Day 3 – Safari (Moru Kopjes & Gong Rock)
Breakfast at the camp this morning before leaving at 7:30. We are heading South today in search of the Black Rhino. It was quite the drive so Ally drove with a purpose today so we could get there, search then begin the long drive back. Driving with a purpose here has a whole new meaning for me…lol!
There is a Black Rhino project here where the monitor the species to help from extension. Poaching here is still a huge problem so there are rangers in this area who live on top of the cliffs to help protect them. We learned that often poachers are just killed here because too many have been arrested but go back to poaching when they get out so it’s easier to just eliminate them. Something to be said for repeat offenders of violent crimes in the states. Visited the Rhino information center to learn about their history. A great guide full of knowledge and passion for these animals. You would have to love it to live way out here. You sure can’t just run down the street for milk if you forgot it on your way home.
No luck in spotting a Rhino today though. Since there are only 23 monitored animals on these planes, and they mostly graze alone, there was no telling where they were. The trip however gave us the opportunity to see the Kopjes, which are forms of rocks like none I have ever seen. There are many difference Kopjes, named for the tribe that lived there many centuries ago. This is Massai country. When in Arusha, we saw many of the Massai tribe which are easy to spot as the men still wear the red draped clothes as their daily attire. Would have been something to see these people still living upon on these rocks. There was one particular area where steps have been built so that you can climb to the top. Ally said he normally would not allow us to climb there unless there were other vehicles around because it has been known to have lions up there. But we all agreed we were game to try it. I know…wreckless right? Ally led the way making lots of noise to scare anything that might have been visiting the area. A few remnants of lions were present but no lions to be found. Let me say how glad we are we made that decision. What an amazing site from up there.
Back in the jeep and off to a lunch spot for a packed lunches. Arrived a favorite spot by many and were told we couldn’t be here because the President of Germany and the President of Tanzania would be visiting there soon. They were already setting up a huge spread for them by the Zebra refreshment company…lol! So we left in search of a new lunch spot.
Now for the excitement of the day. On our way to find a new spot we ran across a pride of lions laying in the shade of a huge tree not far from the road. It was an amazing site. 10 juvenile cubs in all and 7 lionesses (we never did see the males) however it was the same pride we saw yesterday, noted by one with a monitoring collar and one with a huge gash in her nose. Within a few minutes, one of the females raised her head and they all looked in one direction towards a herd of zebras who were making their way across the road into the area of the lions. In a split second 5 of the lionesses each rose and moved with grace to do their particular job. Can you believe this? A kill is just about to happen right in front of us. I didn’t think I wanted to see this at all until I watched how these amazing animals worked together with patience and purpose to feed their family. In a matter of maybe 15 minutes, they had completely formed a parameter around the herd and were waiting for their opportunity. In a split second one lioness made a move and the herd scattered, charged, ran…you name it. One of the lioness had to lay down in the road to keep from getting trampled. In that split second their opportunity was lost…they got away! We have a video of the whole thing and believe it or not it was sad. I hate to see the zebra loose it’s life but it was such an amazing thing to watch. Ally put it well, the lion laid down because no one wanted to die that day. They all made it back to the tree with the cubs to rest from their big chase.
We needed to make a trip back to the airstrip anyway (I’ll mention in a future post why) so decided to just have lunch at the airport. Now, keep in mind, without thinking, when were going to the same airstrip where both Presidents were expected in shortly. A guard at the entrance just let us on in, we parked and walked to the small building with our lunch boxes. We laughed because you can’t even get within 5 miles of the airports at home when our president is flying in. Tons of safari vehicles lined up to meet their arrival. A few armed guards and mostly people like us standing around with cameras. There was no concern to be standing along the strip for a photo op so I took it. Now, I have no idea who the president of Germany even is but figured it would be a great moment for Ally to have photos of “his” president. Planes landed and I snapped pictures of anyone coming off the plan. Ended up with great pictures of the German president but the Tanzania president was not there. Only the Interior ministers were there to meet him. Fun adventure to this trip, even though our original trip to the airstrip was not a success 🙁
Before heading back to camp we saw another Leopard in a tree. It’s so funny to see how they just chill and are so uninterested in us.
Back at camp at 4:30. Showers again at 6. Dinner at 7. Tonight we were joined by all the staff of the camp, except the chef. We had asked them all to join us when we first got there and they said they would on the last night. It was a great meal and a lot of fun. This crew has over exceeded our expectations. It will be hard to top it at the next camp. During our dinner, we were joined by a Hyena, just beside the tent. That just sort of cracks me up. I watched JJ leave the dining tent and walk to the kitchen tent, in the dark, with the Hyena sitting right there. He said, He knows me! They also shared that a few weeks ago a pride brought down a buffalo right in the camp area and stayed there for a solid week. JJ said they had approached him carrying the buckets of water to the tents to get a drink. He just dropped the buckets of water, walked away, let them get their drink and then picked up his buckets and carried on. OMG!!!! I guess there is something to be said for living in this country and feeling comfortable.
Back to the tent to be zipped in at 8:30. We packed, well Rich packed, played a few hands of gin and I caught up on my blog posts. Heard several lions throughout the night. I don’t think I will ever get tired of this. We leave for 2nd camp location tomorrow.
I absolutely adore your site! You aggressive me as able-bodied as all the others actuality and your broiled PS is absolutely great!
Wow! In the end I got a website from where I can truly obtain useful information regarding
my study and knowledge.
We need to build frameworks and funding mechanisms.
Nevertheless, it’s all carried out with tongues rooted solidly in cheeks, and everybody has got nothing but absolutely love for their friendly neighborhood scapegoat. In reality, he is not merely a pushover. He is simply that extraordinary breed of person solid enough to take all that good natured ribbing for what it really is.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is actually frustrating.
A friend of mine advised me to review this site. And yes. it has some useful pieces of info and I enjoyed reading it.
Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail on the head. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
With this issue, it’s important to have someone like you with something to say that really matters.
Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail on the head. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
We’re developing some community services to respond to this, and your blog is helpful.
Regards for helping out, superb info.
It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by defining this as such a comprehensive, almost unknowable problem. Isn’t that self-defeating?
I think that may be an interesting element, it made me assume a bit. Thanks for sparking my considering cap. On occasion I get so much in a rut that I simply really feel like a record.
I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I really hope to check out the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own website now 😉
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or tips. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!
Hey very cool site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful information here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Enjoyed studying this, very good stuff, thanks.
Paragraph writing is also a excitement, if you know after that you can write or else
it is difficult to write.
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i came to “return the favor”.I am
attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use
a few of your ideas!!
Greetings! I’ve been following your blog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go
ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic work!
Зеркало является альтернативным
адресом сайта, который позволяет обходить блокировки и обеспечивает бесперебойный доступ
к платформе.
У нас вы сможете приобрести всю линейку серий Шнайдер Электрик,
на любой вкус и бюджет.
Good post. I study something more difficult on different blogs everyday. It’s going to always be stimulating to learn content material from other writers and observe a little bit one thing from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content material on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link in your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Its wonderful as your other blog posts : D, regards for putting up.
В наличии как слоты с барабанами и
линиями, так и настолки/карточные дисциплины и даже лайв-игры.
Одно из главных достоинств компании — внушительная
коллекция игровых автоматов.
Украинское лицензированное казино предлагает только один вариант
— гривны.
Spot on with this write-up, I truly believe this website requirements a lot much more consideration. I’ll probably be once more to read much much more, thanks for that info.
There is so much to try to understand
I had fun reading this post. I want to see more on this subject.. Gives Thanks for writing this nice article.. Anyway, I’m going to subscribe to your rss and I wish you write great articles again soon.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is amazing, great written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this .
В этот момент важно понимать, как проводятся турниры, и как в
них участвовать, не нарушая правил.
What’s up to every single one, it’s genuinely a good for me to pay a visit this web site,
it consists of useful Information.
Good points – – it will make a difference with my parents.
I just added this to my favorites. I truly love reading your posts. Tyvm!
Hello there I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you by mistake, while I was searching on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a remarkable post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb work.
That’s some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions might be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to supply such helpful information here.
I think I will become a great follower.Just want to say your post is striking. The clarity in your post is simply striking and i can take for granted you are an expert on this subject.
Nice post.Very useful info specifically the last part 🙂 Thank you and good luck.
Drodzy Parafianie Szanowni Goście! W Święta Wielkanocne, składamy sobie życzenia. Dlatego pragnę Wam wszystkim złożyć najlepsze Życzenie Wielkanoce. Niech Chrystus Zmartwychwstały, który pokonał śmierć, grzech, piekło i szatana, napełnia nasze SERCA SWOJĄ RADOŚCIĄ, NADZIEJĄ i MIŁOŚCIĄ. Niech On w Mocy Swojego Ducha Świętego, błogosławi nam i umacnia nas, abyśmy tę Radość, Nadzieję i Miłość zanosili w naszą codzienność, do naszych domów, rodzin, do miejsca pracy, nauki czy cierpienia; wszędzie tam gdzie spotykamy naszych Bliźnich! Wszystkim Życzę Wesołego Alleluja! Proboszcz Parafii Św. Wawrzyńca w Stolcu.
Hello this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Drodzy Parafianie Szanowni Goście! W Święta Wielkanocne, składamy sobie życzenia. Dlatego pragnę Wam wszystkim złożyć najlepsze Życzenie Wielkanoce. Niech Chrystus Zmartwychwstały, który pokonał śmierć, grzech, piekło i szatana, napełnia nasze SERCA SWOJĄ RADOŚCIĄ, NADZIEJĄ i MIŁOŚCIĄ. Niech On w Mocy Swojego Ducha Świętego, błogosławi nam i umacnia nas, abyśmy tę Radość, Nadzieję i Miłość zanosili w naszą codzienność, do naszych domów, rodzin, do miejsca pracy, nauki czy cierpienia; wszędzie tam gdzie spotykamy naszych Bliźnich! Wszystkim Życzę Wesołego Alleluja! Proboszcz Parafii Św. Wawrzyńca w Stolcu.
Woah this is just an insane amount of information, must of taken ages to compile so thanx so much for just sharing it with all of us. If your ever in any need of related information, just check out my own site!
Have you given any kind of thought at all with converting your current web-site into French? I know a couple of of translaters here that will would certainly help you do it for no cost if you want to get in touch with me personally.
Если у вас имеется действующий купон, активируйте его в том же разделе, где все поощрения.
Saved as a favorite, I like your website!
Glad to be one of many visitants on this amazing site : D.
Well done! Keep up this quality!
Highly descriptive blog, I loved that a lot. Will there be a part 2?