Safari

Hi All,

Sorry if sometimes our blogs get a little out of order! It just depends on computers and time, but you get the idea anyway!

Just a note to my Mum, I am feeling much better thankyou and go The Saints!!! Oh and to James we have some sunset photos that will match yours and raise them!!! Will put up a collection when we can!

Now to safari...

We were picked up on the first day from our hotel with the rest of our tour group - which consisted of two other people, an Englishman called James and a fellow Aussie called Steve! The first day did not consist of much safariing as we just went into Arusha to get money and supplies for the next few days then we headed to a snake park run by the Massai. This was quite good as we got to hold a snake and a baby croc and seen some ginormous snakes!!! We also went into a Massai museum. This was a little funny because they had these models set up and they had the funniest expressions on their faces! Bit boring though. After that we just headed back to Arusha to a campsite for the night. We played pool, had some drinks and did not much else.



The next morning we headed off for a longish drive to Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. We all feel asleep for the first part of the drive as there was not much to see really. We drove through a few little towns and on exiting one of these towns there were Baboons all over the road! I personally was very excited by this. The driver stopped so we could take some pictures before heading off to our lucnh stop. At lunch we were visited by some interestings birds. One in particular (we call it the ugly bird) was rather large and watching it fly into the lunch area was quite a sight. Lunch was on the Crater wall but the view was not fantastic. After lunch though we drove to a lookout point where we had a brilliant view of the crater.

That afternoon we drove to Serengeti. This was quite a speccy drive as we seen plenty of wildlfe including the end of migration of wildebeest with some zebra tagging on the end. We actually stopped the truck as they crossed the road all around us. The highlight of the day had to go to the spotting of two cheetahs with a kill! It was already half eaten so not sure what was so unlucky but did make you really feel in the wild. We also seen hippos, elephants (far away), zebras, giraffes, monkeys, gazelles, half hidden lion and a fully hidden leopard!!



We camped in Serengeti for the night and can say we did not get eaten though the snoring was proabaly scaring the animals away! James was rather drunk and very amusing. Next day would have to be the most amazing safari day ever!!! Within ten mins of leaving camp we came across a male and female lion. We sat and waited and cheered and were rewarded with a mating session!! Girls be thankful we are not lions it takes all of thirty seconds! Though it does happen every fifteen mins for about a week as we were informed.

From then on the day just got better and better. We drove around for awhile seeing much of the same as the day before until our driver got a call over the cb. We raced to the point he ewas told to go to only to line up with fifty other trucks!! It was worth it though in the tree a little off the road was a leopard!! This one you could even see with your naked eye! Though with the binos was pretty damn impressive. The best bit was it did not just sit there, it actually got out of the tree so you got a real good look at it. Once out of the tree though it disappeared and was time to move on.



On this most fantastic day all the animals were out and close to the road, We got to see elephants practically next to the truck rolling in mud, giraffes eating from trees 3m away. It was awesome! We even seen a hippo going for a walk (though I could be lying and that could have happened the night before!!). We headed back to camp for lunch then were off to the crater.



This would have to be my favourite moment. On the way to the crater our driver spotted two male lions so he stopped. We then sat for a while looking, taking photos, then one got up and starting walking towards us!!!!!!! So exciting. We were the only truck there at this satge as well so it was just for us! It came right up to the road and walked around the truck to the otherside of the road and then politely sat beside the road and posed for photos! I must say it was a little scary being this close to a lion in the wild but the driver said we were safe and that it was jsut after some shade and water. By this satge a few more trucks had stopped but we stiil had prime position. Then the other lion decide to come over. He came ven closer still!! I will swear too that he stopped at my side of the truck and looked straight at me!!! Scary!!



That night we camped on the crater rim and we could hear lots of animals munching around the tent overnight!! The next day we spent the morning down in the crater which was really spectacular. One of the most exciting moments was getting down there in the first place!! The road in was really steep and bumpy and you could see straight down off one side of the road. Once we got down into the crater the view was amazing - it was just after sunrise and there were animals grazing everywhere!! Mainly wildebeest, buffalo, zebras and gazelles. We also saw hyenas stalking a family of zebras, warthogs eating grass off the road right next to the 4wd and huge flocks of flamingos in the lakes. We also saw more lions mating (I don't think they ever stop). One of the highlights of the crater happened later in the morning when our driver spotted what he thought was a rhino. We the naked eye it could have been a buffalo but through the binos you could see it was a black rhino! This was really impressive as not many people get to see a rhino (apparently). Unfortunately it was a bit far away to get a good photo and not long after got there it sat down in the grass. Soon after this we drove into a pride of lions and even briefly got to see a cub!!! It ran down the road in front of us but there was a couple of other 4wd's blocking some of our view.



After we'd drank our fill of safariing we climbed back out of the crater (which was even more scary than coming in!) to our campsite for lunch - surrounded by a herd of zebras. We then headed back to Arusha for the night covered in dirt and tired and ready for a shower and a cold drink! The next morning we left camp early and hit the road - we had 2 days driving to get to Dar es Salaam, from where we were going to catch the ferry across to Zanzibar.

Hope everyone is well!! Miss you all lots (especially when I was sick)!!

Love, Sarah.

P.S. remember you can click on the photos to see others we've uploaded.