These are our personal thoughts written during the trip itself.
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Mark's EntryDecember 28 - The SerengetiAhh! I woke up not feeling sick. Yea! Still not sure why. Think it is either lack of my meds (which I did not take this morning) or more carbs and water. I’ll keep experimenting. There were some DikDiks outside our window. This was the first real chance we had to see what was out there since before we were either rushed or it was dark. Through a few trees we had a nice view of the plain. Breakfast, like all meals here apparently, was a buffet. It was just OK, but still better than any breakfast I had had since arriving in continent. We met Mr. Makundi at 8:30 for a full-day game drive. Just a few minutes after leaving the lodge we came across a large heard of zebras. Very few wildebeest mixed in because we are a bit to far from the migration at this point. Next was “The Hippo Pool” which was neat because there were so many and this was the only place we could get out of our vehicles and see them up close. Ann was really interested in seeing elephants, but we only found one. A few hours later we came across a huge crowd of vehicles blocking the road, although we couldn’t see why. It turned out to be a leopard looking for some lunch (apparently a rare site during the day. We maneuvered to a better position and I was able to get a shot of him in the foreground with some prey in the distance (money shot). We stopped for lunch at the park headquarters. We had a box lunch from the lodge, which was really pretty good. And we saw a lot of hyrax (rabbit-sized furballs that climb and hide in rocks). This made Ann really happy. We spent another hour looking for elephants and didn’t find any. We then spent another hour driving back to the lodge. At this point we had a few hours free in our schedule. Ann took a nap. Jacob watched his DVDs and I took some photographs and walked around the lodge grounds. Dinner was just OK this evening and we skipped the entertainment so we could go to bed. We were tired from the little sleep from the night before. |
Ann's EntryA Must in the DustSerengeti National Park – 28 Dec 2007 – all day Our guide is an older gentleman named Mr. Makundi. He takes us out into the Serengeti National Wildlife Park. He explains that in Tanzania there are 3 kinds of “parks.” In a national wildlife park, the animals are protected and no human development is allowed. In a game preserve, hunting is allowed. In a conservation area, animals are protected and the only human activity allowed is that of the indigenous Maasi. From that point on, it is like I’m on TV. What you see on all those Animal Planet/Discovery Channel shows is exactly what I’m seeing. We drive on dirt roads that in some cases don’t amount to more than tire ruts, barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass. You can tell where other safari vehicles are by the rising dust clouds. The landscape is dotted with umbrella acacia trees and rather large termite mounds. Out there, in the middle of it all, we are greeted by a variety assortment of wildlife, much of which is not threatened by our presence. Mr. Makundi explains that because people are not allowed to leave the vehicles, the animals do not feel threatened. We’re caged; they’re not. The photos tell the story better than words can describe. Mr. Makundi stops the vehicle at any time we request, and stays for as long as we like. (Only once he suggests we move on. We are looking at something common when he gets a report on the radio of something more rare nearby. He wants us to see it while we have the chance.) On the plains we see guinea fowl, giraffe, baboons, many kinds of antelope, buffalo, herds of zebra and wildebeest, and a jackal (hard to photograph because they move quickly, but we get its picture.) We actually see only one elephant, a male. Females lead the herd, and they move fast. We can tell that they are nearby – we smell them (very strong), we see droppings, we see the damaged trees – but the elusive elephant herd evades us. I know that a group of lions is called as a pride, but in the heat of the day, it is more accurate to describe them as a plop of lions – just resting under a tree. One lioness has a research tracking collar. We drive to the hippo pool. It is the only “attraction” where you can get out of the vehicle and go to the water’s edge. There are no less than 40 hippos. We are awed by a baby hippo, so small compared to its mother. Mr. Makundi says that it is only a few days old. It is necessary to cross rivers as they flow directly over main roads. (In America, we would never think of driving in water that deep!) At one point, Mr. Makundi stops mid-stream, just to show us crocodiles and, while we are there, we are lucky to see a monitor lizard. With the condition of the roads (bumpy to say the least), one might think that sleep is impossible. However, on the hour’s ride back to the lodge, I find myself dozing off. Spending the day on safari can wear you out. Let’s Do LunchSerengeti National Park – 28 Dec 2007 – 14:00 At lunchtime, Mr. Makundi takes us to the visitor’s center. This is where all the tour guides take their guests. We have box lunches prepared for us by the hotel (chicken, fruits and vegetables.) We find a place to sit and enjoy our meal. Afterwards, Mark and I wander around the facility to see what there is to see. A short distance away is a huge rock. There are steps leading around it in a spiral fashion so as to ascend halfway up the one side. In the cracks of this rock are hyrax. Now, given my liking for small animals (bunnies, guinea pigs, etc.), I think these are the cutest creatures I’ve seen on this trip thus far. What amazes me is the way they cling to the rock, they way the scale it up and down, and they way the rest in the vertical cracks! Hard to believe that the closest genetic relative to these animals is the elephant. It is also lunchtime for the leopard. We spot him shortly after leaving the visitor’s center (the more rare thing Mr. Makundi wants us to see.) We see him stalking his prey, a small herd of reedbuck. We watch him crawl through the tall grass. Excitement builds. It is difficult to keep track of him as he slinks in and out of our field of vision. We see the reedbuck suddenly start to run! We think, “This is it! Live animal action on the Serengeti!” But we never see the leopard emerge from the tall grass. We do not know for sure if he catches his meal or not. Somewhat disappointing, but thrilling nonetheless. Hey leopard, want my leftover chicken? |
| next day: December 29 | ||