Serengeti

Get in the Picture

We just received confirmation of our safari dates for next year! June 3-13, 2027 we will be back in Tanzania, camping the great parks including Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Exact details and budget are still in the works, but should be ready soon.

If full-on adventure in the African backcountry is on your wish list, you’ll need to mark your calendars. Know that we rent Land Cruisers with limited seating in order to keep our footprint small and our experiences large.

We’ll be leaving in less than a month with this year’s crew. Track us here, on Facebook or YouTube, to get a sense of what awaits.

Bush Team Excellent

I am never disappointed by the kind service, commitment to excellence, and tireless energy on display in our tent camps. The staff at the Pure Migration Camp in a remote corner of the Serengeti is a perfect example. These good men transform tent camping in the wilderness into a luxury experience.

Our next Tanzanian safari with open seats is scheduled for February 18-27, 2026.

Sparring Partners

A herd of Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) is a common sight on the Serengeti. The gazelle's lyre-shaped horns not only bequeath a graceful appearance, but give it formidable tools for defense. Unlike antlers (that are shed annually), gazelle horns are permanently affixed, corrugated, and unbranched.

This species is named after James Grant, a preacher's son who worked with John Speke in the quest to discover the source of the Nile. I'm enjoying Tim Jeal's account of this pioneering work right now in his Explorers of the Nile: The Triumph and Tragedy of a Great Victorian Adventure. Its a good read for folks with a strong stomach (!) who are interested in the story of East Africa.

Why do Hippos Yawn?

Why do hippos yawn?

Maybe because they are sleepy?

Unlikely.

It is a display of aggression ("back off"), dominance ("my lawn"), or display ("look what a handsome fellow I am!).

On safari I learned that hippos can spread their jaws wide open, 180 degrees. That's a serious stretch! Look at those teeth!

I already knew to keep my distance. Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals on the Serengeti. Wowzer.