After two flights, a bus ride to Arusha and several hours in the car to drive into the park, we have finally arrived in the Serengeti for our annual project trip. This is my first time in the region, and I am amazed at how dry it is here, despite being in the middle of the short rainy season.

On the way to the park we stopped briefly to get a glimpse of the Ngorogoro Crater, which is a huge open valley where the Masaai tribe and their cattle live alongside zebra, wildebeest and water buffalo. Where we stopped, some teenage Masaai boys presented an array of beaded necklaces and bracelets to the tourists to buy. I didn’t buy from them, but I was asked if I could give them some water. I gave them what I had and wished that I could do more. It seems like the lack of rain is taking a heavy toll on the people, domestic animals and wildlife of the region.

Follow up:

Once we were inside the park, the plains opened up, and for the first time we were able to get an idea of the incredible biodiversity of the Serengeti ecosystem. Along the way, we saw Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, jackals, ostrich, wildebeest, zebra, topi, kori bustards and numerous other bird species. Incredibly, the Serengeti ecosystem supports more than 400 bird species!

This trip will be heavy with meetings, so I will have to take advantage of every opportunity to get out and see the incredible wildlife.

Colleen O'Donnell