Two Day Update: Game Drives

Sorry but I can't put any pictures in this text. Please go to photo albums - and this is just the tip of the iceburg- there are so many more great shots but we can't hog the internet all night!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Got wise last night and sat at the bar end of the patio so we could order off the bar menu - not only is it cheaper but you can eat earlier. After the traditional lunch we had at Mulala-which consisted of beef with sour tomato, green beans and carrots, boiled bananas and potatoes, and sticky porridge-it was good to just get a salad. Folks like to eat around 7:30 -8 around here.  Having a hard time getting used to that.

Up dressed, packed, ate breakfast and met Kiki at 8am sharp.  Piled all our crap in the jeep and we were only going on safari.  We stopped in Arusha to pick up some water and food supplies for lunches.  After being in Arusha, I am even happier that we spent our first nights at in Usa River.  Mount Meru Lodge was so peaceful - not a tv in sight!  We have been in some of the most remote places in the world and there is always some yahoo staring at a tv screen checking the stock ticker!  Hate that.

I took a few pictures on the road.  Some of the Masi traditioinal houses.  Also came across some giraffes on the way to the park. So cool, these guys just hanging out by the side of the road. We arrived at Lake Manyara National Park around 11am.  Did the quickie walk around the tourist info center.  Saw a couple of large groups with there tour guides.  So glad we are not in a pack. Kiki did his registration thing and then we got in the que to see what we could see.  The majority of what we saw was baboons, also blue monkeys, impalas, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, lots of flamingoes in the distance around the Lake, and even some far off elephants.  We did the best we could in the photography department.  We are still learning the tricks of our new zoom camera.  The heat was very intense and that spoiled a lot of the really far away shots.  However, I think this park was a warm-up of things to come.  There are no preditors here - so no big cats.

We stopped for our picnic lunch with everyone else at the picnic area around the lake.  Made some pbj sandwiches, took some lake shots and off we were.  Finished touring the area around 2pm and headed for the Country Lodge.  Where I am now sitting and writing after a nice dip in the pool and a shower.  We are listening to the thunder and the rain coming down. Hope it is just an afternoon shower.  This room is very nice - tres big compared to the other lodge.  As expected, dinner is at 7:30 - don't get a choice here.

We met with Kiki before dinner to set up a plan for the morning.  Wake up call at 5:30, on the road by 6:30am.

Next time.... Ngorongoro Crater

Monday, February 13, 2012

All I can say is WOW what a magnificent place. It is absolutely majestic. Yesterday's game drive was really a warm-up act to this show.  We have a list of animals we saw.  We got down to the crater at around 9am and didn't leave till around 3pm.  There is no explaining what we saw.  You really just have to look at the photos.  In fact, I removed some photos from yesterday's album, like the elephant, because today was so much more spectacular.  I realize that a camera can do just so much, and we do not have the big fancy equipment.  So it is what it is.  If you want the real experience, you will just have to find a way to get here yourself!

One of things that Kiki told us was that the wildebeest travels with the zebras because the zebras see better than they do.  So when the zebras start running, so do they!  One highlight of the trip was when a lion came around the jeeps and took cover by the side of ours. The guys in the jeep next to us took a shot of us with the lion and hopefully they will email it to us. It was a nice exercise getting our card across to them. I have to say that I did not find the "traffic" in the crater to be bad at all. Everyone was really nice and accommodating to everyone else.

At one rest stop, we talked to a group from Israel. Very friendly, happy folks. I asked about traveling around their country alone and got a great response. Just rent a car at the Jerusalem and go! They said the driving was very easy and be sure and go to Petra. Best time of year, Passach (passover). Well that got the wheels turning for our next adventure.

Getting back to this trip - One of the nice things about traveling on our own is that we get to change (or try to change) the itinerary if we want. After having such a wonderful experience in Usa River Village and with the ladies of Mulala with their cheese production and coffee demonstration, we felt that going spending our free day in Karatu with another coffee & village tour may not be the best use of our time here. We came for safari.  So after talking it over with Kiki we decided to try to leave Karatu a day early and try to book into the Kazan Luxury Tents a day earlier giving us a whole other day in the Serengeti.  Fortunately, for us, we had a great team working on changes plans at the last minute.  Between Lema in New York, Erika in Massachusetts, Bertha in Usa River, Kensan Luxury Tents office in Arusha, and Kiki with us down in Ngorongoro Crater, we managed to get our itinerary changed.  Thank the technology gods for cell phones and credit cards.  We owe a great deal of thanks to those mentioned to make this happen.  Hugs and kisses all around!  After what we experienced today, I can only image what the Serengeti hs in store for us.  I am also looking forward to spending some time in a tent in the African open (although the swimming pool has been kinda nice).

Made it back to the lodge around 5ish and immediately jumped in the pool. We would also like to thank Country Lodge and Reggie for the great hospitality and food.  We will pass this way again on the way back to the airport going to Zanzibar.

If I make this upload, it will be the last one till we get to Zanzibar.. see you there.

Next time ... Valentine's Day in the Serengeti