Even if I’d never left the confines of the lodges on my recent trip to Tanzania, I would have had a fantastic vacation, what with the beauty of their settings and their high levels of service and comfort. So it’s a testament to the thrill of a safari that I was always eager to embark on a game drive. On every one, we saw something interesting.

But I take interest in all the animals, small and large, herbivore and predator. It’s exciting to come across a pride of lions, but it’s also great fun to spot dwarf mongooses scampering around a termite mound. It’s hard to imagine feeling bored; even when you’re not seeing animals, the scenery is epic.

Here are a few of my favorite photos of animals that we spotted over the course of a week of game drives around Lake Manyara and the Serengeti. We saw the Great Migration in the southern Serengeti, and most people suggested avoiding the rest of the national park, imagining it to be devoid of animals. But we had stupendous wildlife sightings everywhere, including in the Serengeti’s far north, on the opposite side of the vast grasslands from the Great Migration. Sometimes it pays to be a solitary hunter rather than a herd animal.

I used a versatile Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV for the photos below, but often we were close enough to wildlife for me to get enviable images with my phone’s camera.

Lion

The male lions we saw near Wilderness Usawa Serengeti in the park’s south ranged from majestic to playful-looking. We also spotted females with adorable cubs near &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge in the west and One Nature Mara River in the far north (as well as more males). But cute though they looked, we knew they could tear us to pieces in an instant.

Leopard

Of the two leopards we saw on this trip — leopards are reclusive and notoriously difficult to find — this one near Wilderness Usawa was the most photogenic. It was an intense experience to stare into its eyes, especially when it was tearing into the flesh of its breakfast, claws extended.

Cape Buffalo

We saw several imposing herds of Cape buffalo, but I especially like this photo of a lone animal, watching us with suspicion on the plain near One Nature.

Elephant

While we were on a drive in Lake Manyara National Park, one massive elephant walked determinedly toward me, approaching within 10 feet. She looked me up and down before finally turning away and heading down to a stream. Even this old safari hand was momentarily dumbstruck. “Don’t worry,” our guide said. “She’s relaxed!” The elephants near &Beyond Grumeti looked particularly picturesque, backdropped by the verdant grassland and copses of trees.

Cheetah

We’d just about reached our picnic spot for lunch when we heard word of two cheetahs. Immediately, we turned around and drove at speed toward the sighting. It was exhilarating, rocketing across the western Serengeti in pursuit of these exquisite but elusive predators. We found the two brothers surveying the landscape from atop a termite mound. That reconnaissance accomplished, they strode into the shade to relax. 

Hyena

Not the prettiest of creatures, hyenas nevertheless have an amusing charm. We spotted several near &Beyond Grumeti, ostensibly cooling off in a creek but really waiting for a nearby lion to stop guarding the carcass of a topi. The hyenas we encountered near Wilderness Usawa, however, were doing nothing but wallowing the afternoon away.

Hippo

While at &Beyond Grumeti, we didn’t have far to go to see hippos. We could observe them in the river from the main building’s deck as well as from our suite’s terrace. Most of the time, they clumped together peaceably in the water, avoiding the heat and sun, but sometimes they’d grunt and snarl, or even wrestle one another with their gaping jaws.

Crocodile

We saw immense dinosaur-like crocodiles near One Nature, but we were able to get closer to these younger crocs by &Beyond Grumeti. In both cases, we saw the fearsome reptiles in repose, but when the wildebeest cross rivers during the Great Migration, the crocodiles have easy pickings.

Zebra

With their iconic stripes, zebras are always beautiful to see. We spotted this small herd near One Nature, their black-and-white coloration standing out against the vibrant green Serengeti.

Maasai Giraffe

Giraffes may be some of the most oddly shaped mammals, but they’re also among the grandest. These Maasai giraffes were grazing close to the One Nature lodge.

Dwarf Mongoose

At the other end of the spectrum, dwarf mongooses rank among the smallest mammals you’re likely to see on safari. This little pair near &Beyond Grumeti kept a close eye on us just as we observed them.

Topi

We saw great herds of topi throughout the Serengeti, but the biggest was near &Beyond Grumeti. The graceful antelope moved in concert, attended by a flock of gleaming-white cattle egrets. What a spectacle! Sometimes, as in this second photo, they appeared to be posing for the camera.

Black-Backed Jackal

If you call someone a jackal, it’s an insult, but the foxlike animals themselves are actually quite handsome. We encountered several pairs over the course of our trip — they mate for life. I snapped a photo of this one near Wilderness Usawa.

Olive Baboon

While at Lake Manyara, we came across far too many baboons to count. Even though they were common, I still enjoyed watching them cavort and groom one another. This adult munched leaves in a seemingly pensive fashion.