Here is Michelle's favorite, the African elephant. Actually, she likes all elephants. Her second favorite is the lion.
We arrive back at the hotel, tired and happy. We shower and follow the time honored tradition of meeting in the bar for a Tusker (or a Safari or Serengeti) and going over the day. Then it's time for another large and delicious dinner, where we once again eat too much. But, all of our new friends are doing the same, so we convince ourselves it is OK.
After dinner some of the group stays up to play cards, but us old timers are tired, so we wander back to the room and relax on the balcony for a little while. The evening is still, the air is cool, and we hear the sounds of the animals all around us. Eventually we find our way to bed for a restful sleep at the end of another incredible day in Africa.
Finally, it is time to leave the crater for the last time. We head up the road to the rim, looking back and trying to remember all we have seen there. We stop for a moment to take a last look, and a last photo, of one of the most special places on earth..
The hippo pool, where they all seem to be sleeping
and enjoying the easy life!!
Our lunch comes in boxes, which we enjoy at a large picnic area. We are glad to get out of the Rovers for a while and sit down on something that is not bucking and bumping all over. As with all the meals we are served, there is too much food...
After lunch we drive over to a hippo pool, where we watch over 50 hippos lolling in the sun, cooling off in the water. They are very large, and very dirty animals. The water is contaminated with all kinds of nasty things, but they seem to be quite happy. Later we all decide that the hippo is the least sanitary animal we encounter, although they can be quite cute when they open those huge mouths!!
Here is my second favorite animal, the lovely zebra. My favorite is the giraffe. Unfortunately, I have too few giraffe pictures as they always seemed to be in the trees eating, and it was hard to get good shots.
We see so many animals it is hard to imagine. I am guessing there were 10's of thousands. Zebra by the hundreds, wildebeest by the thousands, elephants, cheetah, baboons, Thomson and Grant gazelle, hyena, jackal, dozens of lions, and on and on. Abu was right at Tarangire, we were starting to get jaded. Where a couple of days ago we were almost insane because we were within 100 yards of a zebra and a cape buffalo, today we drive by them almost without a second look. I sometimes have to remind myself how special this is, and to take in as much as possible, as it will be over all too soon.
Speaking of dusty conditions, there were many times we had to cover our nose and mouth to protect ourselves from the dirt and dust kicked up by the dozens of vehicles roaming the crater floor. We were in the dry season, everything was pretty brown, and the dust was everywhere!
From atop a small mesa. Notice the areas of controlled burning to encourage new plant growth.
We enjoy a box lunch at a picnic area, overlooking the crater floor and a small lake
Overseeing the lion feast from a 100 yards away was this magnificent male with a full mane. As regal and royal an image as I can imagine.
Lions in the left photo, a jackal in the center, and notice the vultures walking in from the right side of the right photo!
Saturday, July 23. The day begins with overcast skies, and it is COLD!! By mid late afternoon it has warmed up and becomes mostly sunny, but this morning it is pretty frigid. If I recall correctly, it is in the 40's when we head to the crater. Of course one can expect it to be cold when we get up at 5:30 am, have breakfast at 6:30, and are on the road at 7:00!
Today will turn out to be one of tremendous wildlife exposure. Not too long after we reach the crater floor, we come across another kill by the side of the road. This time a pride of lions has apparently killed a cape buffalo. It is a big pride, about 15 lions.
By the time we arrive the carcass is about half gone. We watch in wonder as a progression of animals devour every part of the animal. When the lions have had their fill, the hyenas begin feeding. Eventually they are full and then jackals have their turn. Soon, the vultures arrive and pick the bones clean. Amazingly, when we pass by again about six hours later, there is no indication that anything had happened. Every part of the buffalo is gone, completely recycled.
Our day continues with hour upon hour of driving over very rough and dusty roads, seeing sites we could never have imagined, encountering animals that we had only read about. I know that I have said it many times so far, but I was in total awe at the beauty and peacefulness of all I saw. I only wish that I could write the words to adequately describe the sights and emotions we were all experiencing.
