Tuesday April 21
Forgot to mention yesterday, that at the village there were flies everywhere and we were given fly swatters which were made from goats hair! When welcoming us they had a jumping competition which was great until Ross and I were asked to participate in the competition. While I participated I was very careful not to jump too high although I was tempted. Ross couldn’t restrain himself! There were no injuries as a result of our activities!
Another game drive this morning but the plains are so open it would be difficult to see any big cats. The morning was foggy but it quickly lifted. Saw a few animals on our way but after 40 minutes we come across a herd of 40 elephants. After watching them for a while there is a race to get to a good viewing position as the herd will cross the track we are on. There are at least 12 safari vehicles jockeying for position. Abdi gets us into a great spot and we have a close up view as they cross the track. We move on and Mt Kilimanjaro is in the background but clouded. However the clouds break up for a bit and we get a good view of the snow capped mountain.
We get back to our lodge around 10.30 and now plan to have a coffee. We saw the usual animals on the way back, warthogs, impala and one wildebeest. We drop off our things and head for a coffee. As we walk out there are two wildebeest just outside the perimeter fencing.
Afternoon game drive from 4 pm. Not expecting too much. We do get a glimpse of Mt Kilimanjaro snow cap and then we see a herd of Wildebeest.
The usual suspects are around. Then we find a hyena gnawing on part of an animal. It is really tearing strips off it. Further on there are a lot of birds hanging around and we can see a carcass. There is a huge rib cage and another hyena that is getting stuck into it while the birds mill around waiting for their turn.
Abdi believes it is a hippo carcass and most likely it died from natural causes. If it was a lion kill they would still be hanging around.
We continue on through this swamp area and come across some hippos.
The cloud is clearing around the mountain and we get some great views. Then we move on to an observation hill where we get a full view of the plains and swamp area. At the bottom of the hill we use sling shots to shoot seed balls into the area from which trees and shrubs will grow.
On the way back we see more and more hyenas making their way to the carcass. There are four around the carcass, a couple feeding and a couple spread eagled in a food coma.
Tonight is our last night and tomorrow we head off to Tanzania. We have a farewell dinner and drink with our guide, Juma and the drivers. It was a good night.
No comments:
Post a Comment