The open plains of the Lamai Wedge are incredibly beautiful and abundant in game. The landscape is reminiscent of scenes from Out of Africa, and there is plenty of freedom to roam and explore. The camp is situated opposite Crossing Point 4, midway among all crossing points along the river – and is perfectly positioned to spectate the wildebeest river crossings. Away from the river, this area of rolling savannah, boulder-strewn hillsides and fig-tree groves, is littered with inconceivably enormous herds of wildebeest, topi and zebra – as well as all the predators that gorge on this movable feast. Needless to say, the game-viewing we have access to is world-class. Cheetah, lion and elephant especially make for fantastic sighting, but it’s not unheard of to see the Big Five in a day.
The seclusion of the camp means that you are free to have the run of the place. Comprising just 4 tents, and 2 suites the peaceful intimacy lends itself to exclusive bookings, or groups accompanied by private guides.
The furnishings and creature comforts are much the same as Serian’s Serengeti North – with flushing toilets and bucket showers in an en suite bathroom, enormous wrought-iron beds, Moroccan rugs, and all the trimmings make it simplistically elegant and comfortable.
Watching a crossing is something that is thrilling to the core: the intensity, the trauma and the sheer spectacle, is all-absorbing, and resonates on a deep and primal level. Hundreds of thousands of pounding hooves set the tempo, and the nasal grunting hits a frenetic pitch: creatures cease to be individuals and operate as a swarm, teeming unseeingly toward the water. The crush, dust and panic as they launch themselves in and struggle across the current – claimed by crocodiles and crushed by each other – epitomises the quintessential rawness of nature’s character.
The cornerstone of a safari experience at Serian is that each group has their own open-top safari vehicle, and their own dedicated guide and spotter. The freedom this grants you is key to getting the most out of your stay: go where the day takes you, be it a full day out with a picnic in the wilderness, or a lazy siesta back in camp before that ice-cold sundowner… Our guides have an intimate familiarity with the landscape, and will translate and render it until you see it through their eyes.
Walking safaris are also a beautiful way to explore: set off with the first light in the company of Alex or one of our other guides, and tune into the whispering savannah silence away from the hum of a vehicle. As you ease into a slower pace, you’ll notice your senses picking up on the finer details: the intricate perfections of a skeleton, a map of secret paw prints, a microcosmic universe in a termite mound.
Look up from the lens. We love photography, but sometimes it’s about putting down the camera and being present in the moment, experiencing its full intensity and beauty.
Pack a pair of binoculars before you pack anything else. They will greatly enhance your game-viewing experience. Quality counts with optics.
3000
AVG NO. OF WILDEBEEST AT A CROSSING
15
MINS TO STAND AFTER BIRTH
4
CM THICKNESS OF ELEPHANT SKIN AT THICKEST POINT
LAMAI
AIRSTRIP
1
DEDICATED 4WD PER GROUP
