I’ve heard Sir David Attenborough describe many wondrous places in documentaries over the years. But if I had to pick the place I’ve heard him describe most often, it would undoubtedly be Serengeti National Park. As I entered the park, I could almost hear his raspy voice describe “a hot day in the Serengeti” or a pride of lions waiting for the Great Migration.
Let’s first start with the awe-inspiring size of this park. At 15000 sq km or 5700 sq miles, it is 19 times the size of New York or 11 times the size of Los Angeles. It is massive. The Serengeti extends into Kenya for another 1500 sq km – this section of the park is called The Maasai Mara.
The Serengeti has a diverse set of landscapes – from savannahs to woodlands to wetlands. All of this supports an impressive array of wildlife – including over 4000 lions, over 1000 leopards, 500+ bird species. In one word – it is legendary.
These two parks play host to The Great Migration – the largest overland mammal migration in the world. Between 1.5 to 2 million wildebeest and zebras take an 800km round trip around these parks. This is often described as “the greatest show on earth” as it involves some spectacular interactions between predator and prey.
When you encounter the migration, they take over entire hills…
…and roads.
These passing herds are a special treat for all the predators.. and the incredible clean up crew.
This was a mom watching over her cubs…
.. who stayed still as a poisonous Green Mamba went on her and then slithered away.
Lion prides are formidable. Very few animals can survive an attack – here’s a hippo that did.
Tree-climbing lions are a rare sight.
Predators aren’t just big cats. Here’s a large owl.
A typical sighting of a leopard – as solitary cats, they spend a lot of time on trees.
Cheetah brothers figuring out where to go next. Cheetah tend to love the tall grasses of the savannah – they’re perfect camouflage.
To me, time spent in the Serengeti was a reminder that we were in the kingdom of the big cats. We spent many hours driving through rugged territory. But we forgot all those hours of driving when we finally caught a glimpse of a majestic cat. Time stood still.
It also reminded me of the magic of ecosystems. Every part of the ecosystem matters. The prey eat the grass and create space for new grass. The predators eat the prey. The scavengers clean up the caracasses and ensure no diseases are spread. And so on.
As Mufasa beautifully put it in the Lion King, “when we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so, we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.“
We are indeed.
(“Our World is Awesome” series: Ngorongoro Crater, Grand Teton NP, Yellowstone NP, Grand Canyon NP, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Tarangire NP)
