Getting to Serengeti National Park and Visiting the Masai Village

September 10-13, 2019, from the Itinerary: After breakfast, the journey continues North West across the stunning hilly countryside of the highlands which is filled with wheat and coffee plantations, and then into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here lie the vast plains of the Serengeti, where you begin spotting wildlife as you approach the entrance gate. Complete the formalities and enter the park with game viewing en route to the Serengeti Serena Lodge arriving at the lodge in time for lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park, returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight. As for wildlife, the Serengeti National Park offers not only all the members of ‘The Big Five' (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo), but also the annual ‘migration' of over one million wildebeest and their attendant cast of predators.

The Serengeti Serena Lodge is situated in the Serengeti National Park and had a wonderful wildlife watering hole. There were "game drives" twice a day for the 3 days I was here. There were so many things to see and so many pictures, I'll break this up into 3 sections: Visit to the Masai Village, Drive to the Kenya boarder to see the great migration and views around the Serengeti.

I had the same driver, Prospero, and jeep for all safari days. It was a several hour drive from Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park. We drove onto a higher plane and saw locals with their donkey's - "the Masai Land Rover" - and flocks of goats. These animals looked very well cared for, unlike the commercials requesting donations for maltreated donkeys. We had a short stop along the way and I went in to look at the shop.

Here is a picture of the jeep which was very comfortable.

The driver asked me if I wanted to see a Masai Village. Honestly, I wasn't really interested, but was rather curious. Remember, I was all alone and would have felt much better doing this as part of a group. Also, it was quite expensive, so felt I really "paid for the privilege" .

So, we pulled in and I was introduced to the Masai village who all came out to see me and do a welcome dance. I felt like I was in a movie like "King Soloman's Mine".

Then I got to do the dance.

I was guided through the village by the chief's son and saw how they started fire by hand

I met some of the local older ladies and see one of the houses

Then we go on to see the open air school. I got to see some of their children who looked a bit like one of the donation commercials and where there was a further donation box.

Finally, there was the obligatory market where I could buy locally made goods and bought nothing. The only thing I was remotely interested in was the "tire sandals" worn by the locals which looked very comfortable and probably lasted a lifetime....