Day2: 3rd Dec'03 - Transfer to Serengeti National Park
At 9.00 hours, we left Manyara Lodge and were back on our journey to Serengeti which means endless plains in the local Maasai dialect. Serengeti covers 14,763 sq. km. consisting mainly of flat open grasslands.
On the way, we saw many young Maasai boys who had passed through the circumcision rites distinguished by their unique black dress and ash painted faces. They try and make a fast buck, USD 1-2/- for a photograph which we couldn't resist.
We stopped on the way at a scenic point from where we got a breathtaking view of the Ngorongoro Crater. Our next stop was at a traditional Maasai Bomba called Longidu Longuku named after the 'river' (dry during our visit) which flows nearby. We were charged a bit too steep USD 20 pp. to enter.......but no regrets.
The lives of the Maasai are centered around their cattle which provide their basic needs - milk, blood and meat for their diet.......................a point to note : the village headman had a stack of coca-cola bottles in his hut!!!
On the way, we spotted some giraffe and gazelles.
1500 hrs, we reached Nabi Hill Gate, the entrance to Serengeti which is at the south-eastern edge of the park. We took a much needed break. The Serengeti plains were formed 3-4 million years ago when ash blown from volcanoes in the Ngorongoro highlands covered the rolling landscape. This thick layer of ash preserved traces of early man, and established the rich soil which supports the southern grass plains. From this early beginning, man and wildlife have shared this magical place.
Glossy starling at Nabi Hill
We proceeded into Serengeti
It was a 75 km drive to Seronera (middle of Serengeti), to our luxury campsite in the wild.
We had our first glimpse of 4 lioness feeding on a zebra.
Game viewed: Impala, Giraffe, Cory Bustard, Gnu, Thompson Gazelle, Ostrich, Hartebeest, Topi, Elephant, Waterbuck, Lioness, Vulture, Spotted Hyena, Maribou Stark, Hippo.
We reached our special campsite at Seronera (No.11) at 1810 hrs. To welcome us, was the JMT staff, Furaha, Rama and Yusoufu who provided us with 7 star treatment during our stay. Our tents were already pitched and so was the dining tent, the kitchen and the W.C.s.
L-R : Rama, Furaha, Hasan and Yusoufu
Relaxing outside our comfortable tent
After a hot bath and a couple of cold beers, we settled down for dinner. It was a sumptuous spread of piping hot zucchini soup, pasta, french bean and carrot vegetable, topped off with banana custard.
By 2200 hrs., we fell into a blissful sleep only to be awoken with the sounds of hyenas sniffing around our tent and the occasional roar of lions.
