Chapter 262: Serengeti (Support Please)

Africa has many vast grasslands, the largest grassland region in the world.

Africa's land area is 30. 7 million square kilometers, of which grasslands cover 10 million square kilometers—fully one-third.

Geographically, Africa can be divided into five major grassland regions.

These are the East African grassland region, the West African Sahel-Sudan grassland belt, the South African grassland region, the Central African grassland region, and the western Madagascar grassland. Among them, the most famous—even children and the elderly might know—is the East African Serengeti.

The most renowned areas within it are Serengeti, Masai Mara, and Ngorongoro, especially Serengeti, which boasts the richest wildlife populations and serves as the core region of the great migration.

It lies in northern Tanzania, extending into Kenya and connecting with the Masai Mara Reserve, together forming the world's most complete grassland ecosystem.

"Over seventy species of large mammals and more than five hundred species of birds inhabit here, making it one of Earth's most biodiverse regions."

The off-road vehicle drove slowly across the grassland; the speaker was Elias Karu, a wildlife ecologist from Tanzania's Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), studying the migration ecology and population dynamics of large herbivores, especially wildebeest and zebra in relation to grassland vegetation and climate.

He appeared dark-skinned but held an elite academic background—a Ph. . in animal ecology from the University of Cambridge in England—and was also a loyal fan of Qin Yun, which directly shattered Qin Yun's prejudice against Africans.

"Is poaching here really as bad as online reports claim?" Qin Yun gazed at the endless grassland, his mood lifted.

Elias nodded: "There is some, but not nearly as much as before. Current controls are strict; poaching now mostly occurs at the edges or across borders. In Serengeti's core zone, it's rare—almost nonexistent."

He explained: "Modern poaching mainly targets ivory and rhino horn; other wildlife has little value. Ivory hotspots are in East Africa, rhino hotspots in South Africa—all strictly controlled areas."

"Decades ago, it was blatant slaughter—animal carcasses littered East Africa."

He looked at Qin Yun, his expression hesitant.

Qin Yun smiled: "Elias, just say what's on your mind."

Elias chuckled awkwardly: "Qin, if it's under control, could you please avoid killing large wildlife?"

He had watched most of Qin Yun's livestreams and knew his combat prowess—he could take down brown bears, let alone leopards or hyenas, which would be nothing but easy prey.

Hearing this, Qin Yun couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Elias, this is East Africa, the animals' domain. Except for a few predators, most species are herd-dwellers—even lions live in prides. What could I possibly hunt? Besides, Serengeti is a World Heritage Site. Unless my life is in mortal danger, I'll always leave room for mercy. You can rest easy."

Elias scratched his head sheepishly. "Thank you, Qin. I don't have much money, but I'll like and send hearts during your livestreams."

Qin Yun laughed silently.

The time was August 4, 3 p. ., the sun shining brightly, the grassland serene.

Qin Yun was en route to Endutu Lake.

After posting his livestream announcement, a fan in Africa named Elias contacted him via private message, offering logistical support. Upon arriving in Tanzania, Qin Yun reached out to him on a whim.

Elias then drove him first to the institute, and after a day's stay, volunteered to take him to Endutu Lake.

Qin Yun was more than happy to accept.

The wind across the grassland carried a different scent—dry grass charred by sun, mixed with a faint metallic tang, warming the skin.

As far as the eye could see, the grassland this season was golden and withered; occasional gusts stirred dust clouds. The view was wide open—animal shapes visible even kilometers away.

That morning, they had left Arusha, first visited Ngorongoro Conservation Area, made minor supplies, then raced toward Endutu Lake.

"Raced" was an exaggeration—they couldn't go fast at all.

The road was unpaved, bumpy, with no streetlights, no signs, no signal. Without Elias, Qin Yun would've needed a helicopter just to find Endutu Lake.

Along the way, they encountered zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, giraffes, and even leopards, cheetahs, and lion prides.

The animals paid them no mind unless they got too close, then simply moved farther away. According to Elias, these animals were accustomed to humans and vehicles.

But Qin Yun preferred to believe it was the AK-47s carried by the armed men beside him that deterred them.

Animals' sixth sense is sharp—only the brainless stand their ground against truth.

"The entire lake area spans about 104 square kilometers, but since it's August—the dry season—the water has receded. Qin, if you came in January or February, you'd see two million migrating animals gathered here, over eight thousand calves born daily, fifty thousand wildebeest calves born in three months—it's spectacular."

Qin Yun already knew all this.

As time passed, a structure resembling a military restricted zone appeared on the horizon, but its signage and English letters still read TAWIRI—Tanzania's official research institution; Elias was a high-ranking staff member there.

Armed guards stood at the entrance, rifles in hand. When the vehicle approached, they immediately stepped forward to inspect it.

After Elias verified his identity, they chatted amiably, eyeing Qin Yun—the Asian man with yellow skin—with curiosity.

Though he wore camouflage, they could still tell he was powerfully built, instinctively sensing high threat potential.

Inside the building, Elias arranged his lodging, then took him to the cafeteria for a meal.

"Qin, tomorrow I'll have the car drop you within ten kilometers of Endutu Lake. Beyond that, I can't accompany you—you'll need to proceed on foot. Even though wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles have moved north, many resident wildlife remain at Endutu."

"Understood."

Qin Yun nodded: "Thanks for your help—I'd have had to rent a helicopter otherwise."

"It's nothing, Qin. I'm your fan—I'll be watching your livestreams closely for the next twenty days."

"Hahaha, much appreciated."

They chatted merrily; staff occasionally passed by, greeting Elias. Clearly, Elias held high status at the institute—only in his early thirties, yet exceptionally knowledgeable and accomplished.

He was just very dark-skinned, giving the impression of incomplete evolution.

In Qin Yun's prejudice, Africans excelled in sports and music, but most lower-class Africans displayed behaviors online that made his eyes twitch—as if they belonged to a different civilization.

But Elias felt different: aside from his dark skin, his speech and thoughts radiated education and refinement.

Education, it seemed, was the ultimate force shaping a person's character.

Back in his dorm, Qin Yun uploaded some photos he'd taken along the way to Weibo.

【I've arrived in Tanzania. These are some photos I took en route—enjoy the view. See you tomorrow at 8 a. .】

Comments flooded in immediately.

"Isn't it the dry season? Aren't gazelles migrating north? Why are there still some?"

"Must be stragglers—not every wildebeest or gazelle migrates."

"Wow, such a close-up lion—and it's looking at Qin Ye with disdain?"

"The lion says: These two-legged creatures, if not for their truth-holding hands, I'd swallow them whole."

"Is that a leopard or a cat? Why so small?"

"African golden cat."

"Looking forward to Qin Ye's livestream tomorrow."

"I can't wait anymore."

"A paradise for wildlife, but I heard poaching is rampant and armed factions control the area—Qin Ye, be careful."

"That's old news—Tanzania's political situation is extremely stable where Qin Ye is."

After replying to a few comments, Qin Yun checked the time, told Su Huan, then lay down to sleep.

Fortunately, there was internet near the building, but once he entered the grassland, it vanished. Only Starlink works here—China's BeiDou and Tian Tong have no coverage. So once Qin Yun truly entered the grassland, only his drone could communicate via Starlink; everything else would be cut off.

…………

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