In February, 2026, we enjoyed a Tanzanian safari that took us to the Serengeti plain and Ngorongoro Crater —our fifth safari in Africa (following those in Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia) over a 30 year period. This time our objective was to see the great migration during wildebeest calving season (which attracts many other animals including zebras, elephants, giraffes and large predators). The magic of a safari was as poignant as ever for us.
Some of the highs of our journey: Seeing for the first time the massive numbers of wildebeest adults with their newborns mingled with other animals migrating across the Serengeti during calving season; a long parade of elephants marching single file across the plain; a large group of giraffes on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater; the Edenic bowl of the Crater itself at sunrise with an incredible diversity of wildlife; the intense colors of African sunrises and sunsets; the haunting sounds at night of nearby wildlife, including lions, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas and more; and meeting welcoming Tanzanian tribal people in our safari camps and in their villages.
Our memories will last for a long time. As Evelyn Ames wrote in her book about Africa, A Glimpse of Eden, “Africa doesn’t leave you when you go away… just knowing it is there sets it forever in its own special light, somewhere in the mind’s sky.”
Giraffes on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Males establish social hierarchies through “necking,” combat bouts when their necks are used as weapons. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear sole responsibility for rearing the young.
Zebras on the Serengeti.
Sunset on the Serenget as storm clouds threaten.
Elephant parade with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance.
A Lilac-Breasted Roller, one of the most beautiful birds in Tanzania. Male Rollers get their name from their behavior of rolling from side to side during flight to show off their colors and attract females.
Vultures feeding on a wildebeest carcass. Their primary food sources are the carcasses of large, grazing animals found in the savannahs where it lives. In addition to wildebeests, this includes warthogs, zebras, gazelles, ostriches and even livestock.
A male lion relaxes at the end of a day in the Serengeti. The lion inhabits grasslands and savannah and is mostly diurnal. It’s a social species, forming groups called prides. Females usually do all the hunting of prey and males compete to sustain membership in the pride.
A typically beautiful Tanzanian sunset.
A couple of very rare bat-eared foxes. They usually dig their dens in the ground and feed on insects.
Gray Crested Crane. Its body is mainly grey or black and features white cheeks, a red throat patch, and a stiff golden crown. It’s omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of animal and plant matter including plants, seeds, grains, snakes, insects and small fish.
An adult leopard resting in a tree in the Serengeti. They often take their kills up trees (which takes great strength) to hide them from other predators.
A baby leopard sunning on a rock in the northern Serengeti
Elephant parade. Elephants are known to walk in single file, a behavior often observed during their daily migrations between feeding grounds and water sources. This single-file formation is particularly prominent in female-led herds, where the matriarch leads, and younger members follow behind. They are protected by adults on all sides. The reasons behind this behavior include maintaining group cohesion, ensuring that weaker or younger elephants are safeguarded and minimizing the environmental impact by following a single path.
A massive herd of wildebeest on the move during Tanzania’s great migration in calving season.
Baboon mother and baby.
Vervet monkey mother and baby. They live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals.
Ostriches, endemic to East Africa, are herbivorous and among the largest birds in the world.. Their diet consists of grasses, shrubs, herbs, leaves, flowers and fruits.
A Maasai tribe near the Ngorongoro Crater.
A Maasai mother and baby.
Sunset in the Serengeti often silhouettes iconic acacia trees.
In the Serengeti beside our safari vehicle, a rugged Toyota Land Cruiser. It transported us safely over difficult terrain and through threatening floods.
