ARRIVING IN TANZANIA

Once over the border into Tanzania we are going down a single width dirt track road that goes from the border to the park and low and behold they are bulldozers making a new fast wide bitumen roads – this route will not stay quiet.  As we had been late to arrive at the border we missed our afternoon game drive – which was OK by us as we were exhausted.  We arrived at Ikoma Lodge which is on the outskirts of the park – plenty of elephant around and Steve and I walked along a bush path looking at the birds.

On leaving here we were surprised how different the scenery was in the Serengeti.  More trees and generally different vegetation.  The animals though were the same but in much smaller numbers, there were still Wildebeest and Zebra as the old and sick ones do not migrate.

Again we saw 2 Cheetahs, one with a cub – how lucky have we been.  And another leopard – and this time it did not just lie on the branch it got up and stood (it also had a wildebeest hanging in the tree).

Some different birds this side and others we had not seen.

Always something new which is amazing.

In general Tanzania is much more progressed with Tourism – it makes it run more smoothly but loses its magic and turns everyone into more money oriented than service.  And the shops – just too much hassle.  Not that I am keen on the stuff they sell anyway.

When we left the Serengeti through the gate most people enter by, it was madness – lots and lots of coaches etc going in.  So glad we did it early and the wrong way round as we did not see too many vehicles.
We next went to Olduvai gorge which is the place is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world and where they found the earliest form of man.  Yet again they are in the middle of a large building project to make it more tourist friendly but we enjoyed it as it was.

Leaving here we went on to our lodge on Ngorongoro Crater – Rhino Lodge. 

This is a huge lodge a bit like a motel but with fantastic views and bird life.  Also buffalo and some form of Antelope (a Waterbuck as it turns out) came right up outside the rooms.

Early morning into the crater to avoid the crowds – definitely worth it.  Following is a picture of our 2 travel companions and Paul our guide above the Crater.

The scenery was spectacular and the crater interesting, we certainly saw a lot of animals including another Black Rhino and more lions than we could count. Unfortunately all the animals are pretty tame as they are so used to people, felt more like a zoo.  We did see a Grey eared fox and a Caracal – both of which are hard to see our guide had not seen this cat in the crater before and he had been doing tours for 10 years, boy are we lucky.  (Pictures no use though, too far away). Not that much in the way of bird life in the crater.  By the time we left about 3 it was getting really crowded.

Off again, this time to Lake Manyara. Tonight we are staying in a motel / camp in town so that will be different.  The drive around the Rim of the crater had a couple of great vantage points and it was great to see the local masai villages with their round mud huts and colourful clothing.

The accommodation is pleasant, a nice garden setting with a few birds around.  The afternoon drive was good, very different scenery and a massive lake with lots and lots of water birds.  We saw some huge Silvery Cheeked Hornbills but unfortunately did not see the Ground Hornbills.  We watched the sun come down before heading back for dinner.
Steve and I then also did a night drive and saw Porcupine, night mongoose, night jars, hippos on land and genets.