Africa Continued


Had to play some pickleball and take a break from the pictures. Now to continue, it’s Mar. 09 and  leaving Tarangire  via Lake Manyara to Kitela Lodge.   Lake Manyara is very low, so you couldn’t see it from the road. We saw our first herd of Wildebeest. It wasn’t a large number due to the drought. But we saw lots of animals and our first Hippos. IMG_5534 
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 Got to Kiteli Lodge.  After the tents at Tarangire, it was really superb and fancy.
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Up the next morning, going to Ndutu Lodge in the Ngororongo Conservation Area just south of the Serengeti National Park.  This was by way of a Maasai Village and a Maasai School.  Most people do not get to see a true Maasai Village, only those that are done for tourism purposes.  This was with a friend of Jombi’s that he convinced to let us tour.  It makes you really appreciate what you have.  Each village is actually a family unit. The man has 3 or more wifes and lots of children to tend the herd. The wifes each have a hut, which she builds from sticks, manure, dirt and water.  The husband visits whichever wife he wants each night, the children are normally sent to one of the other huts to sleep.
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We then went to a Maasai School. The government is trying to enforce that all children attend school, but the teachers told us that they do have a large truancy problem.  Jombi had planned this trip and told us that we could either bring things for the kids, give money for the teachers to use, or buy things there for the school.  The group did a little of all 3.  The kids were aware we were coming and had songs planned.  It was really heart warming, but sad. They have so little.
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After leaving there, we headed to the Nduti Lodge.  It was a beautiful lodge, and we would be there for 5 nights.  Going on games drives at Sun Up, breakfast on the trail, then back for Lunch at the Lodge and an afternoon to Sun Down Drive each day. With Dinner at the lodge.  An of course, the animals we saw on the way to the Lodge.  
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Lunch at the Lodge then out for our evening drive. IMG_5723
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     I know it seems like a lot of pictures, but you’re only getting a sampling, There are so many that I would share, but the upload would be tremendous.  We saw so much more than this.    And this is just through March 10th.

On March 11th, we headed out a different route across country.  And I say this because the 3 land cruisers start out together and then separate out to find the different animals. There are roads, but you don’t stay on them. When someone sees something that the others should, they radio the other drivers and everyone heads that way. IMG_5933
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Lots of babies being born this time of year. Usually, more, but because of the drought there isn’t enough grasslands for the young to survive.

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