Abundant Africa
O
ne of the most
The Greatest Show on Earth
compelling conservation stories in the animal kingdom is not about extinction, it’s about abundance. Each year, nearly two million African herbivores — including more than 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, 300,000 Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, and 12,000 eland— follow the seasonal rains in a clockwise direction across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, searching for fresh pastures on which to graze. The circular journey, over 500 miles (800 kilometers), is the planet’s largest overland annual migration, one of the seven natural wonders of Africa—and considered by many wildlife enthusiasts to be the greatest show on earth.
When and Where to Go As the wildebeests make their dramatic crossing of the northern Serengeti plains and the rushing Mara River in Kenya between July/ August (depending on the shifting rainy season) and October, many consider this the best time and place to take in the spectacle. Because predators pay close attention to the crossing from the riverbanks, it’s also prime time viewing for lions, leopards, and cheetahs in the Masai Mara. Guests at andBeyond Bateleur Camp have a front-row seat to the action. In fact, Bateleur Camp is one of the premier places in Africa for viewing the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo, and rhinos) year-round, as well as more than 500 bird species, hippos, giraffes, and
some of Africa’s largest crocodiles, either during game drives, from hot air balloons, or just gazing out at the vast plains, with complimentary Swarovski Optik binoculars, from a tented suite.
A Cinematic Experience With its copper bathtubs, hardwood floors, antique furnishings, private butler and housekeeper for each tent, and impeccable attention to detail, the camp evokes the glamour of a bygone era—it is located close to where Out of Africa’s famous final scene, with the lions, was filmed. At the same time, Bateleur Camp’s amenities are firmly rooted in the 21st century. Guests can swim in the sparkling camp pool; take advantage of a well-equipped gym and array of wellness treatments; enjoy the coffee bar by day and gin bar by night; and, of course, connect to the outside world through camp-wide wifi.
A Sustainable Experience The resort’s commitment to the care of the land, its wildlife, and its people is part of all that they
54 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021
