Tanzania, Africa - 6

Hi, Today we left our camp outside the Ngorongoro crater and headed north to Serengeti National Park.

Before we left I too this photo in front of our tent.

Our guide elected to take a back road this morning instead of following the more direct but far less interesting main road.  On the way we passed a number of Masai villages.  Here wealth is measured by the number of cows in ones herd.

All Masai herders carry sticks which serve a number of purposes (above and below).

Here is a typical small village.  We saw some a lot larger.

After a bit more driving we came upon a huge group of giraffes (above and 3 below).  I think Mkenda, our guide, said he counted 42.  It was the largest group he had ever seen.  

Next we came upon a group of vultures trying to eat a dead zebra.  Mkenda believed the zebra had died of natural causes as there was no indication a predator had been there first.  The vultures were having a very difficult time breaking the skin of the zebra so they could dine.

Further along we came on a small group of trucks stopped by the side of the road.  When we pulled up we saw they were watching a female Impala give birth (above and below).

In about 20 minutes the newborn calf was up and moving.

After lunch we headed out again.  We soon came upon this Cheetah resting on the top of a termite mound (above and two below).

Eventually the Cheetah ambled off

and headed for a heard of wildebeest.  He/she just walked right up to them as there was not where to hide.  The wildebeest were wary but just stayed where they were.  The Cheetah ambled right through the herd as if it was completely disinterested and then when it thought it was close enough went after one of the wildebeest, however, without success.

Here's another Cheetah on a termite mound.

Once again our day ended with a beautiful sunset.  Thanks for looking.

Tanzania, Africa - 5B

Hi, As our game drive in Ngorongoro crater (a collapsed volcano) continued

we spotted a female Ostrich (males have black bodies).

A warthog drinks from a puddle as a zebra watches (probably us).

Two Abdim's or White Bellied storks have a arrived for a drink.

We did not see many Hippos as there was not a lot of water deep enough for them.  However, we did look at another, much smaller pool (above and below).

One Hippo entered the water with her baby and did a roll over (above and below).

A pair of Gray Crowned Cranes on the wing.

A male Ostrich (in the background) is following a pair of females.

The Masai bring their goats and cattle into the crater to drink.  They are not supposed to graze but tell that to the animals.

A group of White Bellied Storks look on as a pair of zebras drink.

In one area of the crater we found many wildebeest with calves (above and two below).

I believe these males are Grant Gazelles.

In a wooded area of the crater we encountered a small troop of Blue Monkeys (above and six below).

There were a few babies.

A pair of warthogs just ambled along.

We returned to the kill where we watched the male lion eating in the early morning.  The lions were now about a mile away and vultures were at the kill.

Some of them were really irascible and would fight with the other vultures (above and below).

Two vultures to the right of the photo are going at it.

Eventually a Jackal showed up and chased most of the vultures away (above and below).

Here is one of those male lions.

Next up was a small flock of Gray Crowned Cranes.  This pair appeared to be mating.

In ones and twos they came down to the stream to drink.

A pair of rhinos and a zebra graze in the distance.

 Thanks for looking.