Africa, Beginning of A trip to remember

On Saturday,  Sept. 22nd, we left for Arusha, Tanzania with friends Lynn and Linda Laymon. Met up with John, Kim, Johnny and Jerri in Amsterdam and then on to Arusha. 

 Arrived at around 9 pm on Sept. 23rd.  Jombi and Gerald met up and our first night was at the Arusha Serena.

Each couple had a little Hobbit house
 

Monday morning,  we head out to the Arusha National Park for our first Game Drive.

Grey crowned Crane
Kim at Entrance to Park with Giant Elephant



Colobus Black and White Monkey

Velvet Monkey
Black-bellied Bustard



The African Cape Buffalo. Our USA Buffalo is not really a Buffalo, but a Bison.

Wart Hog

Giraffe 
 young Elephant crossing street



Johnny and Jerri at Waterfall during Hike
Olive bee-eater


Waterbuck
Waterfall we hiked to

Tawny eagle



                                                                                                                       
National Park Guide, Kim, Linda, Jombi, Johnny and John on Bridge during hike

Zebras and wart hogs

The next morning it's pack up and move on to Ngorongoro Crater. On the way, we stopped at a shopping center and had lunch at Gibbs Farm.
Fountain in front of shopping mall
Lunch here at Gibbs Farm, probably the best meal ever. They grow all the vegetable and fruit there on the farm.  Beautiful setting


After arriving at the Serena Ngorongoro.  We had a great meal and drinks, and the Massai provided traditional songs and dances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSRON-Q9eIA&t=9s



Wed. Sept. 26, we headed down in the crater to experience the multitude of animals in the crater. This is an unbroken caldera that supports over 25,000 animals.


Caracal- very rare to see
Black bellied Bustard



Strolling Elephant

Female ostrich note lack of color

Golden Jackel

Zebras at massage rock. 

Hyena See bloody face.  Just finished dinner
Male Ostrich  He's ready to mate with the red neck and legs

Kori bustard - Male trying to attract female

Lionesses just laying around

Thompson's Gazelle






Only spent 1/2 day in Crater, then back for lunch and on to Ndutu.  We went cross country to the Ndutu Lodge to see more animals.
Cheetah on the prowl
Cheetah on lookout

little bee-eaters

Another giraffe




























Arrived at Ndutu Lodge.
     
Pretty much the norm, John, Jerri, and Johnny catching up on correspondence when we had wifi

Next morning, another Game Drive.  Love the Ndutu area.  It's not in the Serengeti Park, but on the plains south of the park.
Bat eared Foxes as we left the lodge

Brother Lion searching for his pride

Coke's Hartebeest

Young Elephant

Elephant family, Mother in front, baby and baby brother

Hyena cubs

Young leopard

Just hanging around

I need a nap

Sisters all

Secretary Bird

Steenbok female

Still searching and calling the others
Full day today, Tomorrow we get up and do it all again.  Normally we go a different direction from the day before, but we wanted to check to see if the leopard was still there.  It wasn't, but it's mother was.  So it's now Friday and we're checking on the leopard.
Just a little stretch

What do you want?

Not my meal, it's for me and my young

I called and she didn't come, so guess I have to go get her.
Now on to other parts of the desert.
Baby Elephant looking for food

Guess I'll have to depend on Mom

This Cheetah was lazy

A lion

And his Lioness

End of another Great day
On Saturday, we left Ndutu and entered the Serengeti National Park.  We're staying a 3 nights at Kuba Kuba Resort.  It's a permanent tent camp.  Yeh sure, it even has an infinity pool looking out over the plains.  On the way, we stopped by the Hidden Valley Pride and also saw more than lions.

Never tire of seeing Cheetahs

Elephant playing in mud

 Part of the Hidden Valley Pride

Moving on

following behind

working to catch up

A little rest and scouting

Spotted something?

Where are the ladies going?

A guinea hen may be better than nothing

Then we see a Serval.

Lynn and Linda at entrance to Serengeti Park
Tomorrow  we start a new day and month at Kuba Kuba.

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