5 days of safari

Day 1 – Manyara Parc
On the first day of our safari we wend to Manyara Parc, a lake parc. It was not so big, but very busy. For each animal groups of cars were checking out the animal. We have seen some elephants from only 3 meters, hippos from a distance, some giraffes and (very special) a tree climbing lion (which was more tree sleeping lion). The parc itself was too much a touristic attraction, something like Beekse Bergen. Fun, but with a strange feeling to it.

Day 2 – Serengeti
Today was a long drive, via Ngorogoro Parc, of which we saw almost nothing because of the clouds. But we will go there later in hopefully better weather. On the way we visited a Massai village. But what a sad story that is. For them it’s only about the money, a fixed program, no enthusiasm. The school kids where programed for the tourists.

We arrived in the Serengeti Parc around 3. What an enormous dry big area it is. We were afraid we would not see too much animals here. But it turned out totally different :). Pretty soon after arriving we spotted a group of 7 lions resting on some rocks. Later we saw some more (group of 3 and 1). There are really a lot of antilopes in a lot of different species. Almost at the end of the day we spotted some elephants and drove towards them. When we were there (as the only car), really quiet, more elehants joined the group. In the end there was a group of 17 elephants, small and big, eating bushes and playing around really close to our Landcruiser. Then it was time te head to the camping in the middle of the reserve. On the way we happened to spot a cheeta, which was really lucky, because they are really difficult to spot, OK, it was not really close….. but we saw one!

Day 3 – Serengeti
Today we started early, without breakfast. We were leaving the campsite at 6:15, because sunrise is a perfect time to spot game. And what a good day it was… zebras, hippos, lot’s of birds, thousands of thompson gazelles, monkeys, lions, hyenas, cheetas, elephants, water buffelos and as if that’s not enough we ha’ve been looking at the really hard to find leopard for half an hour (then it left). The Serengeti is indeed a very cool parc. OK, at the leopard 10 cars were looking at the same time, but that was really something. But most of the time you can enjoy wildlife without too much other people around. After Serrengeti a long drive back to Ngorogoro where we spend the night on a camping. An elephant was visiting the campsite. Of course this needed to be filmed. But Maarten and Armand came too close (idiots) and had to run when the elehant came storming for them. Fortunately it turned around again when they were running away.

Day 4 – Ngorogoro Crater
The crater is only a small piece of the Ngorogoro parc, but it’s the best part for spotting game. This is one of the rare places in Tanzania where rhinos can be found, but there are only 16 left. Unfortunately we did not spot a rhino, and it was our last chance to finish the big 5. But still a good day! We spotted big groups of zebras, wildebeests, flamingos, hyenas, vultures, hippos and water buffalos and some cheetas, lions, ostriches and other birds. It’s funny to see that the zebras and wildebeests are traveling together. The story goes that the wildebeests are too stupid and just follow the zebras 🙂 We also saw hyenas and vultures that were feasting on some left-over food from lions. First we could not see what they were eating, until one hyena walked just in front of our car with a zebra leg in his mouth! Later we spotted a family of hyenas with young ones.

Day 5 – Tarangire
In Tarangire parc we mostly enjoyed the nature. Hills, grass, green trees, a river and baobab trees (up to 3000 years old)!! We saw less animals than in the other parcs, but it was still nice. A group of elephants drinking in the river, big groups of zebras and wildebeests. We also saw a kite (bird of prey) catching a snake, while the snake was strangling a lizzard…. a clear example of the food chain.

That was that for the safari. Now we are going to travel to Zanzibar for a couple of days of diving.