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.