &Beyond, and it is an experience we would gladly repeat without hesitation.