Spoffords Travel

May 15-16, 2025 Tanzania to home

So begins the long day(s). No game drives or sight seeing today. Just the drive to the airport. Someone thinks we need to be there at least three hours early. Our flight is at about 6:30 pm.

The drive should take about four hours not including lunch and bathroom stops. We traveled most of this road earlier in the trip so nothing different. Still lots of goats, sheep and cows along the side of the highway. The vehicle seems to be doing just fine.

The bathroom stop was at a high end tourist souvenir mall that sells tanzanite. The stone is found only in Tanzania. Both the other ladies wanted to get a piece of jewelry. The stones are a blue violet ranging in color from very pale to quite dark. The amount of violet reflecting depends on the light and the cut of the stone. It’s a relatively new stone having been discovered in 1967. The shop sells every kind of souvenir you could possibly want. We bought some of the cotton fabric to take home for her collection. They also sew clothing there so you could pick your fabric and style and they would make it on the spot. This was not the cheap place.

Lunch was at a fancy spa. They tried to get us to spend the day. Lunch was priced similar to home so not a bargain either. It was included in the tour cost so no additional cost. Then we went in the small gift shop. Not much here but an interesting piece of fabric that had lions, giraffes and village huts. We bought that too. This shop really didn’t want to bargain. The first one we encountered on the whole trip.

We arrived at the airport well ahead of the three hours. Everything had to go through an x-ray just to get in the building. That included shoes and jackets. Then we walked through a metal detector. Finally inside we learned that the flight was delayed an hour. Check in would begin in about 45 minutes. Well their system is still not working and the staff has no clue what to do for passengers going multiple places. They are still using a laptop that the operators don’t know how to use. Furthermore they don’t even know the keyboard. They have to hunt for every letter and number. The couple in front of us spent about an hour trying to check in. They gave up and went to a different airline. Oh yes that required eight people trying to figure it out. When it was finally our turn they had no clue what the airport codes were and argued that the baggage would have to be checked again when we got to the states. We won that discussion. They finally wrote the bag tags by hand after Rob gave them the airport codes.

Immigration wasn’t difficult just slow. Then of course security and bag check again. Then its the walk through all of the duty free items on sale. Finally made it to the gate and learned the flight was delayed even more. Our long layover in Nairobi will not be so long. The plane arrived about two hours late. They were able to turn it quickly. The flight was fine thankfully.

We were bussed from the plane to the terminal. The escalator isn’t working so we took the elevator. Oh joy another security check. Luckily a man with a wheel chair was going by at the end of the security screening. I asked if he was available and he took us to the plane. Good thing because we didn’t have boarding passes so he helped get us through quicker. The agent took down the information about our bags and entered that into the system. We will be very surprised if the bags make it. We barely had our boarding passes when they let us on the plane. Being in the wheel chair really helped.

The flight to Paris left timely and the flight was good. We have a few hours here which is good since the Paris airport is very large and the signs aren’t very good unless you speak French. There are some in English however. Here is where we split up from the other two ladies in our tour group. Now we have a long wait. The Salt Lake flight leaves from the lower level of the concourse. Looks like another bus ride. Only a few other people are waiting. As we got closer however the area filled up. We were bussed to the plane. Yea it is a Delta air craft and not Air France. The flight was so much better. The food was better and the flight attendants were much friendlier.

Salt Lake has been renovating their airport. The international arrival area is backwards to any airport we have ever been in. You must collect your luggage before going through immigration. While Rob waited for the bags, I asked what we should do if the bags didn’t make it. Golly gee both bags made it. They had new bar code tags on them too. I took back one negative remark about Air France. Rob did not.

After clearing immigration we headed for the gate. Well that is at least a mile down the way. Luckily one of the golf carts was there so we hopped on. Sure was better. After sitting so many hours our legs and knees don’t always work well.

All went well from here. We got in the house about 5 pm. Sure feels good.

Day 9 May 14, 2025 Ngorongono Crater

Well our breakfast this morning was a little more unusual. We had eggs to order as usual and lots of fresh fruit and sweet breads. A first for us was what they called chicken lollipops. They were the middle section of the chicken wing with the meat all pushed to one end. They were seasoned with a mild teriyaki sauce and fried I think. The bacon was labeled fried streaky bacon. Definitely had less fat than at home.

After breakfast we are off to the crater. The crater is actually the largest fully intact caldera in the world. It’s like a giant bowl. The rim and sides are covered with trees and brush like a jungle. The bottom is savanna. Although the animals can climb out they choose not to. There is plenty of feed and water for them to survive.

We were greeted at the entrance by a large congress of baboons. They are very accustomed to tourists and trucks. The rim is used by lots of trucks transporting goods to other parts of the country. Our guide warned us to keep the windows closed because these baboons like to get in the vehicles and take things.

The road along the rim is paved but somewhat narrow. Lots of twists and turns so passing is not usually easy. Most of the drivers are considerate and pull over when they can. We came to the fork in the road where the trucks went one way and we went the other.

The floor of the caldera is covered with lush grass but not may trees. There is a lake and several rivers. Small ponds also dot the area. We saw lots of different antelope. The herds are fairly large. Several groups of wildebeest also. Our guide says that when God finished making all the animals he had some parts leftover. He used those to create the wildebeest.

We came across a male lion out for a stroll. Off in the distance were three or four single wildebeest who were keeping a close eye on the lion. The herd was much further away. As the lion got closer the wildebeest would move further away. A lion will never catch a healthy wildebeest. They are too fast and the lion doesn’t have enough stamina to endure a long chase. It was interesting to watch the interaction however.

Lots of different birds inhabit the area as well. Both song birds and water fowl. Some are very colorful and some can really hide. The flamingos here are mostly white so I sometimes think they are storks.

As before jackels and hyenas are on the prowl looking for any leftovers. The jackels look much like a fox or coyote so they are cute. The hyenas on the other hand are very viscous looking and rather ugly. Kind of one of those faces only a mother could love.

In the lake was a group of hippos. They are so peaceful looking that its difficult to believe more people are killed by them than any other African animal. A couple of them are standing on the bank. The ones in the lake just look like big rocks. As much time as they spend in the water i would think they should eat something in the water rather than graze on the grass.

Oh my gosh a group of ostriches. One male and several hens. They strolled across the savanna and onto the road. They don’t seem to have a care in the world.

Perhaps they should have a care since not too far down the road were three lionesses laying in the grass right beside the road. One lifted her tail or we would have missed them. They must have eaten recently because they were not in hunting mode. A couple of them did get up and walk a short distance and laid down again.

We also saw water buffaloes and a giant eland. The water buffaloes in Africa are not domesticated like the ones in Southeast Asia. The giant eland is the largest antelope in the world. The males and weigh up to 2000 pounds and stand 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Quite a size range between the dikdik at about 2 feet tall at the shoulder.

The highlight of the day was seeing a rhino. Our guide said a young one was sleeping in the grass beside the adult. Unfortunately they were a long ways away. You really needed telephoto lense or binoculars. This park doesn’t allow vehicles to drive on the savanna unless they are trying to save a baby rhino. Evidently they are very vulnerable to lions when they are little. The rhinos are endangered so efforts are made to protect them.

Before leaving the crater we stopped for a bathroom break. As usual the bathroom was clean. The area also had numerous picnic tables. Another tour group was having a box lunch. Sitting on a stump was an elephant skull. No tusks but the size of the teeth is impressive. Most elephants get six sets over the course of their life. As ones wear out another set pushes forward from the back of the jaw. Each molar can weigh up to 9 pounds.

Now its time to head home. The road out of the crater is steep, narrow and winding. Most of it is covered with pavers. The road is strictly one way thank goodness. Well we had noticed a gas leak during the bathroom stop. The vehicle seemed to have less and less power the further we went. Finally he had to stop. We all got out of the vehicle and started looking for rocks to put behind the tires. Rob and the guide took a look but didn’t have a solution. Another vehicle went roaring by but the next one stopped as did the third one. We eventually got in the third one which took us back to the lodging. They were staying there too. When we arrived the staff greeted us with song. We had lunch in the restaurant and then had the afternoon free.

We later learned that the second vehicle was able to pull ours to the top of the hill. Once there our guide was able to drive it back to town. He took it to a mechanic who was able to fix it that afternoon. It turned out to be a fuel valve switch that failed.

When we returned to our room the housekeeper had made a welcome back sign on the coffee table. It was made of nasturtium and green plant life. That might have been part of the leaves. The staff has time right now. Next month will be different. It did help with her tip.

At dinner we learned that our butler who we all thought was about 25 was actually 43. He has a wife and three children. They live in the village not far from the lodging. Our guess is that the pay here is really good.

Day 8 May 13, 2025 Tarangire Reservation to Lake Manyara

Today we are off to the Lake Manyara National Park. Looks like another wonderful day. The sunrise was not as impressive as expected. The staff is right there to take the bags to the vehicle. Sure is nice when we don’t have to do it.

Not far from our lodging we encountered three young children on their way to school. We stopped so one of our fellow travelers could give them tootsie pops. She is from Chicago where they are made. All children wear uniforms until high school. Different schools have different colors.

Further down the road is a village specializing in woven rugs and baskets. They are hanging on display along the road. We didn’t stop to check them out.

Zebras are grazing along the road. They don’t seem the least bit concerned.

A colorful bird is in one of the trees. It maybe the national bird of one of the other African countries.

In about two hours we arrived at the park. This was our first bathroom stop for the day. You really need a good bladder for this tour. On the plus side they have all been clean and always have had a western option.

A monkey is sitting in one of the trees. Good thing our guide is accustomed to spotting them. They just look like part of the tree.

Lots of trees and brush in this park. A large congress of baboons is walking along the road and climbing in nearby trees. This congress is made up of all ages of baboons. Some of the teenagers are wrestling. Some of the babies are so tiny.

We came to the lake. The water is quite high since this is the end of the rainy season. Lots of ripples in the water even though we don’t feel the wind. The water is coming further onto the shore and killing some of the plant life. The lake is home to many kinds of waterfowl. The grassy areas nearby support the antelope population.

Further down the road is a large black bird with red on its face. It has a large beak. I think it is called a southern ground hornbill. They are found only in Southern Africa. They can live to be 50-60 years of age.

Sitting on a rock beside the road was a blue ball monkey. That is a nickname for the male. His balls seem to glow in the dark. The actual name is a vervet. We didn’t see a female to compare.

A few giraffes are in the area too. They move rather fast even through the brush.

We saw pelicans on the lake on our way out of the park. Also a medium size lizard was sunning himself near the river. A leopard tortoise was near a small pool. It looked just like a rock. The spots on the shell resemble the pattern of a leopard so hence the name.

One tree has several small bird houses hanging from the tree limbs. They are made by some of the warblers. They hang from the end of the branch so predators cant’ get them. Pretty smart. Also good that they are small birds.

We are off to our lodging at Acacia Farm Lodge. We will be here for two nights. We had lunch pool side. Luckily we only had a brief shower. After lunch we were introduced to the staff that would be helping us. The afternoon is free time. Our rooms are large with a living room and walk in closet. A small patio is off the living room and the bedroom. Very nice place.

They have a farm here that grows fruit and vegetables used in the meals. They also have lots of chickens, hogs and sheep. They do buy beef. The grounds are beautifully maintained. Someone is working on them constantly.

Dinner was at the restaurant and was served family style. The chef came out to describe the dishes. They were all first class. Way more food than we could eat. It’s not the tourist season yet so we had the restaurant to ourselves.

Day 7 May 12, 2025 Nairobi to Tarangire Resevation, Tanzania

We had to be up exceptionally early this morning in order to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure time. The hotel gave us box lunches which were a let down from the buffet breakfast they normally have. We thought the three hours seemed really early since the airport didn’t seem all that big. What we didn’t know was that Precision Air was having system problems so checking in was a nightmare. They were entering everything into a lap top connected via the very slow internet. The passport scanners weren’t working either. They also needed three people to get the job done. The person entering used only one finger and hunted for every letter. The flight the day before had been cancelled so those passengers were also trying to get on. Immigration and security weren’t too bad but the gate was a mile down the concourse. We made it but not by much. We had to get to the plane via a bus that drove about 30 feet. We could have walked faster. Precision Air is not on our recommended list.

The flight lasted about an hour. We flew near Mount Kilimanjaro. Clouds surrounded it so we couldn’t see much. They actually served water, tea or coffee plus a choice of cake or croissant.

We landed and before we got inside the terminal a group of folks asked for our passports. Don’t know why because they didn’t look at much. The others in our group said they were asked for proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. We think they saw our COVID record and thought that was it. Our paper visas were accepted without a problem. We picked up our bags which had to go through another x-ray and met our guide outside. His Gate 1 sign was hand written which is not normal.

We got in another of the four wheel drive vehicles and headed for the Tarangire Reservation. The roads here seem in better condition than those in Kenya. The traffic isn’t as thick either. Therefore we made pretty good time. The sights along the way are much the same. Small towns with outdoor markets with farmland in between.

We stopped for lunch at a lodge overlooking a river. We had a table outside and luckily the weather was nice. Lots of clouds but no rain. I think we were the last to eat because the food on the buffet line was depleted and warm but not hot. Only water was included but Connie had already ordered a lemonade. Turns out that lemonade was a virgin Mojito and cost $5.00. It was tasty but not that tasty. A bottle of Diet Pepsi was $3.00. A big part of the population counts on tourism for their livelihood. The average personal income per year is $250.00.

This reservation is known for its large elephant population and the huge baobab trees. These trees can live to be 1,500 years old. Most are hollow on the inside providing homes to birds, snakes and other animals. The reservation also has a large population of termites. These build large mounds called castles. The king and queen termites spend their lives inside the castle producing more termites. They can live 50 years or more.

We saw a few elephants, giraffes, lions, warthogs, monkeys, baboons, birds and antelope. The land is more forested then Kenya. Lots of places for animals to hide. That seems to be what most were doing because this is the hottest day yet. Don’t know the actual temperature just guessing in the mid eighties. The highlight was the lions in the tree sleeping. Well the adults were. The cub was wide awake and curious.

Our lodging tonight is at the Sangaiwe Tented Lodge just outside the reservation. These tents are scattered up the hill side. A “cobbled” path winds up the hill. Sure glad someone is bringing the bags. Once again the beds are inclosed in mosquito netting. I was so tired from three nights of little sleep, the early morning and the heat that i laid down and only got up to shower and brush my teeth. Rob made it to supper.

Day 6 May 11, 2025 Masai Mara to Nairobi

Another early breakfast with departure scheduled for 7:30. The drive back to Nairobi takes about 5.5 hours including two bathroom stops. Traffic is terrible again but not as bad as when we left Nairobi. It’s Sunday and still lots of trucks on the road. Some of our route is the same and some is different. Unfortunately at this point a lot of it looks alike. Still local markets but some businesses are closed for Sunday. About 45% of the population is Christian.

We did see one truck on its side. That slowed things down a little bit. Didn’t look like anyone was hurt. Only saw one vehicle so the driver may have lost control or fell asleep.

We are on our own for lunch. They dropped us off at a large shopping mall. Very upscale complete with a Burger King, Dominos and Cold Stone Creamery. Today is Mother’s Day. They celebrate it here as well. Lots of families were out to celebrate. They only gave us an hour so no time for shopping. That was just fine with us. We got a local pizza which as expected was different from home but still good.

After lunch we went to the Karen Blixen Museum. Karen was the subject of the movie Out of Africa. The museum is her house. Many of the furnishings were hers. Some of the clothes hanging in the closet were used in the movie. We didn’t really have long enough here because it was threatening to rain and the guides wanted us to get to the giraffe center. The museum did not allow photos to be taken on the inside. Several books that Karen wrote were on display as well as many of her paintings. It is a beautiful home even now. The home was built in 1912 using the very best materials. Now we need to see the movie again.

Off to the Giraffe Center. This is really crowded. Lots of local people are out. We are given a small bowl with treats for the giraffes. Two kinds of pellets are inside. One is sweet and the other more bland. The giraffes like both. Then you go on a platform about the height of the giraffe. You have to be careful to feed them one pellet at a time because they like to reach in and take more. The pellets are about the size of a large almond. Their tongues are long and a little rough. After feeding the giraffes we went in for a short presentation about giraffes and the center. There are actually three different kinds of giraffes. The ones here are Rothschild giraffes. They are the fewest in number. The center raises these to be released into the wild. One of the giraffes is currently pregnant and another gave birth a week ago. It’s been a successful program.

Several wanted to go to the bead factory so off we went. The place chosen was the Kazuri Bead Factory. Local women are making the ceramic beads and then making jewelry from the beads. Very time consuming work. The clay is shaped and painted by hand. The beads are in different sizes and shapes. Some beads are a solid color and some have designs. After the beads are fired in a kiln they are strung into bracelets, necklaces and other items. The factory employs over 100 women. They greet us with song before showing what they do. Don’t come here looking for a bargain. Compared to home the price is most likely good.

We checked into the same hotel. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner. Four of us will continue to Tanzania, two will go home and three will remain a few more days. We had so much food for dinner. The waiters served each dish and then left the bowls for anyone wishing more. We had fish, chicken and beef dishes. We had several kinds of vegetables and rice. It ended with a plate containing three small pieces of cake and fruit. I sure hope the guides took home the leftovers.

Day 5 May 10, 2025 Masai Mara

Rob is to be in the lobby by 5:20 to get picked up for the balloon ride. About half our group is going. Connie got up shortly after he left to go to the lobby for internet access. Good idea but it was down more than up. Even when it was up the speed was too slow to do much of anything.

The balloon ride was a little different from others in the past. We did not gain much altitude but we could clearly see the many animals that from the road were hidden in the tall grass. Most animals can be 10 feet of the road and be invisible. However, It would have to be really tall grass for the giraffes to hide.

Those of us who stayed behind had breakfast beginning at 6:30. They always serve fresh fruit to include pineapple, watermelon, oranges and papaya. After the server cleared the fruit plates he put them on the nearby counter. Shortly afterwards one of the small local monkeys came in, grabbed an orange peel and ran out of the dining room. He was really fast! Pretty soon he returned for more.

At 7:30 those of us who stayed behind left for the park and to meet up with the balloonists. It’s another beautiful day. Sunny but with big fluffy white clouds. The farmers are taking the herds of cows, sheep and goats out to graze along the road. The Masai people are the majority of the nearby population. Whenever it is cool they wrap a black and red cotton blanket around their shoulders and upper body. Occasionally they wear a different color but that is rare. Some kids are walking to school. The Masai are not great supporters of education. Many of the kids are caring for the livestock instead.

Just inside the park are lots of various kinds of antelope. Many are in the distance so they look little. This portion of the park is fairly flat and goes for miles in all directions. It’s peaceful and quiet with an occasional bird call. The large birds are usually single birds while the small ones are in flocks.

We headed for the lion kill from yesterday to see what is left. We could see a large rack of bones but not much else left. The lions that weren’t allowed to eat yesterday are eating today. The remainder of the pride is not to be seen. The jackels and hyenas are missing as well. I’m sure they are around somewhere. They are responsible for eating the bones.

Our guide is sure the remainder of the pride is in the brush not far from the kill. He took us over there and sure enough laying in the bushes sleeping are the other lions. We counted at least nine. They are surprisingly well hidden. Good thing the guide was there to spot them. He drove right up into the bushes so we could see and helped to point them out. He took several different angles so we could see them. A couple of times one got up and moved a few feet to get in more shade.

Time to go meet up with the balloonists. They are having breakfast in the park. Great set up. They had a bar serving champagne and other nonalcoholic beverages. Tables and chairs were available. Off a ways from the eating area was a “Lou with a View”. They had erected a canvas outhouse with a camping style porta paddy. The zippered front faced out to incredible view. Outside the structure was a wash stand. Quite upscale. An attendant cleaned after every use.

Off we all went in search of more wildlife. This time we came upon a few ostriches. I thought they were only in Australia. Actually there were quite a few here.

A group of jeeps marked another interesting spot. A male lion was devouring a wart hog. You could here him crunching the bones. The scavengers are going to be out of luck. We were so close we could have reached out and touched him. That is of course if you don’t value your hand. He did move in order to get in the shade of the jeep. Some other females are nearby but he doesn’t share.

We came upon some vultures this time. Another of the scavengers. They are just sitting on the ground since there are no trees in the area. Not as large as some of our vultures and perhaps not as ugly.

We came across lots more antelope. Large herds of mixed members. This isn’t even the great migration season. That happens in July. Can’t imagine how that must look. There are so many you almost start thinking oh just some more. Quantities like the large herds of bison in Yellowstone.

We came upon three more female lions. Two were in the middle of the road. One was drinking from one of the large puddles of water. All three were panting from the heat and its not that hot. Not sure what they do when it does get hot.

A few more zebras and then back to the lodging for lunch. We also have a couple hours for a nap. The balloonists were very glad.

At 4:00 pm we head back to the park again. The guides have heard of a cheetah spotting so we are off to try to find it. They certainly gave it a good try but we never saw the cat. It had been seen in the brush in another area of the park. We drove in and around that brush but never saw it. We finally had to give up. They hide from the lions because lions have been known to kill cheetahs.

We did see a few hippos in the river. The banks were too muddy to get close. No one wants to get stuck out here. Not even many tourists here. The balloonists had seen them early in the morning. They do just look like big rocks. One was in the middle of the river. That one would dive under and then resurface. The rest are just sleeping along the opposite shore.

More elephants and antelope. You don’t have to look very hard to see those. This reserve has so many animals to see. They seem close together at times and other times far apart. They all stay a safe distance from the lions.

Some wildebeests are in the distance except for three males. A male lion is is the grass a safe distance away. The wildebeests are watching closely. As the lion gets closer they go a little further away. The wildebeests are reasonably safe because they can out run a lion. Not only are they faster they have more endurance. It was interesting to watch them play cat and mouse.

We must go back to the lodging for dinner. Everyone is supposed to be out of the reserve by 6:00 pm. Another beautiful sunset as we left. More rainbows and threatening clouds but we did get rained on most of it the way home. The small nearby town has a bar called the Hard Rock which gave us all a chuckle.

Day 4 May 9, 2025 Lake Elementaita to Masai Mara

Breakfast this morning begins at 6:30 with departure at 7:30. We have about a six hour drive to Masai Mara which is a huge national park. The park borders the Serengeti in Tanzania and is home to the great migration of wildebeest which occurs in July. Thankfully they do stop for the wash room. Of course it is at a shop and snack area. Lots and lots of carved and homemade items.

It rained heavily in the night so everything is wet. At least it didn’t rain while we were out yesterday. We had only gone a short distance when we encountered a van stuck in the mud. It was blocking the road. The passengers had begun taking items out of the van to lighten the load. Our guides got out to help. They had a brand new tow rope that they used to pull the van out. It seemed a little touch and go at the time but they did succeed. Surprisingly the guides remained clean. They road was definitely more muddy today.

The sights along the way are interesting. Schools don’t seem to be in every village. Some have bright yellow buses. These are the private schools. The public schools don’t have buses so most of those kids walk to school. No bikes or scooters. There are still lots of trucks delivering goods to the outdoor markets. They are very loaded. The markets look to be selling just about everything. One town was having a special market where livestock could be sold.

Lots of farmland along the way. The fields look well cared for. Often people are out working by hand. We don’t see many tractors.

We made a short stop at a hot air ballon shop so those going on the balloon ride tomorrow can sign the waiver and receive their briefing. Rob is going but Connie is not.

Road construction is a little different. The ruts are being patched in one stretch. The workers wear bright vests and are scattered along the way. Not a flagger in sight. No warning signs and no heavy equipment. Not sure how long the repairs will last.

Our accommodation for the next two nights is at Mara Leisure. We ate lunch here before going to our rooms. We are just outside the park so we are not to cross the bridge. A small river runs along the units. The units are very large tents complete with bathrooms. Hardly what one would call roughing it. The beds are covered with mosquito netting which at this time of day is held up.

At 4 pm we get in the vehicles and head for the park. We are met at the gate by numerous ladies selling items they have made. Once inside the park the sales ladies are gone. Lots of four wheel vehicles here. Lots of tour companies but the vehicles all look similar. They all put their tops up just after entering. The park is large with only a few trees. Lots of tall grass that waves in the breeze. Some is taller than others based on animals in the area.

A baboon met us just inside the gate. Then came a few lone male antelope of one type or another. Too many types to keep them all straight. They are all close together and seem quite peaceful.

Some of the roads in the park are good dirt roads. Others are a couple of tire tracks. It rained here last night also because some of the ruts are full of water. In the distance we could see several vehicles in the same location. So off we go. The drivers talk to one another but some are better about it than others. We nearly got stuck trying to take a short cut. When we got close a park ranger was in the road. Our guide says we were not to go cross country without permission of the rangers. Lucky for us that they gave their permission.

When we go the sort distance to the top of the rise we could see all the lions and their kill. Two of the young males had killed a full grown water buffalo. At least six lions were eating on the carcass. The ones that made the kill weren’t allowed to eat yet. They were laying off a ways from the kill. We were so close we could have reached out and touched them. At least six vehicles were in the area. Of course they all wanted front row seats. The sight was so remarkable. We didn’t see the kill but impressive all the same. Hyaenas and jackets were in the distance. They wanted in on the feast but the lions weren’t ready to quit. Hyaenas and jackels often work together to clean up once the lions quit. We watched for quite some time before leaving to look for other animals.

Next came a large male elephant. Like most males he was not with the females. They weren’t far away however. Several young ones were with them also. A really little one was so cute. Our guide guessed it to be less than a week old.

Another herd of giraffes was making its way along a ridge. Beautiful sight against the cloudy sky.

The sky in the distance looks threatening. At one point a double rainbow appeared. The rains did come for a few minutes on the drive to the lodge. The sunset was gorgeous. Somehow it never rained on us during the time in the park.

Dinner was a buffet at the lodge. When we returned to our tent, the beds were turned down and the mosquito netting was in place. Internet access is only at the lobby so no posting. Tomorrow for Rob is a very very early morning so off to bed early.