Safaris are awesome. In Botswana I have taken a dugout canoe through the Okavango Delta and camped in tents in Chobe National Park. In South Africa I have stayed in luxury lodges in the Kruger National Park. And in India I have seen tigers in Ranthambore National Park. BUT, if I was to choose only one destination for a safari it would hands down be Tanzania. Specifically – the Mara River in the Serengeti to witness the Great Migration.
Taking oneself let alone one’s family on an African safari is indeed a huge financial undertaking. Witnessing the Great Migration is an absolute bucket list item. So if the opportunity presents itself I would say do it!
Many people go on safari with young children. I personally would wait until they around 11 years old to really appreciate the incredible journey.
Getting There – not so direct to witness the Great Migration
A safari in Tanzania requires several stops on very small planes. It is not for the fainthearted or indeed the very tall traveller! Coming home our journey involved six stops – Lamai, Fort Ikoma, Seronera, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Doha and finally Hong Kong. So direct it is not!
Packing is also more challenging. Everything should be in duffle bags and there are strict weight restrictions. There is no space for big suitcases in the plane storage. For further tips on packing refer to my post Challenge : 3 weeks, 3 kids with just carry on?
Accommodations range from luxury lodges to tented camps. Whatever your budget it will still seem like a huge chunk of change. But try not to linger on that thought (like we did all during the lead up). Once you are there you will feel it is money completely well spent.
The Great Migration – What you see
Most safaris I experienced before Tanzania involved prides of lion sleeping under trees or stunning leopards sleeping on tree branches. Amazing yes. But in terms of action, not so much.
Fast forward to the Great Migration. From the moment we stepped off our tiny plane and into our fully open jeep the adventure began.
Just the journey from the airstrip to our campsite we witnessed a plethora of activity. Wildebeest and zebra deciding whether to cross the river. Lions awaiting their decision, while hyenas and vultures lurked in hope of catching some scraps.
Cheetahs, three brothers in fact, on a team hunt hoping to nab a gazelle. Meanwhile giraffes and pairs of ostrich popped out of bushes to cross our path.
Herds of elephants drinking at water holes surrounded by stunning birds and inquisitive otters.
It was all too much!
The Great Migration – what is it
Although the movement of animals occurs throughout the year it is generally divided into several key periods. July and August are the peak viewing season as the herds cross into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The incredible river crossings are the most dramatic scenes I have ever witnessed.
After our first day my middle son exclaimed “The Serengeti is Brutal!”. He was not wrong.
Getting the timing right is of course up to mother nature. We were incredibly lucky that the river crossings only started the day we arrived. That was mid July. If you do not get the timing spot on do not despair. Although that experience was truly mind blowing, there is still an abundance of action.
I would highly recommend working with safari specialists to point you in the right direction both accommodation and timing wise. This is the company we used and they were brilliant.
Safari – The Joy of Being in Nature
What I love about holidays like this is that you are outdoors for most of the day surrounded by nature. Many accommodations do not have wifi so everyone is forced to have a digital detox. In the evenings we played board games or gathered around the fire to discuss our sightings with other guests.
From my experiences thus far, a safari is the very best holiday one could ever hope to do. Seeing animals roaming freely in their habitat is incredibly special. Sharing that experience as a family was a once in a lifetime trip that we will forever remember.
Thanks for reading.
Shareen
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