Today the tour group split up, some flying home, others having a beach holiday in Zanzibar. Paul Tom and I were going on Safari. Breakfast at 7.00 and then we were picked up by our driver, Elvis, and driven to Tarangire National Park for a game drive. This was a four-hour drive on an excellent road. Some sections were a little slow, getting stuck behind a heavy lorry creeping up a hill. Our driver kept to the speed limits of 50kph in villages and town, otherwise he drove as fast as the Landcruiser would drive. The scary bit was the distance behind the vehicle in front, (or lack of distance). Sometimes approaching a vehicle in front at high speed, and then swinging out onto the other side of the road at the last second dodging the oncoming traffic. Tuk Tuks, the main transport, other than tourists in Landcruisers, were no problem. They kept very much to the side of the road, and you could then have four lanes of traffic.

When we left Weru Weru River Lodge, we picked up a packed lunch from the hotel. At all the hotels, the packed lunches were similar and always packed in a square cardboard box. Mine was gluten free, it basically had all the bread items removed, no replacement items. We stopped at a tourist shop selling carvings and had a loo break. Later on, we stopped and picked up some bottled water.

The land on the roadside was grazed by the nomadic Masai goat herders. We took a short detour through a goat auction, goats were being brought in by the Masai and being auctioned.

We arrived at the Tarangire National Park entrance, which was terribly busy with more than twenty Landcruiser waiting entry. Elvis paid the entry and we were soon on our way. Inside the park the grass was very lush and green. The rains had recently started. The park appeared far greener than the lands outside the park, presumably because there are too many goats grazing the land outside.

We soon found a herd of Elephants who were on their way to a water hole. We watched them for a long time as they played in the water. There were some young elephants being introduced to the water. It was a riveting watch. I make no excuse for the substantial number of Elephant photographs I have placed in the blog. Bored of elephants, you could divert your attention to the birds on the water.

Over the radio there was a report of a Leopard sighting, so we headed off to see it. It was visible along with dinner hanging in a tree. Not the best view of a Leopard I have had, but still worthwhile.

On the way back from the Leopard sighting, we came across a herd of Baboons. There were many youngsters riding on their mothers. We also saw Impala, Ostriches, Buffalo, Giraffe, and a dear little Mongoose living in a termite mound. We headed towards the cliff which overhangs the river. This was the lunch spot where you could get out, sit at tables, eat lunch and visit the loo. Eating lunch, you had to be careful of the monkeys who would sneak up and grab the food off the table. They failed with us.

After we finished, we headed off towards the Ngorongoro crater to stay in the Bougainvillea Safari Lodge in Karatu. This entailed a drive around Lake Manyara and then up the Western escarpment of the Rift Valley. We arrived at the hotel, each of us had our own chalet, with large bed and shower. Supper was good, with six courses, pork, chicken and salads. (Yes, my appetite had returned.) Beer at the bar, where I tried to order a Negroni, but ended up with a Campari Spritzer. I shall try again tomorrow,

Todays Route