The Allure Of An East African Safari
“Maisha mrefu na mazuri” - long life and happiness. This Swahili toast is best enjoyed with a gin and tonic in hand, gazing over the Mara River as wildebeest gather at the banks. They wait, restless, their numbers swelling with potential energy. Then, suddenly, one moves, and in an instant, the herd erupts - the single spark to the kinetic explosion of a crossing. It is a spectacle of survival and instinct.
A Land of Abundance
Tanzania’s Serengeti boasts all the iconic scenes of East Africa. Here, vast plains stretch beneath the ice-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Desert Date trees (Balanites aegyptiaca) and Umbrella Thorns (Vachellia tortilis) dot the horizon, Superb Starlings flash iridescent blues, and predators stalk the herds of thousands that move across this legendary landscape.
At the core of it all is the Great Migration, an eternal cycle dictated by seasonal rains. Wildebeest and zebra journey in a roughly circular motion throughout the year. The annual cycle is bimodal, locally referred to as the “Long Rains” (occurring from March-May) and the “Short Rains” (Oct-Dec).
• January – March: In the southern Serengeti, volcanic-rich soils produce nutrient-dense grass, perfect for nursing mothers. It’s calving season - thousands of tiny, unsteady legs take their first steps in a world that demands speed and awareness.
• Mid-year (April – July): The herds push northwest, reaching the woodlands of the Grumeti region, where rivers and lush vegetation sustain them.
• August – October: The northern Serengeti (Tanzania) & Mara Triangle (Kenya) become the stage for one of nature’s greatest dramas. Thirsty grassroots respond to cloudbursts from the “Short Rains” with fresh growth. This drives a couple million animals back and forth across the Mara River, a journey fraught with crocodiles and chaos.
• November – December: As the rains rejuvenate the Serengeti’s eastern corridor, the herds shift south, completing their cycle back to the birthing grounds.
Each phase of the migration offers its own breathtaking moments—timing is everything.
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Life in the Serengeti
I spent three months working in the Northern Serengeti, waking to the songs of Purple Grenadiers, Red-cheeked Cordon Blues, and Slaty Boubous, and watching horseshoe bats and little weavers settle in at dusk. One morning, I followed an alarming jackal and found a leopard at sunrise—its rosette-marked silhouette weaving through the golden grass.
But what struck me most about the Serengeti? The sheer abundance. On a single game drive, I counted 21 different mammal species—a staggering variety that few places on Earth can rival.
Planning the Perfect Serengeti Safari
The Serengeti’s magic is undeniable, but knowing where to go and when is key. There are a plethora of camps and safari outfitters in the area which makes discerning between the offerings necessary but tricky. It is also undeniably a busier area and if you are used to the exclusivity that private reserves offer, it takes some getting used to. Crossings are unbelievable sights, but you will be sharing the sighting with others. Still, there’s a timeless allure to East Africa that defines the classic safari.
Beyond the Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Zanzibar add depth and diversity to any itinerary. It is our intention to help you navigate this landscape with ease.
Ready to explore? Browse our Look Book HERE for some of our favourite camps. Alternatively, get in touch - we’ll craft your perfect East African adventure and help you know where to be and when.
Written by Andrea Fitzpatrick
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Founder, Private Guide and Safari Planner
Being born the daughter of David Attenborough (it’s true but he’s probably not the one you’re thinking of) I don’t believe I ever really had much choice about what direction my life would take. I grew up in the city of Durban, South Africa but for as long as I can remember nature has called to me. Whenever I could I would escape to the forests around my home barefoot and in search of chameleons and red duiker to befriend.
And so in 2010, after completing my Journalism and Media Studies degree, I followed that calling to the wilds of Southern Africa to become a game ranger. I planned to stay for a year but it turned into ten. During that time, I worked at Phinda Private Game Reserve, Ngala Private Game Reserve and Londolozi Game Reserve, some of South Africa’s most prestigious lodges and immersed myself in the natural world. I learnt to track animals with Zulu and Shangaan trackers and spent as much time as I could on foot approaching animals with my guests. I also put my photojournalism degree to use by becoming a specialist photographic guide. I travelled to Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, India and throughout South America in search of wildlife. My greatest adventure was living in Gabon training local guides for the WWF and Smithsonian Institute, where we spent weeks at a time living like early nomads in the dense and remote coastal forests, fulfilling a life-long dream of tracking and habituating wild gorillas. Seeing how embodied and present animals are inspired me to begin practicing yoga. I am a qualified vinyasa and yin teacher and spent six months training under a Hatha master in Boulder, Colorado. I am also a certified Martha Beck life coach. With this mixture of knowledge, interests and skills, I started Wild Again to help others really experience the wild places I know and love so much. Through my specialised Wellness Safaris that incorporate yoga, meditation, mindfulness and personalised life coaching I continue to grow more conscious safaris that return people to nature and to themselves. As we re-wild ourselves we hear the earth, our common mother, again. It is only then that we can co-create with her healing.
Tell us if you’re keen to plan a safari or join a retreat. We’re ready to create your dream experience.
