We left Sand Rivers in the Selous with one smiling and one sobbing eye. The Selous has become such an important part of our life. The magic of this secluded place will never leave our hearts. The staff at Sand Rivers have become our family and we will miss them dearly. But it was time for us, time to move on, face new challenges and live new experiences.
It is the Serengeti now, that we shall call our home and the crew at Lamai who will become our family. This thrilling and slightly daunting feeling is almost overwhelming as we step off the plane in Kogatende, Serengeti.
We are speechless as we drive past beautiful flat top Acacia trees, high grass planes and rock kopjes. We have been to the Serengeti before, we have even been to this very area before, but everything changes when a place becomes home. Every feeling is intensified and every tree, bird and rock becomes more significant.
Crowned Crane walking through the tall grass in the Lamai Wedge, Northern Serengeti
Topi on the open planes of the Lamai Wedge, Northern Serengeti. This highly social and fast antelope will only be found in the savannas, semi deserts and flood plains of Sub-Saharan Africa.
As we approach the Lodge, Helen and Clyde, our predecessors, are waiting for us waiving and greeting us with big smiles. We had a lovely time with them, learning about the camp, the staff and the area. We could not have asked for a better handover and are so very thankful to them for making our start at Lamai so wonderful.
Helen and Clyde on the sundowner kopje, taking a moment to say farewell to the place that was their home for over 2 years.
Now Lamai is ours, this beautiful camp, nestled in a kopje, overlooking the gorgeous planes of Northern Serengeti. We are so blessed to be falling asleep to the purr of Leopards, waking up to the gentle chirping of birds and watching elephants pass by in the distance as we have our lunch.
A family of Elephants enjoying the lush grass the recent rains have brought.
This is a place where anyone who loves Africa becomes content and anyone who visits for the first time will get hooked on the magic of the African bush. This wild and wonderful place is where everything is still as it should be. It is where the eagles soar high and free as the lions roam their territory, gazelles pronk in the afternoon sun and shy hyena call at night.
Hyena mama and cub cautiously scouting their surroundings.
Hyena cub lounging outside its den, catching the last afternoon sun.
We cannot wait to experience every season in this incredible place and to let the Serengeti teach us all about its life.