Serengeti

June 27

Our neighbor Leslie having morning coffee on the veranda before we head out to the Serengeti.

Leaving Tloma. 8:25

We pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation area in route. We will pass by the observation stop where we looked down into the caldera. Today it is completely fogged in.

More baboons on the way up.

Still climbing to the overlook. It is getting foggier. Cape buffalo pass behind us. Animals pass in and out of the caldera. The top was very foggy.

Coming down the other side into Eden Valley.

Passing by a Masai village.

We make a stop at the Olduvai Gorge monument. 10:59

This plaque is on the plinth.

Next to the small hills in the forground is Olduvai gorge and there is a museum there we didn't visit.

On the road. 11:02

Journey of giraffes. 11:23

Serengeti National Park. 11:43

Photo op for Linda and Emerson. 11:47

Ostrich. 12:01

Rest stop. Greenie, Barbara and Leslie. 12:39

Kim and Allen. 12:40

Allen singing. 12:42

Giraffe crosses road in front of our vehicles. 1:08

These rock formations are called kopjes. 1:20

Two spotted hyena. 1:30

Linda/Emerson selfie. 1:38

On the road - prairie. 1:44

On the road - just lovely. 2:01

Rangers start controlled fires so new growth can start. 2:02

A topi. 2:10

Hartebeests. 2:11

Linda A in jeep. 2:13

A secretary bird. 2:16

Nile crocodiles. 2:33

Large rocks in the river, no wait those are hippopotamus backs. 2:36

Hippos hanging out in the water.

Probably a Cape Glossy Starling. 2:38

The Serengeti National Park is 5,700 square miles in size. The Serengeti and surrounding game reserves contain 12,000 square miles. Mike Farley photo

Elephants on the horizon. 2:45

A secretary bird.

A rock hyrax. 2:59

A brown snake eagle on the left and a juvenile tawny eagle on the right.

Hippos. 3:50

Close up of the same hippos.

Wildebeests and zebras. 4:07

Wildebeests and zebras.

Masai giraffes. 4:15

We get to our Serengeti camp. The most primitive but probably the most enjoyable site for the trip. There are no fences to keep animals away.

Our shower water delivery system. 5:53

An elephant passes close to our tent.

At our camp watching Serengeti TV. 6:33

We record our contact info and pass around to take photos of this page.

Allen near campfire discussing tomorrows schedule.

We sit in rapt attention!

Emerson at dinner. 7:03

June 28

We are signed up for a balloon ride over the Serengeti. The usual out at 4:30 AM for a ride to the launch point. Along the way we saw several animals including lions and an elusive caracal cat but it was too dark to photograph them.

Getting some breakfast before heading out for ballooning.

We arrive at the ballooning spot but first we make use of the glam camp loos! 6:15

Balloons lined up getting ready to go.

Filling the hot air balloon. 6:15am

Group photo as we wait for balloon to inflate! 6:30am.

We slide in with the basket horizontal and as the balloon rises we tip up. Mike, 2 Lindas and an Emerson!

Pat, Barbara, Leslie and Debbie.

Video of the gals. 6:46

Other balloons taking off after us. 6:46am

Nicola our pilot. He is from Italy.

Chase vehicles.

Three giraffes.

A burned area.

The airstrip.

Our pilot after doffing his jacket. Getting a bit warm near all this heat! 6:55

Enjoying the sights.

Short term memory warthog running. (Does he remember why?) 7:05

Topi running. 7:16

Topi running. 7:17

Sun's rays. 7:21

Mike and Linda A. 7:24

Pilot, Linda and Emerson.7:24

Flying over a fancy campsite.7:28

Other balloons. 7:374

Other lit balloon. 7:38

Our pilot was very experienced and knew just how much lift was needed to clear the upcoming tree.

Flying over some hippos.

Closeup of hippos.

We fly away from the hippos.

We leave the hippos. Mike Farley photo

Mike and Linda seated for landing. 7:50

Out of basket shot. 7:55

The crew does a quick job putting the ballon and basket away.

Group, basket, drinks. 7:57

A little champagne and OJ if wanted and then off to...

...Breakfast.

The pilots and crew greet us with song. 9:27

A loo with a view?

Yep! Just sit and enjoy the great outdoors.9:27

Dining. 9:29

Birthday singing. 9:33

A photo op after we finish breakfast.

Not all critters are big and fierce.

We do like to look at the ones that are. 10:33

The seed pods are quite hard but the birds are persistent. 11:02

A pretty brown parrot. 11:02

More Thompsons gazelles and Impalas. 11:15

A Dik-dik 11:34

Marabou stork looks like it had a recent bath. 12:27

Our camp tent sink. 12:42

Our camp tent bed. 12:42

Our camp tent viewing out through screen. 12:44

Emerson taking a break. 12:46

Back in our Land Cruiser for the afternoon safari. 3:32

Tortoise 3:40

We hit the migration about right. The number of wildebeests we see is quickly increasing. Our guides say that by next week the wildebeests might have all moved on. Mike Farley photo

Reflection of zebras. 5:39

Sunset seen from inside of tent. 6:21

A distant rain.

Wildebeest near our camp.

Another great evening Serengeti TV program. We all brought out chairs to sit and enjoy the view. 6:42

June 29

Listening to wildebeest sounds in the dark. 12:13am

Outside of tent at 6:33am...

...and a panoramic view of campgrounds.

Kim, Glen, Emerson, Pat and Leslie making lunch for later in the day. 6:43

A hyena in the high grass close to our camp. 7:09

A vulture high in a tree 7:56

A wildebeest lion kill. We know lions are around. 8:00

Yep!

An hour later up the road, another lioness. 9:01

Obviously very used to vehicles. 9:05

A beautiful Thompsons gazelle 11:24

Klipspringers on a rock 11:30

The beautiful Serengeti 11:59

A leopard is spotted hanging about in a tree 2:38

Just relaxing thank you. Move along.

Linda A, Kim and Mike in jeep. 4:04

Linda and Debbie. 4:04

Emerson in front seat. 4:05

A tsetse fly trap. The fly is attracted to blue and black colors. The cloth has insecticide on it.

We spot a hyena trying to keep cool probably after eating.

He takes off after the click of a camera. Maybe past experience taught him we're not safe to be around.

A tortoise.

Hyenas laughing late at night in the darkness of our Serengeti tent. 11:34

Lion can be heard just outside our tent! 11:36

June 30

Outside our tent. 6:33am

Leslie and Debbie in jeep. 8:03am

Wildebeast everywhere.

Some up close.

Some acrobatics.

We arrive at a big pool of hippos.

They do "look" harmless.

No swimming with the hippos.

Being playful?.

We see this interesting scene where this one lion apparently doesn't want to share! To the point where he carries this carcus away from the rest of the pride.

The head lioness stalks him..."give me my share" she seems to say. 9:59

The pride gives up on getting any of the meal.

The rest are out of luck. 9:44

Zebras in our favorite pose. 10:44

A Dik-dik.

Elephants on the move.

A younger female (matriarch in training) leads the herd. However, should a challenging issue arise, the true Matriarch would come forward and lead the way.

They have a lot of bird species in East Africa. This is a Usambiro Barbet.

Giraffe. 1:17

Two species of acacia tree - umbrella thorn on the right. 1:19

Termite mounds.

Dik-Dik 2:08

Hippos and elephants.

A grey heron finishing a snake for lunch.

We visit the Serengeti Media Centre.

The park's rangers are very aware and protective of animal migration needs.

This park ranger gives us more information about Serengeti Park. He tells us they have poaching under control and that there are up to 500 safari vehicles in the park at any one time.

Group photo at Serengeti Media Center.

Back at camp to shower before dinner. Here's where our heated shower water comes from.

You tell the staff you are ready for a shower and after a bit the guy shows up at the back of the tent with a bucket of hot water. When you say you are ready he fills the bucket and raises it up. He stays nearby to see if you need any more hot water.