Tour Day 10 - Safari in the Serengeti

[Pictures were added at a later date due to poor internet access at the time]

[Monday, August 7, 2023]

Today started out as most of our days have on the safari portion of our trip. We were up at 6:15 AM So that we could shower and prepare for the day. Breakfast was a la carte again, which was a nice break from the crowds at the buffet in previous lodges. It is nice to be staying at this location for two nights as it means that we don’t have to re-pack our suitcases this morning, rather we just grab the things we need for the day and get going. Just before we left, I looked up and saw what looked a lot like “Pride Rock”, from The Lion King. As a matter of fact, I think we may have seen Pride Rock here about 6 times now as that kind of rock formation seems to be quite common. Then we all piled into the vehicle and headed off down the bumpy Serengeti roads. GAME DRIVE!

Our first animal of the day was a giraffe that was chewing on the leaves of its favorite prickly tree. There is just something beautiful about these creatures. I have a hard time passing them by when we see them as it is starting to become commonplace for us to see them. Isn’t it strange how things become familiar so quickly.

Seeing any of the animals is fantastic, but what came next was a real treat. As we drove to where we found the animal high in an Acacia tree yesterday, to our surprise, the leopard was there, and it was having breakfast. It was quite a way away, but I managed to snag a couple of really good, near silhouette, photos of the majestic cat chowing down. My quest to get a photo of the big 5 could now be considered complete. Although, I must admit that I was a little disappointed it wasn’t close enough to get a photo where you could see the leopard’s spots. This might have to do because of how rare Leopard sightings are.

SIDE NOTE: I have not regretted my decision to leave my DSLR and all my lenses at home for this trip. However, I must admit, that I am pretty sure I could have snagged a fantastic photo of the leopard up in that tree with my 100-400 mm lens. This one potential photo had me wishing the camera was within reach. 

After leaving the throng of safari vehicles all vying for a good location to take a photo of the leopard in the tree, we came across this amazing specimen of a Nile crocodile sunning himself on the bank of the river. I’ve already said it once, but it is worth repeating, these things look mean.

Our next encounter was a small group of lions just resting in the shade of a tree. Today, more than other days, it was noticeable how many of the animals lounged in the shade during the warm sunny periods of the day. One of the lions was stalking (well at least looking longingly at) a topi which was grazing nearby.

It was at about this time that all of the morning’s liquids were reaching individual bladders of the occupants of our vehicle, so we stopped in at the Serengeti National Park Visitor Information Center to make a quick pitstop. 

After rolling out of the Information Center, we very quickly came across a group of hippos that were lounging in the water. They look like rocks that you could walk out on, although from everything we’ve been told, that would not be a wise choice. I also spotted a small crock skulking in the weeds.

After another short drive we came across a group of elephants munching on some grasses and using the nearby trees as itching posts. It was kind of funny to watch this gigantic animal just stopping by the rough bark of the nearby tree to scratch an itch. After getting some relief they wandered across the road, within about 10 feet of our vehicle, and joined the rest of the elephants in the open field.

Our next experience was one of those things that most people never get to see happen live. A pair of lionesses and a single male lion were staking a Thompson’s gazelle. We watched as they peered at the unsuspecting animal and then just at the right moment all three leapt towards the creature. One of the lionesses engaged the gazelle first and the male lion joined in to help. Not that she needed the help, but apparently, the male lion always eats first, and then the females get to have what’s left. In this case, we watched one of the female lions continue to hold on to the gazelle along with the male lion. It became a bit of a waiting game as to who would let go first. We waited for a long while with little progress, eventually leaving and declaring it a tie. Laureen captured an amazing video of the whole event. WARNING – some viewers may find the video disturbing. 

You think this would be the end of it, I mean how many animals have we seen already? But no, there is still more and we have not even hit lunchtime yet. The next amazing discovery was a cheetah resting in the shade of a tree. I think it actually looked at me and I sapped a photo just at the right time.

Another group of hippos and more lions. The scenery here in the Serengeti never stops along with another group of cheetahs relaxing in the shade.

After this, we drove back to the lodge to have lunch and rest a bit before our second game drive of the day in the afternoon. Laureen and Yvonne decided that their brains had been shaken enough and decided to stay at the lodge and just relax. That left the four of us to take on the afternoon activities.

I took a few bird photos and some panoramic scenery pictures, but it’s what came later in the afternoon that was the highlight of the trip thus far.

Our guide described that all the guides work together as a “Family”. So, when one guide spots something of note, they use a radio to let the other know. That is how you can experience a traffic-jam in the middle of the Serengeti. They also sometimes stop oncoming vehicles and chat with the other guides to see what they have seen. Of course, it’s all in Swahili, so we have no idea what is being said. At one point, after talking with a guide that had stopped alongside of us, he indicated that there may have been a leopard sighting and that we would go check it out. We drove for quite a while and I was standing looking out of the top of the vehicle as we drove, attempting to spot the elusive leopard. As we drove up to this specific spot – my eye caught the Leopard in the tree. I quickly reached down and started tapping on Renatus’ shoulder quietly and quickly saying, “Leopard. Leopard. Leopard. Leopard…”. He laughed and said, “I know”. 

There, up in this acacia tree, was a 2.5 – 3-year-old leopard just waiting for us to take his picture. And man, was he a beauty as the sun shone in exactly the right direction to light him up. We were the only ones there. It was…amazing. 

We headed back to the lodge as it was now after 6:00 PM and we were supposed to have left the park by then. Dinner was very nice, although two of our crew were missing. Our guide indicated that we would have a very long day tomorrow travelling to the crater and we would be experiencing our first box-lunch so that we could make the long journey. Leaving at 7:30 AM means an early start.  Time to get to bed.

G’night all.

Curt & Laureen