Tanzania March 2022 part 2

 

Jumping Maasai

                                                        Maasai Homestead

We spent the fourth night of our trip back at the Arusha Serena Hotel and the next morning our group of 15 plus our two tour leaders, Dolly and Nelly, headed out to Ngorongoro Crater. Our new guide was Freddie and we traveled with Sandy, Scott and Debby and if we were lucky, Dolly. Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive caldera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the densest population of lions in the world and flocks of pink Flamingos. We spent the next two nights at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge where we were entertained by dancing/jumping Maasai and then acrobats the following night. Unfortunately, my stomach was upset so I sat out the day in the crater. 

Male and Female Lion

Scratch my belly, Please!

Lesser Flamingo

Leopard with a full belly

Next, we went to the Olduvai Gorge where some of the earliest signs of human development were discovered. Onward to the Ndutu Area, the heart of the South Serengeti. Here we saw lions, a leopard and a cheetah. We also saw a zebra that had likely been bitten by a poisonous snake. It could not stand and the vultures were already gathering. It was unlikely to live to see another day. After we spent a night at the Ndutu Safari Lodge, we entered the Serengeti National Park.

Martial Eagle

Secretary Bird

Dying Zebra

Cheetah

Wildebeest

Maraboo Stork

Sunrise in the Serengeti

The origin of the pretzel

Hyaena steals from White backed Vultures

Here we witnessed several interesting animal interactions. The vultures were happily cleaning a wildebeest carcass, when a hyena came by and took charge. He tried to move the entire carcass, but finally settled on tearing off a few ribs. The vultures returned to their job as soon as the hyena left.

"A time to be born, a time to die...A time to kill, a time to reap"

Young Male

Spotted Hyaena

Black headed Heron

Southern Red Bishop

Lion sleeping on the side of the road -  Nobody bothers me

Superb Starling

Lions let Elephants pass

We watched a few families of elephants march their babies right under a tree where lions were waiting. The lead elephant, with a loud bellow, made it clear who was in charge, and the lions let the elephants pass unmolested.

Red Hartebeest

Maasai Giraffes

Lion Rock

We saw a large rock formation with eight lions dozing in the sun. There were likely several more in the grasses around the rock. We thought it was odd to have all these lions here when there was no game in sight. Why were they not out looking for game? The answer became clear as we drove down the road a few miles. Here we saw a few hundred thousand zebras heading in the direction of the lions. Why chase game when you can wait for them to come to you!

                                                                Dinner is coming

Plains Zebras with Cattle Egrets

Serengeti Serena Lodge

Disney Movie Star or Porn Star?

We observed a male and female lion walking together. Before long the male made his move and finished in about 7 seconds. Every 5-10 minutes, the scene would repeat itself, usually with a lot of roaring going on. Males can copulate up to 100 times/day with up to four lions for 4 or 5 days. The females are ready about 50 times a day for 3-4 days with two males.

Blue Monkeys

From the Serengeti we headed to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. We traveled though the Manyara National Park the next day and saw lots of birds and Blue Monkeys. On the trip back to the airport we finally saw Mount Kilimanjaro! The tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

Mt Kilimanjaro

Tanzania is an east African country with a population of about 60 million. There are 125 tribes each with their own language. The Christians and Muslims not only get along, they inter- marry. Thirty percent of the county is National Parks. A strict gun control policy keeps gun violence low. We always felt safe while on the tour. The Great Migration is a cyclic event that you can catch anytime of the year, you just have to be at the right place at the right time. In March, the Serengeti is the place to be. Later in the year the wildebeest cross the Mara River, farther north, and this is where the crocs feast on wildebeest.

This trip will be repeated next March, if interested contact Amazonia Expeditions 800 262 9669.

Tanzania March 2022 Part 1

Arusha Serena Hotel

Baboon eating a sausage fruit

This trip started three years ago when Amazonia Expeditions offered a 7-day safari in Tanzania to see the Great Migration. We signed up immediately. Not wanting to fly half way around the world for just a week, the trip expanded to 25 days to include Portugal. COVID caused the postponement of the Mar 2020 trip about a week before departure.  After being assured by the President that COVID was under control and soon to be gone, we added an 8-day yacht cruise around the Seychelles Island to the itinerary for the rescheduled 2021 trip. Of course, that trip was also postponed. And finally, due to COVID travel restrictions, the whole plan came crashing down last December, leaving unpaid Travel Agents, lost deposits, non-refundable tickets, and two very unhappy travelers in its wake. The lone survivor of this disaster was The Great Migration trip. Fortunately, a pre-trip was added and we were happy to add to our time in Africa.

Impala

Approaching Bull

Even though the 2022 trip was a go, COVID still had a hand to play. We got our PCR test done before we left, then we had to fill out another COVID/health screening form on line within 24 hours of arrival and pay $10 for the privilege. The problem was we had to do this in the airport between flights in Amsterdam, and the app was difficult to use and would not accept the payment. By the time the payment went through, we were the last ones to board. We were not warmly welcomed. 

 

Yellow necked Spurfoul

The farce continued when we landed at the Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. We were handed a paper form to complete, which basically asked the same questions we answered on the app. Our temperature was taken, a rapid COVID test was taken, and then we could go through Immigration. The strangest thing was NO ONE asked to see the results of our PCR test! You could not help but think, that this was just a make work/make the tourist pay ploy. After we collected our bags, we met our two fellow safari mates, Rhonda and Rosemary and our driver, Iddy. 

Baby Baboon

It was time to put all that COVID stuff behind us and enjoy our trip. We arrived at our first hotel at 11PM and we were offered dinner. Our bodies were so confused by the 7 hr time difference, we thought it maybe it was dinner time. We were in bed by 1:30 am and up by 6 am. 

Maasai Giraffes

Nyikani Tent Camp

Still being tired, we were late with our departure but we got our Toyota Land Cruiser loaded and eventually left the city of Arusha for Tarangire National Park. This park is more wooded that most of the other parks we would visit and is well known for its elephants and 300 species of bird life. We spent the afternoon in the park before settling in at our Nyikani Camp Tarangire. This was a tent camp inside the park. We were warned not to walk around after dark without one of their employees. There were no fences to keep the elephants and lions out. The next morning, we found out a leopard had been in the camp and a highly venomous Black Momba was seen in front of one of the tents. Somehow COVID did not seem like much of a threat after that.

Woodland Kingfisher

Infant baboon

Large bull

Southern Ground Hornbill

                                                                    Gray Crowned Crane

Here's looking at you kid

One of the keys to a good safari is having a good guide. We were blessed in having a great guide. In addition to being fluent in five languages, he knew where the animal would hide and could spot them as he drove down the road. He could judge the temperament of the elephants and cats and knew when to approach and when to back off. We had many close encounters, none more chilling than a bull elephant right outside my car window. So close I could touch its tusk, which I didn’t.

Warthogs

Baby Elephant

Since we were a little past the birthing season for most of the animals, there was no lack of cute little critters running around. The baby elephants were my favorite.

White Crowned Strike

 After two exciting days in the park, we headed back to Arusha to meet up with the main group that was landing that night. On the way back we stopped at a Maasai market and watched them trade their goats for beans, corn and other necessities.

Maasai Market