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Ralph Lauren Goes on Safari
Having no clue what to pack for such an adventure — other than the rather obvious tent, sleeping bag and wild cat repellant — my thoughts turned to which watch would best suit an adventure across the plains of Tanzania. Ralph Lauren’s Safari watch immediately sprang to mind. I remembered the brand’s Safari advertizing campaign with the models cuddling lion cubs and suddenly felt more reassured!
I chose the RL67 Safari Chronometer 39mm, with an anthracite dial, a black-aged stainless steel case and a khaki textile strap. The watch was actually designed for men, but it looked so fabulous on my wrist — and there is a larger 45mm version too — so I really feel that this one should be left for the ladies!
Flying from Geneva, Switzerland, we arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport late at night and went directly to the Rivertree Hotel, a delightful lodge nestled in the foothills of Mount Meru with a view of Kilimanjaro itself. The next morning, after filling up the car, we left directly for the bustling safari town of Arusha, where our adventure would begin. The drive from Kilimanjaro to Arusha was my first taste of Tanzanian landscape, and for someone who comes from Switzerland, a small country surrounded by mountains, the sense of vastness was at first a little unsettling.
The following morning we were up at 4am and drove directly to the Lodoare Gate, where we bought our tickets to access the Ngorongoro conservation area, a UNESCO-protected site with vast expanses of high plains, savannah and the spectacular Ngorongoro crater. It was still dark on our way up to the top of the crater but just as we arrived I got to see my first Tanzanian sunrise and, I have to admit, it might just be better than the sunrises in Switzerland.
The part of the trip I feared the most was sleeping in the “bush” as the locals call it. “Don’t worry,” I was told. “When you hear a lion, you’ll think it’s right next to you, but it really isn’t,” or “You get used to hyenas after a while, you’ll see.” It was one of the most exciting yet terrifying experiences I have ever had.
The next couple of days felt like we were playing a huge game of hide and seek with the savannah animals. Some days they won and some days we did. Overall, we were definitely the winners as we got to witness one of Africa’s natural wonders, the Great Migration, where around two million wildebeests, zebras and gazelles migrate around the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in search of grass. We were extremely lucky to cross paths with them in the Ndutu area, which was breathtaking and I will remember it for as long as I live.
After a couple days of camping, my friend had organized a surprise for my birthday — a stay in the Ndutu Safari Lodge, the oldest lodge in the Serengeti. It was previously home to Hugo van Lawick and his then-wife Jane Goodall, as well as leading wildlife filmmakers and photographers who were attracted there because of the exceptional wildlife viewing.
My judgement may have been biased after sleeping in a tent, but this place was just paradise. We stayed in one of the lodge’s cottages and enjoyed every moment, from the great hospitality to the delicious food, an unforgettable after-dinner glass of wine around an open fire under the stars and a comfortable bed.
I’m so glad that my friend persuaded me to go. Every time I look down at my watch, I remember the great experience we had, and I feel just a little bit braver than I did before… and truly grateful that I didn’t get eaten by a lion.