Safari

7/8/24 – The “journey” begins

We had an early breakfast with everyone, before meeting up with our Safari guides and saying goodbye to James and Ari, who were not joining us on the Safari.

Our drivers were Juma and Idona. The first day was a drive to Lake Manyara, where we did our first animal experience. On the way the vegetation transitioned from lush farm fields to savannah, where we saw small villages surrounded by bomas. Apparently the vehicle with Adam, Emily and Aaron named themselves the FUV (Fun Utility Vehicle) and the other vehicle was the SUV (Sleepy Utility Vehicle). On the way to the park we stopped at the Jane Goodall Institute and travel stop and that had a lot of animal statues.

At the Lake Manyara park we saw many animals, including troops of baboons (including babies), elephant herds (including babies), monkeys, zebras, impalas, bush bucks, striped mongoose, red crested lizards, birds. It was fun looking for lions and leopards, but unfortunately we did not see any large predators. The most exciting part was when a hornet of some sort flew into the FUV. Apparently while the adults were gawking at the giant hornet, Melanie coolly and collectedly was like “maybe we should open a window”.

First Zebra sighting (they really do exist)

After the game drive, we went to our hotel, which was a very high end establishment. We hung out at the pool and watched a cultural show that involved music, singing, dancing, flips, juggling and a contortionist. It was pretty good. Dinner was white linen, but the power kept tripping out, luckily moody brought his foldable camp lantern to keep our table lit.

PS – What I am realizing is that in a Safari, you just sit around and take a lot of pictures. So buckle up, there are going to be a lot of pictures!

Really cool African huts that we stayed in – 4 rooms per hut.

Cultural show with music, dancers and acrobats

Monkeys all over the hotel property – at night we had guards escort us to our rooms

7/9 – Serengeti

We got up, ate a delicious breakfast buffet and off we went on our 2nd day of safari. We stopped at a local shop and then went to the Ngorongoro Nature Area. It looked like Jurassic park with overgrown jungle and fog filled ravines. The plan was to come back and explore the crater after 3 days in the Serengeti.

Local art shop – Neat stuff, but just doesn’t fit MN cabin Decor

Crazy entrance to the Ngorongoro Nature Area

Ngorongoro crater (we come back and go into the crater after the Serengeti

Jurassic Park, except thankfully Elephants pop out instead of Dinosaurs

The road to the the Serengeti was very bumpy, which the guides called an “African massage”. The only car seen on the roads were Toyota Land Cruisers. On the way to the Serengeti we saw giraffe (and a baby), secretary birds, ostriches, elephant, impala, gazelle, zebras and Masai villages.

Ngorongoro is the sound a cow bell makes

Serengeti – “the place where the land runs on forever”

Impala and Zebra was amazing to see the first day

Even in remote areas, there were Masai people hanging out

We stopped at the Olduvai Gorge Museum, which was founded by Mary Leakey. It is a museum dedicated to the appreciation and understanding of the Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli fossil sites.

Group shot overlooking the Olduvai Gorge

Group shot eating our box lunch (Emily found a stray dog – not pictured)

Serengeti means “endless”, due to the endless grassland and it lived up to its name. We saw black jackels, golden eagles, six lions basking in the grass, hippos, hyenas, water buffalo, topi, and giraffe in the park.

Heartabeast – their antlers form a heart

The African Massage rattled the SUV apart – lost the antenna and both windshield wipers

Our tent rooms – they are really quite nice

7/10 – Poo walk

Sleeping in tents let you hear the animals, including lions huffing, birds and water buffalo walking through camp; it was pretty wild. Going to and from your tent, would require you to radio for a guard to come and escort you. One of the guards was a Masai named Ncaca. This morning Lily, Emily, Aaron, Moody and Jo went on a balloon ride, leaving camp at 4:20am.

Here’s to floating above the Serengeti,
Where we drift on the breeze like flecks of confetti.
May the breeze be kind, our landing on point,
And our champagne bubbles never disappoint!

Official Aeronaut – with certificates to prove it.

Adam, Melanie and Matt went on a game drive at 8:00am. New animals we saw were Hyrax, warthog, Tawney eagle, lots of bird (guinea foul, lilac breasted eola, blue starling, vultures, yellow throat beita. Fish eagle…), 15 lions (and babies) sunning themselves on a mound and then walking into the trees, dig-dig (smallest antelope that mate for life), and dwarf mongoose,

Water Buffalo in the distance from our dining tent

We met up with the balloon people, had lunch and then went in search of the leopard. And we found one (very far way).

Then we saw a male and female lion on their honeymoon, then the male and female met up with another female and a cub right next to the Land Cruisers. We also saw hippos, crocodiles, heartabeast, a giant herd of impala, giant herd of water buffalo and a cheetah from afar, hyena, and a male giraffe trying to put the moves on two female giraffe.

Apparently male lions are pretty lazy, but will get up and follow their females.

Glad we are in a Land Cruiser – because that is intimidating

The lions seem to be quite familiar with tourists

A parade – 3 lions and like 10 land cruisers behind

When we got back to camp, we took spear throwing lessons with Ncaca. Then we went on a savannah walk; which we saw many animals prints and poops. Here are some of the poops we saw….

Ncaca – “Look at these cool bones I found”. Matt – “Isn’t our camp right there?”

Pic from top of the kopje (rock out cropping)

Water Buffalo like the camp, because they feel safe from the Lions

7/11 – Big cat day

Waking up to all the animals right outside our glamping tents was amazing.

Giraffe and Water Buffalo right outside out tents (thanks for pointing it out Jo).

Unfortunately, Moody was sick today and stayed at camp. Melanie was sick today and just puked out the car window. Amazingly we saw a leopard 10min in the morning drive. It walked right next to the cars. It was so cool.

Apparently this is the third time our driver has seen a leopard walking this close to the vehicles.

He was a little annoyed by the attention

Shortly after, we saw a couple hyenas and ostriches off in the distance. Then elephants play fighting and a black striped jackal.

Fun fact – Apparently they digest bones that they eat.

Fun Fact – African elephants have ears shaped like Africa

Then we came across a cheetah after a fresh kill.

Then a little while later, we saw 3 male lions, a female and a cub. We followed the female and cub for a while, until the cub got tired and hid beneath a tree. Juma’s Jeep did not have 4 wheel drive and he ended getting stuck in the mud about 3 times, requiring Idano and other drivers to push him out.

We had a picnic lunch out in the bush. Later we saw a serval and 5 cubs. Last we saw a Common Eland (the largest antelope) before we were all tired and headed back early, around 2pm.

The lions we saw were about a 1/4mine away…

but the only animals that bothered us were some very aggressive birds.

If you look really closely you can see 3 of her cubs on her left

7/12 – Rhino

Leaving the Serengeti today. Woke up to a beautiful sunrise.

On the way out saw a lion, a Waterbuck, ostriches and many other herbivores.

Another lion – get a picture and move on. We want a rhino!

Emily was obsessed with Tanzania Fanta. More flavors and better taste resulted in her smuggling about 10 Fanta’s to the states.

At Ngorongoro crater we saw lot of zebra, wildebeest and a black rhino. Rounding out the big 5 African animals. Apparently the crate name is the sound of a cow bell and essentially animals get trapped in the crater and then don’t leave.

Ngorongoro crater without the fog (remember from day 2)?

This photo is with some pretty impressive zoom

Then we came across a pack of lions after a fresh kill

Not sure if they even realized we were there

We stayed at another tent village, this time deep in the jungle high in the mountains. It was beautiful.

7/13 – Tanangire and home

Lot of driving today to get to the last park, Tanangire, and then to the airport. On the way to the park, we stopped and Moody, Jo, Emily, Lily and Melanie got elephant pants at a gift shop.

Ngorongoro visitor center – where the elephant pants were purchased

At the park, there were lots of baobab trees, termite mounds, plus the usual zebras, warthogs, waterbuck, Eland, zebra, giraffes (and a baby), and we finally saw the elephants just as we were headed out of the park. A nice capstone on the trip.