Jean took some time to upload two blog entries, but uploading pictures was too slow, so that will have to wait until another time. Chilli was eager to show us some more animals during the 40 mile drive out of the Tarangire National Park. We were so fortunate this morning! The sights were extraordinary. Several large herds of hundreds of elephants were very close to the road, so we got to see and hear and smell them up close. One of the big male elephants was eating grass within 12 feet of our van. Chilli turned off the jeep’s engine, so we enjoyed watching the bull and the many other elephants around him. The highlights of that experience included watching two tiny baby elephants nurse from their mothers. Jean took way too many pictures, but at least a few of them will be outstanding.
We also saw several giraffe groups (called journeys) that ambled over to where we were. One group included three unbelievably cute baby giraffes. We enjoyed seeing more warthogs, dik-diks, and hundreds more impalas. Eventually we left Tarangire National Park and traveled to Lake Manyara National Park. Along the way, we stopped for lunch at the same village where we stopped two days earlier on our way to Tarangire. This time both Margie and Jean bought a woven basket from one of the woman who came over to sell her goods.
Then Chilli drove us on to Lake Manyara National Park.
This park is located next to the village in which he grew up. It was clear that he is very proud of the park. We saw several families of baboons, a raft of hippos in the water and a dazzle of zebras nearby.
The hippos were almost totally submerged, but every once in a while, one would raise his head out of the water and yawn. They certainly have big heads! The zebras were near-by and wandering in an open field. They were so close that we could have petted them. There are no fences anywhere.
Chilli drove us on to see some more baboon families
and warthogs which seemed to live together. There were hundreds of baboons from the very large and old to several so young that they were nursing as they hung onto their mother’s stomach. As Chilli was driving us down one trail, we realized that several Land Rovers were blocking the road in front of us. We discovered that everyone was looking at a pair of lions lying on a very low tree branch. The lions didn’t move except to flick an ear every once in a while. Their legs and tails were hanging from the limb. At first it was difficult to spot them in the tree. But then, there they were! Manyara is known for its many lions who do just this – hang out in a tree during the hottest part of the day. Jean did her best to take a few pictures of them.We watched the antics of another huge group of baboons before leaving the park to drive to our destination for the night – the Ngorongoro Farm House. It is located on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. We’ve not yet seen the crater, but this is where our safari will end on Saturday. On the way to the Farm House, we stopped at Manyara Airport to pick up Kirk’s duffle bag with his clothes for the week. That’s a long story, but what a relief for him to get his belongings again!
The Farm House is a large resort hosting people from many countries. Meals are served buffet style and are delicious. In fact, they served ice cream and flan for dessert. We’re all very tired, but have enjoyed another tremendously interesting day.
Tomorrow we will start out early and head for the fabled Serengeti plains.
We hope all of you are well and enjoying a beautiful February.
Love,
Babu and Mama Jean
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