GRACIE – Walk on the wild side – Tanzania safari experience

Getting up close and personal to Africa’s wildlife is the ultimate thrill. There’s nothing quite like your first encounter with say a big cat, a leisurely giraffe, a trotting zebra or a well timed viewing of the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Do not disturb is good advice, but it’s tempting to want to cuddle a sleepy set of four big paws.

Snooze time in the Serengeti Photograph: GRACIE

Tanzania boasts several diverse and outstanding safari locations as well as an impressive array of camps and options for your safari experience. A stand out company is Asilia that has camps in all the major parks, two of which include Tarangire National Park and the Serengeti.

Little Oliver’s Luxury Tent – Image Courtesy sunsafaris.com

Tarangire National Park is home to Asilia’s ‘Little Oliver’s” camp and like the Park itself, it’s a well kept secret. Off the beaten track, it’s intimate and personal (only five tents). It doesn’t get much better than this. Personal service, fabulous food, understated luxury – it’s got it all. An en suite outdoor shower at sunrise is a must. Fear not, indoor showering is there for the not so intrepid.

Dining at Little Oliver’s is a unique culinary experience. Image Courtesy Afrikentravel.com

The park is home to elephants attracted by it’s river system and swamps, as well as the big cats, zebra, giraffe, a vast array of birds and a constant stream of varied wildlife. The landscape is as captivating as the wildlife – put the two together and it’s breathtaking.

Just back from a swim – -Silale Swamp, Tarangire National Park. Photograph: GRACIE

An acacia tree is the perfect place for a family gathering. Photograph: GRACIE

Majestic baobab trees are a feature in Tarangire bringing to mind Enid Blyton’s ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’.

Baobab tree – Tarangire National Park Photograph: GRACIE

By contrast, the Serengeti savannah plains feature broad horizons dotted with flat topped acacia trees.

Ready for a night out – a lioness in the dusk before sundown. Photograph GRACIE

The cycle of life is always front and centre.

Elephant bones – Photograph: GRACIE

It is here that you can observe the Great Migration – a spectacular event unequalled in the natural world. An estimated 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra complete a migratory circuit through the Serengeti into Kenya and the Maasia Mara and back again.

Wildebeest crossing the Mara River, Serengeti Photograph: GRACIE

Sometimes it can get awfully busy!

A hippo keeps clear of the traffic jam. Wildebeest crossing the Mara River – Photograph Courtesy Alisia Sayari

There are many vantage points from which to observe this natural phenomenon, but if you are looking for first class luxury, front row viewing and some of the best guides in Africa, then the award winning Asilia Sayari Camp is the place for you.

Leave the river to the crocodiles and hippos – Sayari Camp has a pool for your dip – Image courtesy Alisia

The specialist guides ensure your safari experience is tailored to suit your preferences whether it be birdlife, flora, the big cats or the personal thrill of spotting an elusive creature in the wild. It’s all so exhilarating and spellbinding, you’ll be hooked.