Serengeti

The principal feature of the Serengeti is its stunning wildlife and the annual spectacle of the migration of millions of zebra and wildebeest in pursuit of water and food in response to the changing seasons. Its name derives from the Masai word siringet, which means an " extended area', an apt description of seemingly endless rolling plains that give the Serengeti a timeless, romantic beauty. This is a plain-dwellers' stronghold of 14 763 square kilometres, reaching up to the Masai Mara in Kenya. The park teems with wildlife - it is thought that over 3 million large mammals roam the plains with at least 35 different species of plain-dwelling animals. The bird life is also fantastic.

Seasons: Probably the best time to see the migration is from April onwards, as the calves borne with the rains at the beginning of the year are now strong enough to begin their journey to the north.

Wildlife: You should see: Patterson's eland, klipspringer, dikdik, impala, zebra, gazelles, water-, bush- and reed buck, topi, kongoni, cotton's oribi, grey bush duiker, buffalo and wildebeest, lion, hyaena, and jackal, porcupine, warthog, hyraxes, baboon, and vervet monkeys. You may see: Leopard, cheetah, bat-eared fox, wild dog and roan antelope.

Precautions: Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.