Serengeti: Day 3

After breakfast, we drove out of the very cold fog that surrounded us, and into the crater.  Once inside, and below the clouds we could see the crater wall all around, sometimes straining to see the wall on the opposite side.  There is a forest down there as well as a few bodies of water.  A much more appetizing place to live for an animal than the Serengeti.  We saw some wildebeests (I like to call them ugly horses), more gazelles, elephants, buffalo, and a zebra being eaten by lions!

The zebra carcass was right in the middle of the road.  Half of it already missing as the kill probably occurred the previous night.  The father lion was off in the distance between the zebra and another pride of lions farther off in the distance, protecting the kill for the family.  Two cubs were munching away on breakfast when we arrived.  There was also some older brothers and the mother nearby protecting the kill from the jackals eagerly leering around for the leftovers.  We were one of close to 20 pop-topped safari vehicles watching.  It is a wonder the animals never attack the Land Cruisers. 

Simba wins again

Not too far away was a large pack of zebras staring in the direction of the kill site.  They all looked very mournful.  I’m sure they never get used to this circle of life.  While we were on the scene the fellow zebras walked with their heads down, not talking to one another.  I guess that’s how the zebra faith honors their loved ones.

By noon, we made our way up and out of the crater to make the four hour trip back, past the circumcised Maasai, out of Ngorongoro Conservation, along the highway with the many speed bumps alerting drivers of crossing villagers, and back to Moshi where we rendez-vous’d at Maria’s house and picked up our bags.  It was such a nice comfort to have this pitstop before parting with our big bags once again.

It was time to head up to Mowa villiage with Maria, in the foothills of Kilimanjaro Mountain.

Serengeti National Park

We finally reach the Serengeti and it’s time to pop up the roof of our vehicle and drive around like real safarians, if there is such a thing.  Right after passing through the checkpoint with vending machines, toilets, and the registration area we see three giraffes!  What beautiful creatures with such an elegant gait.  Frankie remarks that catwalk models can learn a good lesson from these guys.  We already knew they are Nicole’s mother favorite animal, and now we know why.

Mom is right, they are beautiful

A lone zebra off in the distance proceeds a stop to watch a hyena crunch on some bones off in the distance.  Just before reaching our campsite, we come upon a mama lioness with her two cubs rolling around in the setting sun.  They weren’t more than 8 meters from the side of the road.

Relaxing after another pleasant day in the Serengeti

Serengeti means vast land, and it most certainly is.  Just as you can see the horizon when looking out at the ocean, the Serengeti is the land version of that.  Off in the distant southwest direction we see some mountains, but flat plains everywhere else. 

We make a final turn, passing some hungry hungry hippos hunkered in some waters, and arrive at our campsite when Frankie and Saidie quickly pitch the tents.  We have yet to see an African move that fast.

The campsite has two covered areas, one for the tourists to sit in, and the other for the cooks to prepare the meals at.  The food is tasty—a beef stew with rice—which we share with Frankie.  Saidie and the other cooks end up eating whatever is left from all their prepared meals.