Tanzania, Africa - 8A

Hi, Our second day in the Serengeti National Park began with a beautiful sunrise (two below).

The open savanna hosted large herds of wildebeest and, as we will see, zebra.

Where there are prey animals there also are animals to prey on them, e.g., hyenas.

Thomson's Gazelles.

Vultures tending a nest (above and below).

A Black Headed Heron looking for breakfast.

A lone Cheetah checks out possible targets.

Mkenda spotted a pair of Tawny Eagles.  He told us that just before taking wing they would stretch.

It was good advice as all of us were able to catch them in flight (above and below).

The only leopards we saw were in trees.

We visited a lake where flamingos congregate.  At the time of year we were there only a few were present (above and three below).

Thanks for looking.

Tanzania, Africa - 7B

Hi, As we continued our game drive we came across a family of Cheetahs.

It appeared that a mother had killed a young zebra and brought her 4 cubs to the kill (above and 6 below).  We remained watching as they fed for 1/2 an hour.  They would eat for a few minutes and then walk away.  After a few minutes they would come back.  Based on the size of their bellies they had been eating for quite awhile.  We were the only vehicle watching.

As we approached a kopie Mkenda spotted a couple of Tawny Eagles; one of them in a tree.

Further on was huge harem of Impala with

the male keeping watch.

Later we came upon this cub and

a couple of females.  It was interesting how many times we saw lionesses on their backs.

BFFs.

If I could add a balloon to the photo the zebra would be saying "gotta keep my eye on this guy."

Finally, another pretty sunset.  Thanks for looking.

Tanzania, Africa - 7A

Hi, This begins our first full day in the Serengeti National Park.

We were treated to another beautiful sunrise (above and below).

Almost at the very beginning of our drive Mkenda, our guide, spotted a Honey Badger and we tried to get into position for a photo.  As we were doing so I remarked that, at least in North America, badgers were very aggressive and very dangerous.  As if on cue the animal turned, charged the truck, bared its teeth and growled.  I took the above photo as it ran off.

Zebra and Wildebeest were all over the savannah. 

More Cheetahs, this time a male and female (above and below).

Wildebeest everywhere (above and two below).

It was always nice to have more than one species of animal in a photo.

In various places in the middle of the savannah there are massive rock formations called Kopies.  This is a small section of one of them.

King of all he surveys and looks the part.

Members of his pride.

Lions like to spend the daylight hours just lying about in the shade (above and below).

This young cub is getting restless.

Returning from his/her short jaunt of exploration.

Thanks for looking.