In Tanzania - the Serengeti

On our first game hunt, we were so thrilled to see animals that we stopped to look at each one, joyful at just having seen the animal, then went on to the next.  As we adjusted to the thrill of seeing these animals, we began to spend a little more time sitting and watching their behavior. 

 

We have spent a couple of days at each location.  When at the Ngorengora Crater, we spent the whole day on a game drive, driving down into the crater and moving from location to location within it.  (I believe it is 12 miles across.  One of 8 major calderas in the world.)  Again, with each game sighting, we spent time watching the behavior of the animals.  One of the most exciting sightings was of a pride of lions that were fairly young (with, of course, their mother).  Just as we drove up to them, two lions ran at each other at full speed and hit in mid-air.  At first, we thought they were fighting.  Then we realized they were young and really playing.  We watched them tumble each other about, like kittens.  Then, we saw them run at each other again and hit in mid-air.  One of the people on the tour has a video camera and caught the second crash.

 

We saw one lion eating its fresh kill and in another location a whole pride of lions eating a Cape Buffalo.

 

We sat and watched a huge group of hippos in a pond.  Juma, our guide, told us that they poop and pee under water, make love, have babies and sleep.  In sleeping, they sort of bob up and down to bring in air.  They do come out onto the ground to feed.

 

By the way, all of the large animals (well, almost all of them) carry small birds around on their backs.  Apparently, the birds eat the bugs that live on the large animals.  There were quite large birds, such as herrons, on the backs of the hippos.

 

We stopped to have lunch but had to sit in the vehicle because certain birds called kites would swoop down and pluck food right out of the hands of unsuspecting tourists.  Those who refused to believe their guides paid for it with the loss of their lunches!

 

At the end of the day, as we were beginning to leave the crater, we saw 4 rhinos, but at a great distance.

 

We have moved on to the Serengeti where, once again, we have had amazing animal behaviors to watch.  This is the time of the great migration of the Wildebeasts and Zebras.  They travel together to the Masai Mara and back.  We sat and watched thousands and thousands of them walking almost single file as far as the eye could see.  Apparently, the Wildebeasts can see well and the Zebras have greater intelligence so they work together although many are lost along the way as they cross rivers and are eating by crocs or to preditors or just the rigors of the journey.

 

We watched a leopard slink away as a hyena stole its prey.  I had no idea that a hyena, by itself, could take food away from a leopard.  It explains why the leopard attempts to pull its food into a tree as soon as possible. 

 

And, we watched hyenas keep a huge flock of vultures at bay while they ate. 

 

One of the largest carion birds is the Mariboo Stork which eats after the vultures.  When it bends down to eat, its legs fold forward.  Imagine, our legs bending forward at the knees.

 

We watched the herd of Wildebeasts and Zebras at a water hole.  They entered the water up to their bellies and drank.  As soon as they started to drink, something would appear to spook them and they would gallop out of the water at full speed then look around as if to ask, what was that?

 

And, we saw hippos on land, feeding.

 

By the way, we are very close to the equator.  In fact, at one place we visited, the equator was marked and we took photos with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern.  It is, however, not terribly hot in most of the places we've been because of the altitude.

 

We have a couple of hours to rest then back out into the vehicles.  Our vehicle named itself Titus (the name of our driver-guide) and the Demures (which, of course, we are not).  The other group finally had to come up with a name so they named themselves Yahayah and the great six, or something to that effect.  As you can imagine, our bus is quite loud and full of laughter.

 

By the way, the Kenyans and Tanzanians we have met have been so charming and wonderful.  At leaving, many have said to us, I am so sad that you are leaving.  It must be customary but it is very sweet.

 

Mel is feeling better but one of the couples is having their third relapse with the Dysentery.  So sad.  They have missed a number of the game drives.

 

Tomorrow morning we are scheduled to take a dawn ballon ride over the Serengeti.

 

Love,

Janet