Giraffe for 2 nights

Thursday 27th June

Our lodge accommodation last night was very comfortable (we are in giraffe tent) and food was good. Very close to the park, so no wandering around at night. During the night and early morning we heard hyena howling (not sure if they call it a howl or bark). 

Very overcast today and a little cooler than yesterday. Another game drive today in another national park – Lake Manyara National Park. This park is actually quite small – and more than half of it is the lake, so a limited area for game driving. There wasn’t a lot of game to be seen, though we did get quite a list, although most of the animals were only in ones and twos, not lots. The main claim to fame of the park is tree climbing lions – obviously a rostered day off for them today, none to be seen. 

Sunrise 

An acrobatic family at a road junction along the way.

Entrance to Lake Manyara National Park...

...supposedly home of tree climbing lions.

Leopard turtle

Blue monkey (colour similar to our daughters cat).

We had a break for lunch where we ate our packed lunch from the hotel. These packed lunches are really not too bad. There is plenty of food – and what we don’t eat our guide collects and passes it on to the locals.

Another lovely lodge for the next 2 nights. And again – no wandering around unaccompanied at night.

Big pussy cats

Wednesday 26th June 

We stayed at a lovely hotel last night in Arusha – the African Tulip. The hotel was built in 2006 so still very new. Beautiful decor and a very large room. The food was great – predominantly Indian; beautiful butter chicken and beef with mushrooms.

Today started at 8am with a 2 hour drive to Tarangire national Park. This park is known for the number of elephants and baobab trees. Not a huge variety of wildlife to be seen – mostly zebra and elephants. We also saw waterbuck, dik dik, mongoose, impala, monkeys, giraffe and many birds. 

Waterbuck.

Huge baobab trees in the park.

Cute little white fluffy bird but
I don't remember it's name.

But the highlight of the day was LIONS. We were coming up to a waterhole where a lot of zebra were gathered, some in the water. We realised from the 'Toyota migration' there that something was there. All of a sudden the zebra startled and shot away from the waterhole. Hard to see, but there were 5 lions on the far side of the waterhole resting under the trees. We watched them for a while but they were happy doing the pussy-cat cat thing and just chilling.

Zebra in the waterhole -
before sighting lions.

Lions on the ground to the right of the big tree.
(Zoom in)

Elephants headed to the waterhole ....

... and the lions skedaddled.

As we moved off there was a small herd of elephant approaching the waterhole near where the lions were resting. Protocol is – lions move. They didn’t move far but far enough that the elephants had good access to the water.

Lunch was a packed lunch from the hotel enjoyed at one of the major picnic areas in the park. Wonder what you call a huge gathering of land cruisers? After lunch it was more game driving through the park (mostly only elephant, zebra and giraffe to be seen) and then head to our overnight accommodation. As we headed out of the park we were driving through smoke and alongside a controlled burn they were doing to reduce the undercover grass to reduce the fire risk. (For our rally friends – the drive out would have been a magic special stage.)

We are now sitting on the balcony of our lodge and watching 5 elephants wander across down below  - about 500m. We have a fabulous view into the park and across the lake. Weather is  balmy about 23 deg at 6pm.

Rinse and repeat

Monday 24 June afternoon

We filled our break between safaris with lunch and doing some work on the blog. So many photos to choose from.

We are staying at a lodge with permanent tents - all with ensuite thank goodness. Wifi is a bit iffy  - and also power. It flicks off for a few minutes then comes back - a bit unsettling though when you are in the shower and no idea of where you put the torch down. The tents were well equipped and beds very comfortable. The meals have been ok in general - a few dud dishes but certainly plenty to eat.

Also spent our break trying to sort out camera issues. Not sure exactly what the problem was that stopped us being able to take photos but hopefully all sorted.

The afternoon game drive was a repeat of the morning. All the elephants we saw going left to right in the morning were now headed right to left. A lot of zebra and gazelle and lots of different birds.

Rob likes to get close up photos of the elephant's eyes.

Pelicans in flight over the lake.

A Jesus bird.

Trying to sort wifi issues.

our travelling companions - Boris and Bruce.

Goshawk.

We were all feeling pretty tired after our big day so it was dinner and bed.

Long hard ride in to Tanzania

Tuesday 25th June

A very early start this morning to be on the road by 7. It was still dark when we got up and we had to contend with power blackouts as we showered and packed. Thought we might have an issue with paying bills by credit card with no power but was all good.

Two hours drive to the Tanzanian border where we had to show yellow fever cards ( bit of stress as our cards say valid for 10 years and they were done in 2006. The vaccine is good for life though so it was no drama.) At immigration they asked how long we are going to be in Tanzania and where we are staying - I had no real idea, just going where the tour takes me. The immigration guys were obviously in a good mood and not too fussed about the cards being done in full.

We switched vehicles and guides at the border - our new guide is Ali (sp?). He's going to take a bit of warming up to our fun group. We travelled on to the Nooro Waterfalls. This had been listed as a moderately strenuous walk. Ha! This was a serious walk, steep downhill, big steps, and a bit slippery to the waterfall. I wussed out at about halfway as the knees weren't really happy. The rest of the group felt I'd made the right decision as it got worse from there on.

The hotel had packed us boxed lunches for the day so we sat at the picnic area at the top of the Falls and enjoyed a relaxing lunch. There was so much food though - all of us were able to pass on what we wouldn't be eating to the guys who ran the souvenir shop at the top of the falls.

Mt Kilimanjaro -
shot taken from the border. 

A chameleon.

Lovely picnic lunch.

After lunch we continued on to Arusha - a 4 hr trip though only about 200k. The speed limits are very low and the roads are really awful. Lots of speed humps preceded by serious ripple strips, low speed limits, and a lot of police on the roads pulling over traffic for whatever reason. Lots of trucks and often there was just a long string of traffic crawling along behind the trucks. No one was keen to pass in case there were police waiting just over the crest. Thankfully our driver seemed to do the correct thing. 

We passed through a number of smaller villages where the market stalls along the main road were selling mostly bananas and avocado. These market stalls and shops very much reminded me of Bali in the 1980s. 

Resting his eyes. 

Strong ladies.

But I only want two bananas. 

We are now at our hotel in Arusha for one night. We've just enjoyed a lovely dinner (mostly Indian food); probably the best meal I've had since we've been away.

A few more tantalising photos

Loving a roll in the mud at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Our first night sunset as we arrived at Amboseli.

Our home for 2 nights.
Very comfortable - except when the power went off
and it was a mad scramble to find the torch.

Our guide had all the knowledge on where and when to be here
to get a great photo of the elephants with Mt Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
Amboseli is known for its huge population of elephants.

Having a ball.

 

Lilac breasted roller.
There are so many bird species to be seen in the park.
I started writing a list but then gave up. This one is very pretty.

Lesser flamingos - as opposed to greater flamingos.
The guide says size is what makes them one or the other
but I'm not sure if that is all. 

Hippopotamus. 
They looked very pink - apparently some enzyme
that they excrete to repair their injuries.

These boys were having a bit of a play fight.

A very pregnant hyena.
She disappeared into the culvert under the road and right under our car
and the guide thought that she was possibly ready to drop.