Tanzania 2

21/9/13

We set off at 6.30 on a game drive. It was a fairly cool morning and there had been some rain during the night so the dust was down – great!

We saw some lions moving slowly and lying in the grass a distance away. We have become a little harder to please with game now because we have seen so much. We like it clearly visible! We saw some good birds, a dik dik and a reedbuck. Then a female lion lying by the side of the road with her 2 cubs. Then we saw 2 females with 4 cubs. They were walking along not far from the road and looked as if they were ready to hunt.

                                                                 Marabou Stork

                                                                          Ruff

                                                             Rufous-napped Lark

                                                            Red-necked Spur-fowl

It is easy to think that there’s not much wildlife around here at present and to some extent that’s true. The migration is not here so there are not many zebras or wildebeests. There are lots of cats, especially lions. We saw 3 lots this morning. They must have to work quite hard to eat and especially feed cubs at the moment. Apparently during the migration they can just pluck what they want close at hand. One lot of lions this morning seemed quite thin. However it is surprising what does turn up as you drive along and Clive says there’s more here than we think.

So back for breakfast at about 8.45 but no – not yet. Harley spoke on the radio, we sped up and drove to 2 leopard cubs about 12 months old – a male and female. Their mother has probably recently taken another male and the leopard cubs have been tossed out to fend for themselves. The male has a large but superficial wound on it’s right hind leg – the theory is it may have fought with it’s mother’s new partner before leaving. The 2 leopard cubs walked across the road right in front of us – amazing. One went and climbed a tree. The other wandered around and drank from a puddle right beside a vehicle on the side of the road. The second one also climbed the tree and they both looked very cute lying together for a short time before one descended and walked away. It must be a vulnerable time for them having to fend for themselves totally for the first time and with not heaps of food around. They are the most beautiful creatures so hopefully they’ll survive.

                                                                   Pretty cool eh!

Celebrating one of our group's wedding anniversary.

                                    

After breakfast we went on another drive. Again we saw a group of lions. They were under a tree very close to where we saw the group in the grass this morning. We had calculated that there were 4 this morning but now there were about 14. It’s very likely they were altogether earlier but lying in the grass and not visible. The group under the tree were lying sleeping and too close together to count accurately. It was incredible to see them though – about 10 metres from the vehicle.

There is a lot of research being done on cats in the Serengeti. A lot of the females we saw have collars. They have radio transmitters in them which only the researchers are able to access.

We also saw 2 cheetahs in the distance. One was sitting under a tree with a mate by her side and clearly visible but too far for photos. It then lay down and although we hung around for a while they stayed asleep.

Then a family of banded mongoose – the smallest carnivores.  One dug and caught something – maybe a rat. Another group were attacking what appeared to be a plovers nest on the ground. The plovers kept dive bombing them but to no avail.

As we were returning for lunch we saw a female lion standing on a rock and surveying the area – presumably to see if there was any prey around. A lovely sight. Then we saw a group of olive baboons including a large male mating right in front of us.

Off for the evening game drive we went back to the area where the two young leopards were this morning.  The smaller one without  the wound was out. She walked right towards us – just a few meters away and then went back and climbed a tree. We watched her for a long time. She sat on a branch of the tree with her legs dangling down on both sides and her tail hanging down as well – a very common pose we’re told. It looked amazing. Later she climbed further up. Marley thinks that the other leopard was probably stunned earlier in the day by research teams and vets that work in the area. He saw them waiting while we were there last time. Apparently they would clean up the wound and put something on it that will keep the flies off for a week and allow it to heal. Then they kill some prey for him e.g. an impala as he will be a bit drowsy for a couple of days.

                    More hippos - not as many as at the hippo lake but still pretty impressive.

                        See these love birds sitting in a tree with their gorgeous colours. 

A Reedbuck above and two Topi with their calves below.

A giraffe very near the vehicle.

                                                              with some hangers on.

Then back to the Lodge and pre dinner drinks on the terrace overlooking the Serengeti with a beautiful sunset.

                                                                     Another great day.