Serengeti, TANZANIA
Airing Date: Feb 21st, 2005
Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value. With more than two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson's gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. The wildebeest and zebra form the star cast of a unique spectacular - the annual Serengeti migration.
At 14,763 square kilometres, the Serengeti is Tanzania's largest national park. Bordering Kenya's Masai Mara Game Park, its far-reaching plains of endless grass and acacia trees make it the quintessential image of a wild and untarnished Africa.
The magnitude and scale of life the plains support is staggering. Large herds of antelope of all sorts, including Patterson's eland, Klipspringer, Dikdik impala, zebra, gazelles, water, bush and reed buck, topi, kongoni, Cotton's oribi, grey bush duiker, roan antelope buffalo, and wildebeest.
There's also an abundance of lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, bat eared foxes, hunting dogs and jackals. Of course you will also see giraffes, rhinos, elephants and hippopotamuses.
The ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years.
Early man made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves.
Two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the region. Its unique ecosystem has inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Mattheissen, film makers like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root as well as numerous photographers and scientists.
At the end of the day, after exploring this amazing landscape, you'll need somewhere to stay. The Serengeti Sopa Lodge is the perfect place to relax.
From here you can join Peregrine Adventure's small group six day Tanzanian Lodge Safari. It includes two nights and two full days in the absolutely breathtaking Serengeti National Park.
The facts
South African Airways will fly you to Kenya from $2625 ex Perth and $2900 ex Sydney. Prices include charges/taxes. Subject to exchange rate. Conditions apply.
The six day Tanzanian Lodge Safari costs from $2375 a person twin share. Includes accommodation, park fees, most meals and two nights in the Serengeti National Park.
Peregrine Adventures
Tel: 1300 854 4444
Suggested reading material: Lonely Planet
Prices correct at 21/02/05
