Day Six - Co-piloting and Under Canvas - &Beyond

 

Time to say goodbye to stunning Grumeti Reserves and wonderful Godson and head back to the Serengeti – this time by plane. We drove to Saskwa airstrip which, by the way, has the most adorable little departure lounge in a tent under a tree.

The Auric Air plane came in right on time at 11am and since I was the only passenger I asked Hamisi the pilot if maybe I could co-pilot with him? ……… if I promised not to touch anything …. so technically not really a co-pilot…… but he said yes.

A short but exciting flight with flawless take-off and landing (if I do say so myself), gorgeous views over the ever-greener Serengeti on the approach to Seronera.

Thank you Hamisi – that was so fun x

New stop, new guide; Justice from &Beyond was waiting to meet me, quick paperwork, and off we went towards Serengeti Under Canvas. Along the way we spotted a few topi, hartebeest, giraffe in the distance, leopard tortoise, a huge family of warthogs, hornbills but we also chatted. Justice is a young guide with an infectious enthusiasm and animated conversation. He was very proud to tell me all his story about how he learnt English and became a guide – very entertaining!

AndBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas

Arriving at And Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas felt like coming home – an absolutely lovely mobile camp in the old-style traditional safari tent that I am so familiar with. Classic safari camp furnishings with a touch of extra style (verging on shabby-chic) and comfort courtesy of the high-end brand (crystal glasses, shiny brass wash-basins and big couches) but with the essence of the dressed down and real safari intact.

With bucket showers in an open-air canvas ‘enclosure’ (attached to rear of tent) this camp is the real deal for those wanting a luxury authentic tented camp with no unnecessary extra amenities to distract from the safari experience.

After a very tasty lunch (chapatis and chicken are always a favorite of mine) I relaxed peacefully in my tent, catching up a little on some work (wifi is throughout camp – love/hate). 

Then Justice and I headed back out at 4pm. We had a plan to go looking for elephant but the weather had other ideas and we were thwarted by a heavy blanket of rain sweeping towards us. We quickly closed the hatch and zipped up the sides as the rain arrived in a pretty emphatic fashion. The &Beyond vehicles (at this camp) are almost a hybrid between an open and closed safari vehicle. They are essentially a closed vehicle with roof hatches but also with cut-out sides along the rear seats (glass windows still in front) and droppable panels in case of rain. Quite a nice combination as a more open feeling than a drive-in vehicle but also the option of standing up to scan and ride along with the wind in your face.

Even though the weather was against us the drive was still enjoyable with some nice time close to grazing giraffe, some noisy hippos, bateleur eagles, a swimming young python trying to get out of the rain flooded road, and more engaging chat with Justice.

We finished as the rain stopped with a sundowner and then close to camp came across a moving herd of wildebeest and a random hyena walking purposefully towards them. A quick shower then dinner. With a table-for-one out by the firepit and under the stars I ate the best cucumber soup in creation and some very good beef tenderloin accompanied by the whoops of hyena at a comfortable distance.

And so to bed with all the canvas raised and just the bug-screens between me and the Serengeti ….night breezes, the smell of the rain and distant calls …… aaah heaven!