The Ngorongpro Wildlife camp was a luxury unto itself. The large tent was on stilts and housed a living room, verandah (looked so colonial thar I had to call it a verandah and not a porch), a humongous bedroom with maharaja style beds with bet curtains, full length mirrors and a bathroom that would fit 3 modern ones. The service reminded of the old Indian pictures of kings going on a hunt. Last night's dinner buffet was served with our Indian heritage in mind and the fragrance of African spices mixed with aroma of Indian gravies were a delight to the pallette. It was a place to spend a couple of days - not a quick overnight stay! Giraffes roamed around the tents and a photo op we couldn't pass up on.

But alas- schedules need to me maintained and we set out for the Ikoma Wildlofe Camp, in Serengeti bright and early after a sinfully delicious breakfast. The road was truly less traveled. The barren red black and purple soils strrched around us, and sometimes we were the only jeep as far as the eye could see. Sometimes. we would see yhe Masai herdsmen with their cattle, zebras and giraffes looked at us with indifference as they grazed a few feet from us. In front of these majestic creatures one felt so insignificant in comparison.

After about 3 hours we entered the vast arid plains of Serengeti. The acacia trees and thorn bushes gave way to endless yellow dry grasslands. Serengeti - - endless plains - in Masai, was truly infinite. As far as the eye could see the yellow scorched plain touched the bright blue sky. After a couple of hours of driving, slowly signs of life began to appear- a few birds, a herd of gazelles, some leaping Impalas, a family of zebras and a few buffaloes roamed the dry plains.

Suddenly the landscaped changed, straight out of Lion King, there were umbrella acacia trees, watering holes and a bit of greenery. Suddenly we were in elephant land - herds of wild African elephants within a few feet, while a few giraffes intermingled with the giant black bodies. A bend brought us to hippos snorting water, and just when we thought we couldn't get luckier - lo amd behold, the elusive leapard was taking a sieta in the wedge of some rocks.

Exhausted and covered in dust after a long game drive, we made our way to Ikoma Camp for our night stay - when suddenly we spotted several jeeps staying still in the horizon. And there it was - a pride of lions lounging under a tree, just a few feet away from the jeeps. The grandeur of nature was in full display.