| You have decided to take a safari and without | | | | profits and happy clients because of the abundance |
| hesitation I would advise a Serengeti Safari in | | | | of animals. Do ensure your safari includes two areas |
| Northern Tanzania. A Safari across the endless plains | | | | of the Serengeti. One should be the south or the |
| of the Serengeti to witness the last, great migration | | | | north of this huge park, depending on the time of |
| on earth is an unforgettable experience. The whole | | | | year and where the migration is heading. |
| safari across the huge Serengeti is a package with an | | | | 3. If you have the luxury of booking when tourists |
| abundance of animals rivaled no where else in Africa. | | | | are few in Tanzania, then try to leave the actual |
| It is compounded with majestic landscapes and the | | | | booking of the safari until a few weeks before your |
| fascinating tribes you meet. It is here you will realize | | | | departure. If it is low season, March through to the |
| that you are in Africa proper. | | | | end of June, then the safaris [that is the |
| The great migration safari in the Serenegeti | | | | accommodation and to a lesser extent transport] are |
| comprises of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest in | | | | at bargain basement rates. Keep checking on the |
| a never ending cycle of movement, closely followed | | | | whereabouts of the migration and then book your |
| by the predators looking for an easy meal. The | | | | accommodation through a quality operator |
| Wildebeest follow the rains and migration is therefore | | | | accordingly. Safari operators should be able to get |
| as unpredictable as these rains. It is the last remaining | | | | luxury accommodation cheaper than your booking |
| great migration on our planet, and as such, it is a | | | | directly - this is how the safari operators make their |
| must to take a safari to witness first hand this great | | | | profit. |
| event. | | | | 4. Unfortunately the easiest way to a successful |
| Many safari companies try to predict the | | | | migration safari in the Serengeti is also the most |
| whereabouts of the animals. The success of this is | | | | expensive. Book a luxury safari in a semi permanent |
| dependent on three main things. a. The rains being on | | | | luxury tented lodge. They are semi permanent as |
| time. b. The rains lasting long enough to influence the | | | | they move several times per year as the migration |
| animal to move. c. The experience of the company | | | | moves. This almost guarantees you will be up close |
| organizing migration safaris in the Serengeti. The | | | | and personal with the great migration. |
| problem with these predictions is that in recent years | | | | [Do not let the tent bit put you off. They are huge |
| the rains have not been on time or they have even | | | | tents with double beds and furniture and even |
| failed, leaving some safari-makers with clients in the | | | | en-suite bathrooms. Some boast of private butlers |
| wrong lodges in the wrong area of the Serengeti. | | | | for each tent. They are small camps and have an |
| Recently many people on safari in Kenya [as the | | | | intimate relationship with the surroundings.] |
| migration crosses the border and for a short time the | | | | How it is possible to keep a check on the |
| migration is in Kenya] experienced the failure of the | | | | whereabouts of the migration is easier said than |
| long rains and with this failure most of the animals | | | | done. There are many sites that claim to have |
| remained in the Northern Serengeti, leaving many | | | | regular updates but some I checked recently are |
| people on the safari not only in the wrong lodges but | | | | almost two years past their sell by date. I would |
| in the wrong country! | | | | suggest keeping in touch with two or three of the |
| How to solve this problem involves a little work on | | | | small boutique tour operators in Tanzania - they have |
| your part, in researching your subject and booking | | | | vehicles with drivers who are returning from the |
| your safari vacation with care. Below are a few | | | | Serengeti every week and so know the movements |
| simple steps as a basic guideline. | | | | of the animals. They will not mind keeping you well |
| 1. If you are wanting your safari from late July | | | | informed of what is happening in order to [hopefully] |
| through to the end of September/October then it is | | | | get a safari booked. |
| necessary to book well in advance. This time of year | | | | Take time and plan your safari carefully as the |
| is so busy that most of the lodges will become full. | | | | planning is a part of the adventure. Take time to |
| 2. Have you heard of overcrowding in the | | | | research a little and make sure your ground operator |
| Serenegeti? If you have, the chances are the safari | | | | in Tanzania is willing to make your safari special. Many |
| took place between these over crowded summer | | | | of the safari operators are [rather sadly] only |
| months and most probably the safari was in the | | | | bothered about making a quick buck and the client's |
| Seronera Valley, in the central Serengeti. This area of | | | | wishes are of no concern to them. Beware of such |
| the Serengeti has a good, reliable concentration of | | | | companies as they exist at the luxury end as well as |
| animals with a year round water supply. Many safari | | | | the budget end of the spectrum. Tanzania and the |
| companies [especially the bargain priced safaris] are | | | | Serengeti are amazing. Ensure that with careful |
| lazy and send their clients to this part of the | | | | planning your safari experience will be an exciting and |
| Serengeti only. This ensures lower mileage, bigger | | | | memorable one. |