More safari

We still don't have a good enough connection to the Internet so pictures won't be available until after we return. But here is the latest update.

August 3 & 4

These were 2 very pleasant days at the Country Lodge, a collection of duplex buildings. Our accommodations were quite comfortable and the service was unparalleled, perhaps because we were the only guests for part of the time. On the grounds was an organic garden that provided us with fresh produce at our meals. We became acquainted with the staff, especially Reggie, the owner/manager/chef. His culinary creations were the best we’ve had on the trip. He informed us that he had been to the US only once, 6 weeks in Washington State. On the first day, the Lucases met up with the rest of our party who were camping at Lake Manyara. That park contained lots of baboons and blue monkeys, hippos, storks, and pink flamingos. Unfortunately the flamingos were far from the road because the lake had receded, so we didn’t get a good view of them. On the 4th, we departed for the Tarangire Safari Lodge in the park of the same name, further to the east in Tanzania. It is perched on an escarpment overlooking a river and wide plains. The accommodations are tents with indoor plumbing and electricity, the latter for just part of the day. From our tent we can look down and see a herd of elephants that comes and goes, giraffes, and zebras. Velvet monkeys abound and cruise the lodge grounds. We will be here for 3 nights.


August 5

On this day we went on a safari in the morning and saw elephants going for a drink of water, many beautiful birds, giraffes, 4 lions, including a large male with full mane, and the usual assortment of wildebeest, impala and zebras. The lions were near a herd of wildebeest and one lioness, in particular, was crouched, seemingly to make a dash to take down a wildebeest. We waited for about half an hour for the chase to begin but eventually the lioness lay down to take a nap. As we drove a little further down the road, the reason for her reluctance to strike became apparent. There was a freshly-killed zebra, partly eaten, with vultures nearby awaiting their chance to feed on carrion. But they would have to wait until the lions returned to get the rest of their portions. By the time we returned to the lodge, I, Peter, had come down with a GI condition that sent me to bed for the rest of the day. That’s a pretty common occurrence for tourists in Africa.


August 6

John and Monte returned from an early morning safari and reported that they had seen 4 cheetahs take down a young wildebeest. Most of the rest of us quickly rallied and went to the site. We were pleased that the cheetahs were still on the scene, though they were taking post-prandial naps when we arrived. The corpse of the wildebeest was nearby and being picked apart by 2 jackals as the vultures crowded around waiting for their chance. Several times, the jackals chased them away. There were at least 10 safari vehicles parked near the cheetahs who eventually shook off their torpor and started walking around looking for a way to get past the humans. Then, suddenly, the 3 males took off in a full run and went between a couple of the vehicles that were parked close together. It happened so fast that we were unable to get it on video, a big disappointment. One lone female cheetah was left behind and sauntered off in a different direction. She eventually lay down and began mewing, just like Fluffy the housecat, to call her companions. After several minutes, they responded, and she got up to join them. In the afternoon the kids all went swimming in a very chilly pool but enjoyed themselves despite the shivers and blue lips. Velvet monkeys circled the pool as they splashed. As dusk approached, we did not need to climb into a Land Cruiser to see the animals; they came to us. As Melinda and I sipped cocktails (by that time I had mostly recovered from my brief illness), warthogs chomped on grass and walked across the patio, 2 elephants on the plain caterwauled, then briefly mated, and a very small owl landed at our feet. The lions started roaring in the early morning hours, awakening the whole lodge. At about 6 a.m., Ona looked out of her tent and saw a lioness just a few feet away but rather than being frightened, was delighted. Big cats certainly were the highlights of our 8 days of safari.