Tag Archives: giraffe

Tanzania – Day 8 – More Serengeti

August 5, 2016 D. Chris Klompstra 4 Comments

(dedicated to Courtney L. for motivating me to finish this article)

The Serengeti Wild Camp is located somewhere near Seronera, but quite honestly, 100 miles from any real civilization. Sleeping in the middle of the Serengeti was very exciting, yet quite peaceful. No walls or fences to protect us from the predators of the night, we were completely exposed to the wilderness. In the dark hours you could hear the activity around us. A couple Dik-Diks wandered through the middle of our camp while making their calls that sound much like a high pitch cluck from a wild turkey. We confirmed the animals in the morning by the deposit they’d left on the trail to the dining tent.

By daybreak, we were out again on the game drive. It is in the earliest hours of the day that the animals are most active. Although I find it difficult to justify ever being up so early, we were almost immediately rewarded with the most amazing sunrise.

Taylor, who almost never wakes up this early, was also now suffering for a second day with nasty cold. Though she really didn’t have a choice, I applaud her for toughing-it-out and making the best of the situation. Despite feeling rough, she still got excited seeing her favorite animal, the giraffe.

Baboons on the move

Cape Buffalo on the move

On the hit list for today was more hippos, lions, a leopard, cheetah, and any other exotic species we happen upon. So we move on to the hippo pools. The hippopotamus typically emerges at night to graze on the grass of the plains before returning to their water sheds to keep cool during the day. This morning we had found most of them already submerged back under the water.

As I have mentioned before, the Tanzania has a plethora of exotic birds.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of this bird

Secretary Bird

Kori Bustard

Topi

Golden Jackal

Grant’s Gazzelle

Pack of Mongoose

A couple of Dik-diks

For months leading up to the trip, I’ve heard Connor talk about his favorite animal to be found in Africa, the Hyrax. Although it looks much like a large guinea pig or rodent, the hyrax has similar teeth, toes and skull structures as the elephant. These little animals actually share similar ancestry as the elephant. Although, I would have never found them, Connor spotted a few throughout the day.

Rock Hyrax

The quest on most safaris is generally to encounter all of the “Big 5” animals. The term “Big 5” was coined by big-game hunters for the animals which are typically the most difficult and dangerous to hunt on foot. They include the elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and cape buffalo.

Although not one of the “Big 5”, my favorite was another big cat, the the ever-elusive cheetah. We had the good fortune to find one this day and he provided us a great photo shoot.

Even with all of the other sightings on this drive, it was the lions that seemed to steal the show. The opportunities to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat seemed to be endless.

With the hours slipping away, we made the trek south back toward the Ngorongoro Crater. Knowing everyone’s dislike for the long and dusty road that brought us into heart of the Serengeti, Peter took an alternate route that kept us far from all of the other vehicles. The much less traveled path took though a Massai “village”, where we made a rest stop, and then along some more remote and rugged roads. It was definitely the better route.

We arrived at our final overnight destination the Ngorongoro Wild Camp in the early evening. Located on the outer rim of the Crater, the camp was made up of about a dozen semi-permanent tents affixed upon stilted platforms. They had hardwood floors and full bathrooms with ceramic tiling — again… glamping.

At check-in we ate little fried “donuts” and drank complimentary hibiscus juice. They informed us that after dark, we were not allowed to wander without the accompaniment of a Massai warrior due to the dangerous animals that often wander through after sundown.

This evening’s dining did not disappoint. Via buffet, they provided, in my opinion, the best supper I’d had throughout the trip. Although similar dishes to those thoughout the safari — tender stir fried beef, roasted chicken, rice and different vegetables — here, they were better cooked and much more flavorful.

With full bellies and the anticipation of what we’ll see on the final day of our safari, we retired for the night. All hope was to sleep like a well fed baby.

Tanzania, Travel

Tanzania – Day 6 – Lake Manyara National Park

August 2, 2016 D. Chris Klompstra Leave a comment

I awoke this morning around 5:15 to the crowing of roosters just outside the Fanaka Safari Lodge. Whether by rooster, alarm clock, habit, or Mohammed’s call to prayer, the five o’clock hour seems to be the only time to wake up. Not distracted by the luxury of in-room WIFI, I figured I would fall back to sleep quickly. Well after 30 minutes of staring up to the dark ceiling and listening to the increase of activity outside, I threw in the towel, pulled on some blue jeans and headed over to the dining porch in search of coffee, and I’ll admit, WIFI.

The dining porch was about a 50 yard walk past the swimming pool, through a tall steel door of a perimeter wall and down a stone and concrete walkway between the cabanas and tent area. I call it a “porch” — perhaps, veranda — because it is a covered area held by two and a half walls outside the kitchen. Connor mentioned on the night before how it would be interesting during the torrents of the rainy season. From end to end there were seven tables with chairs all of which were covered an ornate, bright lemon yellow material looking as though they’re preparing for a spring-time wedding. Along the long wall is a vestibule cut out to contain a small bar. I was disappointed to see it gated closed, and not because I was thirsty for whiskey or beer, but because the WIFI router was located in there and was in need of being switched on.

A short drive from the safari lodge our day was to be spent in the Lake Manyara National Park in search of cape buffalo, hippos and their famous “tree climbing lions”. Although these lions are the same species as those found in the grasslands of the Serengeti, their habitat of forest provides them the opportunity to climb up into the lower levels of trees and reduce their exposure to the biting flies found closer to the ground.

Entering the park and driving into the thick forest areas, we found that the baboons had a significant population here. We had the opportunity to witness a battle for dominance within a large troop.

Continuing toward the lake, the hilly, dense forest gave way to some savannah and flat grassland. It is here that many of the animals come to graze including giraffe, zebra and the cape buffalo.

Seeing magnificent animals at nearly every turn, the abundance of life seemed endless. But evidence of the brutal harshness of this wilderness was also found throughout.

Although many seem to focus on the exotic mammals found here, Tanzania is also home to many unique and colorful birds.

Southern Ground-Hornbill

Superb Starling

Red-and-Yellow Barbet

Leaving the Lake Manyara National Park, we were a little disappointed in not having encountered a hippopotamus or a “tree climbing lion”. But that served as a reminder that we are not in the city zoo. The animals here have free roam and sometimes may not want to be found. Peter assured that there was so much more in store us throughout the safari — and he did not disappoint.

Our night stay was at the Flamingo Safari Lodge in Karatu. We had arrive there a little earlier in evening to give us a little down time to rest and recharge — tomorrow was going to be another early start as we need to make the big push through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward the Serengeti.

Tanzania, Travel

Tanzania – Day 5 – Tarangire National Park

July 30, 2016 D. Chris Klompstra 2 Comments

This morning was another early rise. Peter, from Agama Tours, picked us up promptly at 7 am. Our vehicle, an extended Toyota Land Cruiser outfitted with a removable top and plenty of sliding windows for proper wildlife viewing. These Land Cruisers are the only vehicles tough enough for the rugged terrain of the Serengeti.

After a quick stop within the city of Arush to pick up some bottled water and other provisions, we headed out toward Tarangire National Park. The drive was a little long so we passed the time by sight-seeing, writing, sudoku and napping.

Driving west on a well paved, asphalt highway we began to see the vast open spaces of the Tanzanian grasslands. You might expect a lot of green, but because we are in the dry season all of the ground cover is a light yellowish tan broken up by sage colored shrubs and small trees. At this point, since we are still a distance from the parks, we have not yet seen any wild animals. Only frequent herds of cows usually led by a Massai teenagers.

On this first day of our safari we were joined by a good looking young couple who are out for just a 1 day excursion. Minel (Spain) and Bruna (Portugal) were a couple of medical students who are spending a month volunteering their time in local villages.

As we entered the Tarangerie National Park, the nations sixth largest national park, we were all brimming with excitement to see some real wildlife. The first animal we happened upon was a lonely old wildebeest. Wow! We took nearly a hundred pictures and joked that he had a rope holding him there just for our viewing. Peter must have been laughing inside for he knew better of what was to come.

And yes, there was so much more to come. I really was expecting most of the wildlife to be elusive and difficult to find, but that is furthest from the truth. For the next several hours, we were inundated with new and exciting scenes at every turn.

Here are some of the notable pictures of the animals and scenery as we saw them: