The biggest thrill I got from visiting the Serengeti is simply being in the place that I had seen and heard about so many times on TV. I doubt the cable network Animal Planet could even exist without the Serengeti. And there was certainly a sense of adventure while we were there.

The first adventure was actually getting from Arusha (the tourism hub of Tanzania) to the Serengeti itself. We chose to fly in, which turned out to be more of an adventure than we expected. The plane held only 10 passengers and the ride certainly wasn’t smooth. In fact the only advantage flying has over driving the pothole-filled-dirt roads is that the kidney-jarring, motion-sickness-inducing ride takes only one hour instead of six. Plus there is the little surge of adrenalin as the plane lands on a strip of dirt and gravel rather than a paved runway.

Upon landing we met our guide and began our first "game drive". We piled into specially equipped Land Rover, which is basically a big SUV with a modified roof that can be opened to let you stand up and see the animals. Our guide was older and wouldn’t allow us to stand while the vehicle was in motion. Some of the younger guides did allow this, but I wouldn’t recommend it as you can really get thrown around on the ‘roads’.

During the average game drive you spend several hours driving along the bumpy dirt roads of the Serengeti keeping an eye out for animals. Sometimes we went as long as 30 minutes between animal sightings, but usually we saw something every 5 minutes or so.

There are many Land Rovers traveling around the park at any one time and this actually becomes a good resource. The guides talk to each other either by radio or more often by simply stopping and chatting with a guide coming the other direction on the road. This way they learn where the best animals are today. But even without the guides talking, just the site of a Land Rover sitting still rather than moving was a sure sign that there was something to look at. And if you come across a "Serengeti traffic jam" of over 30 Land Rovers together, you know there is a leopard or cheetah about.

In the Serengeti you are not allowed to drive just anywhere, you must stick to the network of park roads. This is usually fine as they go through areas where the animals like to hang out anyway. You are also normally not allowed out of the vehicle. The only time we got out was at The Hippo Pool where a crowd was gathered on the banks of the pond.

By the end of the first game drive we had a pretty good idea of what the Serengeti is all about. In fact I could see a perfectly acceptable Serengeti visit involving flying in in the morning, driving around for several hours, and then flying back out late in the afternoon. Anything more is just bonus. We stayed for 3 nights, which seemed like a good amount of time. But we would have also been happy with one or two nights, or just as happy with a full-week.

Shorter stays tend to be just a bit rushed trying to see as much as you can. The longer you stay the more relaxed your trip will be. You’ll start to get a feel for the park, recognizing landmarks and even certain animals as ones you’ve seen before. But don’t worry about running out of animals to see, there’s always something new to find.

Do worry about what else you might do between game drives, as there really isn’t too much to choose from. While, most people stay at one of the larger lodges in the park. These lodges do offer things like a swimming pool, a lounge area, and a gift shop, but not much more than that. There are some camps that offer less than that. Even in a big lodge it can get boring after a few days, especially for kids. Plus be aware that often the Tsetse flies are bad and this can make any outdoor activity like lounging by the pool or just walking around the grounds uncomfortable.

Eating is not something you will have to worry about as the food is pretty good and there is certainly enough of it. Even the box lunches you take for a full-day game drive are quite good.

The park facilities themselves are equivalent to what you would expect at a state park in America. The Seronera Visitor’s Center offered several informational displays, a lunch stand, a nice picnic area, a walking trail, and bathroom facilities. Just watch for the hyraxes; cute rabbit-like creatures that won’t hurt you, but may be bold enough to take a bit of your lunch if you’re not looking.

Overall I strongly recommend a visit to the Serengeti. You’ll learn a lot and it will give you a whole new appreciation for many of the shows on Animal Planet.