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.