We spent three nights in the Northern Serengeti with three goals: to witness the great wildebeest migration, to ride a hot air balloon, and to spot the elusive leopard. We watched the wildebeest cross the Mara River on our first day. The next, we eagerly set out for the balloon ride, a first for all of us.

The Greatest Show on Earth

High up on my bucket list was the Great Wildebeest Migration across the Mara River in Tanzania. We were fortunate to witness this not once, but twice. In the vastness of the Serengeti, there were only a handful of tourists and only a smattering of safari vehicles on the river banks. In a normal year, hundreds of jeeps line the Mara River jockeying for the best viewing position.

Serengeti in Maasai means Endless Plains

We had been driving for hours staring at the flat landscape that stretched to the horizon when we realized that indeed we were now in the Serengeti - aka Africa’s Endless Plains.

If Jurassic Park were real, you would find it Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater

Imagine a volcanic caldera formed 2 million years ago and presently filled with wildlife, the Big Five, hippos, and flocks of flamingoes. The crater floor is 5,900 feet above sea level and is surrounded by a 2,000-foot rim that makes it almost impossible for animals to leave once they find their way inside. No wonder it’s called the 8th wonder of the world.

When Tanzania reopened its borders last August 2020, I began planning a safari trip. By September, I had put together a group of six first-time safari travelers. In October, we were on a plane from the US, headed for our final destination: Kilimanjaro Airport. Why Tanzania? I’d heard of the Great Wildebeest Migration and wanted to see it myself. Because there were so few tourists in Africa, I felt this was an ideal time to visit sans crowds.

Is it safe to travel during COVID? In 2020, I traveled to the Philippines and Cambodia (pre-lockdown), then to Mexico, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, and back to Mexico again (post-lockdown). These are the steps I take to travel safely.