serengeti

The post-Kilimanjaro lens cast all of our coming plans in an incredibly laid-back light. Yet, our four-day safari excursion in the Serengeti National Park would still turn out to be somewhat exhausting. It’s only noticeable in the off-moments: when your safari car is stuck in the mud for half an hour, when no animals currently dot the endless green horizon, and when you collapse in your tent at the end of a very long day.

Luckily, there were so many more moments that put you on your feet. Propping up the lids of the cars, we peered out from the top even while the vehicle was moving. There was so much to take in from the sweeping, untouched landscape itself. Each new animal sighting sent a jolt of adrenaline. There were silent shrieks, tears, and dropped jaws.

Here’s a meager fraction of what I saw:

What I loved just as much were the conversations we’d have in the car, which left almost no topic untouched. It was still only the second week of getting to know each other. I haven’t laughed as much in ages.

After our safari, we made a day trip to the hot springs outside of Moshi. They looked out of a movie set, the water was so clear and turquoise. Floating there, I let myself enjoy a moment of pure bliss. Which was rudely interrupted by a fish trying to nibble at my leg.

It seemed Arusha did not want to let us go too easily. We boarded a 7:30 am bus to the capital, Dar Es Salaam, thinking we’d reach at 7:00 or 8:00 pm at the latest. We ended up reaching at 2:00 am. Traffic became indescribable by evening; lanes were entirely disregarded, and we seemed to be the only vehicle moving against a sea of oncoming traffic. The bizarre assortment of media that was playing on the bus TV—dozens of African music videos, Unknown (2011), soap opera episodes, Prey (2022), gospel music, and much more I missed because I faded in and out of sleep—actually looped all over again at the 15-hour mark.

Somehow we made it, even though it was way past check-in time at the hostel, and went to bed with the promise of beaches in the morning.

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