The Explorer
December 2005
News from the Bush!
The dry season in the northern Serengeti has been an amazing witness to the extraordinary, and out of the ordinary, as the plains south of the Mara River flushed with new growth, luring the migratory herds south in front of our camp.
Rather than the more expected search for game across parched plains, our guests enjoyed a February type experience that stretched on into September and early October as though diversion signs had been set, to keep a million plus, plains game from their more normal route into the Masai Mara.
Kills were abundant and sleep hard to come by, as the relentless too-ing and fro-ing of Wildebeest and Zebra included our camp-site as part of their migratory movements.
This perhaps is the epitome of why, life here in East Africa remains as exciting for me after 25 years of exploration, as it did when I first set eyes on the endless plains of the Serengeti
The Wilderness
The newly developed site at Osunyai, gave a fresh feel to our dry season Wilderness Camp, exchanging the familiar sand river, for the new hill top location, bringing more light and freshness into the tents, as well as stunning 240 degree views of the mbuga that runs into Silale and the mountains of Lokisale, and on a clear day, Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro.
The move has also given us much easier access into Tarangire National Park as well as creating a greater variety of game viewing options immediately from the camp itself.
As mentioned previously, the season end brought with it, yet another bush fire, which freakishly jumped both of our fire breaks, sweeping through the tinder dry grasses, decimating three of our accommodation tents as well as the entire service area. Safari services were not affected.
The Wilderness, continued…….
Pressure is always such a good way of focusing minds, so with The Alamana Wilderness Camp at The Ngaroi needing to be set by middle of December, our entire work force moved into over-drive, fabricating all of the necessary elements of our sophisticated wilderness set up, so that camp opening proceeded as planned.
Jo’s Brother, Mike, kindly flew in to join me for the initial building outline, which of course was incredibly hard work (Jo and Emma are you reading this?) but we managed, aided by a bottle of my favourite double matured Llagavullen,the camp shaped into what I had hoped it would.
The new site for The Alamana, set amongst kopjes, surrounded by meandering seasonal river depressions that flow into the Alamana during the rains, has a much more focused feel than the old site, whilst retaining that feeling of privacy from each of the accommodation tents. As before, each tent has its own ambience, with either far-reaching views or intimate nooks and crannies in kopje castles, overlooked by no one.
The dining and lounge have been combined in a split-level platform, raised and positioned to compliment the lines of the western ridge where the sun sets majestically over the Serengeti.
Many new elements have been incorporated into the new set up, which we hope will streamline and improve on an already successful concept.
5H-GJS has truly come into its own over the past months, enabling me quickly to fly into these remote areas for short periods without wasted journey time, even Marianne has agreed to fly with me!!!!!!!!!
As before, the camp is hosted by our full time Professional Walking Guide, this season we welcome Iain MacDonald, a Zimbabwean, well versed in the African bush and a splendid host for the Alamana. Karibu Iain and have a great season. Philip and Dave will be helping out as before, keeping Wildlife Explorer at the forefront of the walking safari world. Lois Blalock continues to compliment all of the above, with her background quality control and attention to detail.
News from Olerai
This morning at 06.32, a little voice shouted from his bedroom ‘Daddy, are we still going to walk out into the field and see if the Zebra are there?’
I had quite forgotten the promise made to Hunter on returning from our Christmas church service last night that we would get up early and walk out into the yellow fever woodland behind Olerai, to see if the two rescued Zebra were to be found. Sure enough, close to the stables, our two stripy friends, comfortably grazed, looked on by Paul and Fini’s two mares!
Perhaps not how everyone starts their Christmas Eve, but hopefully the same elements will be incorporated into yours, a shared moment with family and a sense of excitement of the unexpected!
It’s been such an exciting year for myself and my family, and as we start to celebrate Christmas, I wish all of our friends around the World an equally joyous time.
With warm wishes,
Gary, Jo, Marianne and all the Wildlife Explorer Team!.
