Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3353
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 25th January 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A superb and lovely puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of the same for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.
Serengeti, the answer to the clue at 11a, is a favourite word in crosswordland, that happy terrain inhabited by solvers who relish a good grid and arrive at the word to their deep satisfaction. For solvers, spotting Serengeti can feel like greeting an old friend, challenging enough to be satisfying and familiar enough to be reassuring. But beyond the crossword, the word opens the door to one of the most remarkable landscapes on Earth. I have visited the internet umpteen times to learn about the Serengeti and this time too I found myself revisiting my favourite crossword spot on earth. The Serengeti is a vast ecosystem stretching across northern Tanzania and into south-western Kenya, most famously protected within the Serengeti National Park. Its name comes from a Maasai word ‘siringet’, meaning ‘the place where the land runs on forever’, a phrase that captures both the physical scale and the emotional impact of the plains. Standing there, with grasslands rolling out to the horizon and skies that seem impossibly wide, one understands why the name resonates so powerfully. What truly defines the Serengeti is life in motion, for it is home to the Great Migration, one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles. Each year, over a million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, move in a continuous loop in search of fresh grazing. This epic journey is shaped by rain, instinct and survival and it also sustains a complex web of predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and crocodiles, whose fortunes rise and fall with the herds. Ecologically, the Serengeti is a masterpiece of balance, as its mix of grassland, savanna, riverine forest and woodland supports an extraordinary diversity of species. Birds alone number in the hundreds, from towering ostriches to vividly coloured bee-eaters. Termite mounds, often overlooked, enrich the soil and create micro habitats, while fire and grazing work together to maintain the open plains. Culturally and historically, the Serengeti also matters deeply, having been shaped by human presence for thousands of years, particularly by the Maasai, whose traditional pastoral lifestyle is closely tied to the rhythms of the land. Modern conservation efforts, though sometimes controversial, aim to preserve this ecosystem not as a static museum but as a living and dynamic system. So while Serengeti may first appear as a pleasing solution pencilled into a crossword grid, it represents far more than a convenient collection of letters, standing instead as a symbol of wildness, continuity and scale, and a reminder that some of the world’s greatest wonders can be summoned by a single beautiful word in the world of crosswords.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Not much money for battery charger? (11)
CHICKENFEED: The definition of small change or a trifling sum of money or something of little value is cryptically arrived at from a charger that is a large, flat dish or platter serving meal that may include FEED i.e. food for animals, especially livestock for battery or a larger tier of cages housing the hens or CHICKEN, that is FEED for CHICKEN or, precisely, CHICKEN FEED
10a Number about right for voucher (5)
TOKEN: TEN (number) as a number one more than nine placed across (about) OK (right) as another word for okay, a colloquial term meaning all right or all correct takes to the definition of a gift voucher that can be used as payment for goods of a specified value
11a Plain entries e.g. to decorate (9)
SERENGETI: The definition of a large plain in Northern Tanzania, part of which is set aside as a national wildlife sanctuary is arrived at from an anagram (to decorate) of ENTRIES E.G.
12a Very difficult cryptic clue ran on gas (9)
HERCULEAN: The definition of an adjective denoting very difficult or requiring great strength or tremendous effort of Hercules, the divine hero in Greek mythology known for his strength, courage and the twelve very difficult task or labours he performed is reached from an anagram (cryptic) of CLUE RAN preceded by or placed after (on) HE (gas) as the chemical symbol for Helium, one of the nobles gases in the periodic table
13a Great help fitting heel of actress into footwear (5)
BOOST: The definition of an act or source of help or encouragement leading to increase or improvement is reached from inserting (fitting) the last or terminal letter (heel) of [ACTRES]S inside (into) BOOT (footwear) as a type of leather or rubber footwear covering the foot and ankle and sometimes also the lower leg
14a Container with wine blessed (6)
SACRED: A charade of SAC (container) as a hollow space or container in the form of a pouch or bag within an animal or plant air, liquid or some other substance and (with) RED (wine) as an alcoholic drink coloured by red grape skins during fermentation guides to the definition of an adjective meaning consecrated, hallowed or blessed
16a Very cold wind in Serbia (8)
SIBERIAN: The definition of an adjective describing something that is extremely cold, harsh or bitter, often evoking the severe winter climate of Siberia and frequently used to describe very cold weather, winds or conditions, such as ‘a Siberian winter’ i.e. an extremely cold winter is reached from an anagram (wind) of IN SERBIA
18a Balloon in space to which sentimentality gets attributed (8)
MUSHROOM: The definition of a verb meaning to expand, swell or grow rapidly or increase with disconcerting rapidity, an example of which is to balloon i.e. to swell or expand by or as if by inflating is arrived at from ROOM (space) as a portion of space within a building that is enclosed or partitioned off from other part preceded by or coming after (gets attributed) MUSH (sentimentality) as mawkish or cloying sentimentality, affection or amorousness
20a Shed circled by swallow, locked (4,2)
SHUT UP: HUT (shed) as a shed or outhouse surrounded by (circled by) SUP (swallow) as a small swallow or mouthful of liquid food guides to the definition of a verb in the past tense denoting closed and locked or confined in a place from where someone cannot escape
23a Hair some hairdresser trimmed back (5)
TRESS: The definition of a long lock or ringlet of hair, especially of a woman is part of or having inside (some) [HAIRDRE]SSER T[RIMMED] from the clue coming from the other end (back) as a reversal in the across clue
24a Retinue of attendants, ten surprisingly born when we were? (9)
ENTOURAGE: The definition of a group of people attending or surrounding an important person, an example of which is a retinue of attendants i.e. a group of advisers, assistants etc accompanying an important person is arrived at from an anagram (surprisingly) of TEN followed by OUR AGE (born when we were) as referring to the number of years we have been alive since the time we were born
26a Hairy growth touches man when cut off (9)
MOUSTACHE: The unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip and sometimes down the sides of the mouth is arrived at from a combo of TOUCHES and MA[N] (when cut) having the last letter removed or cut is subject to an anagram (off)
27a Message a little birdie delivered? (5)
TWEET: Double definition; the second denoting a weak chirping sound, as of a young or small bird that takes to the first referring to a short message as a comment on the Twitter website
28a Poison bear consuming last of venom ingested (11)
CONTAMINATE: The definition of a verb meaning to poison, pollute, defile or make physically impure is arrived at from CONTAIN (bear) as a verb denoting to bear, carry or hold taking in (consuming) the last or end letter (last) of [VENO]M and followed by ATE (ingested) as a verb in the past tense meaning ingested, consumed or took in solid food
Down
2d Walker greeting roadside shortly (5)
HIKER: The definition of a foot traveller or someone who goes on an extended walk for pleasure is got from HI (greeting) as an interjection used as a friendly greeting and KER[B] (roadside) as a rim, especially of joined stones or concrete, along a street or roadway, forming an edge for a sidewalk and made short with the removal of the last letter (shortly)
3d Disadvantage with blend in puzzle (7)
CONFUSE: A charade of CON (disadvantage) as a disadvantage of or argument against something and (with) FUSE (blend) as to join or blend to form a single entity leads to the definition of a verb meaning to puzzle or bewilder someone
4d Festival where gourmand absorbs sugar, primarily (6)
EASTER: The definition of the most important festival of the Christian Church, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ is arrived at from EATER (gourmand) as someone who eats a particular amount or type of food, eats in a particular way or has a particular attitude towards food, an example of which is a gourmand i.e. someone who enjoys eating and often eats too much taking inside (absorbs) the primary or the first letter (primarily) of S[UGAR]
5d In favour of having revised since describing investigative science (8)
FORENSIC: FOR (in favour of) followed by (having) an anagram (revised) of SINCE takes to the definition of an adjective describing the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law
6d Make a peer raise the Spanish hat briefly (7)
ENNOBLE: The definition of a verb meaning to make noble or to raise to noble rank or peerage is obtained from a combo of EL (the Spanish) as the Spanish for masculine singular definite article ‘the’ and most of the letters (briefly) of BONNE[T] (hat) as a hat of cloth or straw, often held in place by ribbons tied under the chain and traditionally worn by women and children in an inverted fashion (raise) as reversals in the down clue
7d But together (2,3,4,4)
AT THE SAME TIME: Double definition; the second being an adverb meaning together, simultaneously, concurrently or overlapping in duration that takes to the first a conjunction denoting but, however, nonetheless, nevertheless or and yet
8d Pleasure-seeker‘s done this rashly (8)
HEDONIST: The definition of someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures i.e. a voluptuary, epicurean or pleasure-seeker is reached when DONE THIS from the clue is subject to an anagram (rashly)
9d On the floor rather, laughing! (7,6)
SITTING PRETTY: A charade of SITTING (on the floor) as denoting in a seated position, an example of which is ‘on the floor’ meaning sitting or lying on the floor wherever one happens to be and PRETTY (rather) as an adverb meaning rather, fairly or to some extent takes to the definition of an informal phrase meaning being in a very pleasant, comfortable and secure position, an example of which is laughing i.e. being in a fortunate or successful position
15d Epic duos, when dancing, became intimate (6,2)
COSIED UP: An anagram (when dancing) of EPIC DUOS takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning became intimate or friendly or ingratiated oneself with someone
17d Electrical problem might hurt (5,3)
POWER CUT: The definition of a situation in which the supply of electrical power is interrupted for an entire neighbourhood by the suppliers is reached from a charade of POWER (might) as might, strength or force and CUT (hurt) as to hurt or wound the feelings of a person, especially by malicious speech or action
19d Dish is too much when stuck in middle of throat (7)
RISOTTO: The definition of an Italian dish of rice cooked in stock with ingredients such as vegetables and meat or seafood is arrived at from a combo of IS from the clue and OTT (too much) as an abbreviation for ‘over the top’, an adjectival phrase denoting excessive, exaggerated or too much when placed inside (stuck in) the middle letters (middle) of [TH]RO[AT]
21d American city enthusiastic about welcoming American (7)
HOUSTON: The definition of the most populous city in Texas, a large state in the southern United States is reached from HOT ON (enthusiastic about) as an informal phrase meaning very passionate or enthusiastic about or heavily in favour of something bringing inside (welcoming) US (American) as the adjectival abbreviation for the United States or belonging to the United States
22d Current way written on paper (6)
STREAM: The definition of any flow or current of liquid, fluid or gas or the current of a river etc is achieved from a charade of ST (way) as the abbreviation for street that is a type of paved way in a city, town or village often written in the short form because of space constraints in addresses, maps, signs etc placed upon in the down clue (on) REAM (paper) as a large quantity of paper
25d Information in data essentially representative (5)
AGENT: GEN (information) as a slang term for general information placed inside (in) the essential and inner letters (essentially) of [D]AT[A] takes to the definition of a representative or a person who acts on behalf of another person or group
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 12a, 18a, 24a, 28a, 7d, 9d and 19d; 24a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Dada for the entertainment. Looking forward to being here again.