Southern Serengeti 2026
The first Southern Serengeti safari of 2026 was shared with a wonderful group, including Mark and Tim, who I first met after being stranded in Antarctica in late 2024. We stayed in contact afterwards and they later joined me on safari in Tanzania, along with Tim’s parents, Max and Valerie.
Max and Valerie had never travelled anywhere quite like Africa before. Watching them experience elephants, giraffe and zebra for the very first time reminded me why I love guiding safaris so much. Seeing Africa through fresh eyes never gets old.
We began the trip in Arusha, exploring the local markets before heading into the bush. The group loved seeing everyday life in Tanzania unfold around them. Max especially could not get over the motorbikes weaving through the streets carrying everything from huge baskets of produce to entire families and even goats. Firoz, my guide, affectionately calls them “mosquitoes” because they are constantly buzzing around the city.
Arriving in Ndutu
After leaving Arusha, we headed into Ndutu where we spent five nights during calving season right in the heart of the Southern Serengeti plains.
Our camp sat in a fantastic lion area and every night we fell asleep listening to lions roaring around us. On one occasion they even walked directly through camp while we lay awake in our tents listening to them just outside.
As we arrived at camp for the very first time, a large herd of giraffe greeted us in front of the tents. Mark was especially happy, as giraffes were one of the animals he had most hoped to see on safari.
Leopard Cubs and a Cheetah Morning
The following morning, Firoz had heard reports of leopard activity in the woodland area, so we headed out early to investigate. Before long we found two leopard cubs moving through the bushes nearby to where their mother had been resting.
To have sightings of three different leopards in the same area was a brilliant start to the trip, especially in Ndutu where leopard sightings can often require patience and luck.
Not long afterwards, we came across a beautiful female cheetah near the edge of the plains. Even better, we had her completely to ourselves.
We spent close to three hours with her as she searched for hunting opportunities through the grasslands. Although she did not make a kill, it gave us the opportunity to slow down and really spend time observing her behaviour.
We even sat having breakfast in the car while watching her move through the plains.
Within our first 24 hours in Ndutu, we had already seen lions, leopards and cheetahs, what guides often call a “cat trick”. Max became a big fan of the phrase and regularly reminded us throughout the safari that a cat trick was always worth having.
The Migration Arrives
Over the next few days, the rains arrived and with them came the wildebeest.
Timing the Southern Serengeti is everything. In 2025, the rains arrived early and most of the wildebeest had already calved before we reached the area. This year, however, we timed it perfectly.
Suddenly the plains were full of wildebeest stretching as far as we could see.
One of the most emotional wildlife moments of the trip came when we spent time watching a wildebeest giving birth amongst thousands of others out on the plains.
We sat quietly nearby as the mother repeatedly lay down and stood back up while pushing through labour. Eventually the calf entered the world, lifted its head and within only minutes was standing beside its mother amongst the chaos of the herd.
Watching those first moments of life unfold in the middle of the migration was something none of us will forget.
That tiny calf now faces an extraordinary journey north towards the Mara River where it will eventually cross crocodile filled waters before returning south again as part of the migration cycle.
Team Tano
Another highlight during our time in Ndutu was spending time with the Team Tano lion males. This coalition of five dominant males currently controls much of the area and moves between several different prides.
Because of my work with KopeLion, being able to share the individual stories and histories behind these lions adds a completely different layer to the experience for guests.
We found the males before sunrise and spent time watching them in the darkness using only the vehicle lights. Seeing five adult male lions together interacting so calmly and confidently was a special sighting.
Elephant Encounters
We also spent time with elephant herds around Lake Masek. Valerie especially loved the elephants and one afternoon we watched two young bulls sparring beside the lake while dust flew through the air around them.
At one point one of the bulls decided to investigate us a little more closely, eventually giving the vehicle a mock charge before Firoz calmly moved us away. It quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the safari.
Central Serengeti
After five nights in Ndutu, we moved into the eastern Central Serengeti near Namiri Plains where we stayed in a beautiful camp completely to ourselves.
The Serengeti landscape here is one of the reasons I love this part of the world so much. Endless plains scattered with kopjes, sausage trees, huge skies and wildlife in every direction.
One morning we spent hours with a pod of hippos, photographing them as they fought, vocalised and interacted with one another. It turned into one of the group’s favourite photography sessions.
Throughout the safari it was wonderful watching everyone become more confident with their photography. Tim especially embraced wildlife photography more and more each day, while Max brought a very different perspective to the Serengeti as a farmer.
He constantly joked about not being able to believe there were thousands upon thousands of wildebeest wandering around with nobody managing them. Questions about fences, water and who was “looking after them” became regular conversation in the car.
By the time we moved further north, the wildebeest had followed the rains towards the Nabi area near the entrance to Serengeti National Park, allowing us to continue experiencing the migration even after leaving Ndutu.
Nature’s Cleanup Crew
On the drive back towards Ngorongoro, we witnessed another side of the ecosystem when we came across a deceased zebra surrounded by vultures.
At first the vultures struggled to access the carcass until a hyena arrived and quickly opened it up. Within minutes more hyenas appeared and a feeding frenzy unfolded in front of us.
Once the hyenas moved away, the vultures rushed back in and stripped the carcass incredibly quickly. It was confronting at times, but also an important reminder of the role these animals play in keeping the ecosystem healthy.
Ngorongoro Crater
For our final two nights, we stayed on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Before entering the crater itself, we spent time watching a huge bull elephant helping himself to water from a storage tank beside a ranger station. Despite the ranger repeatedly trying to move him away, the elephant calmly returned each time for another drink, clearly knowing exactly what he was doing.
Our final full day inside Ngorongoro Crater gave us beautiful morning light and some fantastic wildlife sightings, including a male and female black rhino resting out on the plains.
Seeing black rhino is always special and spending quiet time with them in the soft crater light was the perfect way to finish the safari.
The crater also gave us elephants, lions, flamingos and one final fun photography session as the group practised panning flamingos across the water.
Final Moments
To end the trip, we spent time with the Lerai Forest baboon troop as they settled in for the evening. Max had become a huge baboon fan throughout the safari and could happily have spent hours watching them interact beside the vehicle.
By the end of the safari, Max, Valerie, Tim and Mark felt much more like friends than guests. I’m incredibly grateful for their company and for the many moments we shared together across the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
“An absolutely amazing experience with Bobby-Jo! Did not expect to see so many animals and to get so close to them (or rather, them coming close to us). The combined knowledge of Bobby-Jo and driver/local guide Firoz in understanding animal behaviour and being respectful to them was remarkable. Would not hesitate to do another trip with Bobby-Jo!”
Mark Friedrichsen, Australia
If you would like to experience the Serengeti for yourself, I’d love to have you join me on safari.