The scene before me could be matched nowhere else on earth. Parched yellow grass spread out before us as far as the eye could see – broken only by the occasional umbrella tree and a few hundred thousand migrating wildebeest forming a dusty, thin gray line on the horizon to the north. As the sun pounded down from overhead, heat vapors danced up from the ground. This was the Serengeti – a place with no equal!
Nine days earlier my six-year-old son, Jerry, and I had arrived in Arusha, a beautiful Tanzanian metropolis and the main jumping off point for those wishing to book budget safaris. As with all visitors, the word of our arrival spread like wildfire. By dinner the first night, three of Arushas tour operators were courting us. By breakfast our journey was booked.
Two days later we were off. Nothing was left to chance. A jeep, driver, cook, tents, water (though I felt it best to bring my own) and park permits, were to be provided for us as part of our safari package.
WILDLIFE ABOUNDS
Five days of photographic heaven followed. Tanzanias best: Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge all were our playgrounds. Each was an oasis offering...