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 ๐
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.
it is an expression of thoughtfulness, a gesture of care, and a symbol of connection which is there between people or those they are willing to create
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for buy snapchat followers
ืืื ืงืืฉืืจ ืืกืืจ ืืืกืืื ื ืื ื ืืื ืืคืจืืฅ ืืืืฉื ืฉืื ืืืืฉืชืื ืขื ืืืฉืืื ืืช ืืืืฉืืื ืฉืื
wonderful points altogether, you just received a new reader.
What might you suggest about your post that you just
made some days ago? Any certain?
I’ve been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours these days, but I by no means found
any interesting article like yours. It’s lovely price
sufficient for me. In my view, if all webmasters
and bloggers made good content material as you probably did, the internet
will be much more helpful than ever before.
I blog frequently and I genuinely appreciate your content.
The article has truly peaked my interest.
I’m going to take a note of your site and keep checking
for new details about once per week. I opted in for your Feed as well.
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped
me out much. I hope to give something back and aid
others like you helped me.
Hurrah! In the end I got a blog from where I can really obtain useful information regarding
my study and knowledge.
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue with your web site in internet
explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a big part of other people will miss your great writing due to
this problem.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to
a famous blogger if you aren’t already ๐ Cheers!
My family always say that I am wasting my time here at web,
however I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading such nice
posts.
I blog often and I truly thank you for your content.
This great article has really peaked my interest. I’m going
to book mark your site and keep checking for new details about once a week.
I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
I have learn several just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.
I surprise how much attempt you put to create such a great informative
web site.
Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet
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 upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having
side effect , people could take a signal. Will likely be
back to get more. Thanks
These are in fact great ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some pleasant things here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone
3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look
forward to all your posts! Carry on the great work!
I read this article fully about the resemblance of latest and earlier technologies, it’s amazing article.
I just like the helpful information you supply to your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and test again here frequently. I am moderately certain I will be told plenty
of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
์ถ์ฅ๋ง์ฌ์ง๋ ์ ๋ฌธ ๊ด๋ฆฌ์ฌ๊ฐ ํธํ , ์ง, ์คํผ์คํ ๋ฑ ๊ณ ๊ฐ์ด ์๋ ์ฅ์๋ก ์ง์ ๋ฐฉ๋ฌธํ์ฌ ๊ทผ์ก์ ํ์ด์ฃผ๋ ์๋น์ค์ ๋๋ค.
ํผ๋ก ํด์ ๋ชฉ์ ์ ๊ฑด์ ํ ์ถ์ฅ ์๋ง
Right here is the perfect website for anybody who really wants to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally will need toโฆHaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for years. Wonderful stuff, just great!
Its like you learn my mind! You seem to grasp a lot about this, such as you wrote the book in it or something.
I feel that you simply can do with some p.c.
to force the message house a bit, but other than that,
that is wonderful blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly
be back.
Hello to every one, as I am genuinely eager of reading this weblog’s post to be updated on a regular basis.
It consists of pleasant data.
Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant
post.
continuously i used to read smaller articles that
as well clear their motive, and that is also happening
with this post which I am reading at this place.
For newest information you have to visit world wide
web and on internet I found this site as a finest site for hottest updates.
First off I would like to say awesome blog! I had a quick question in which I’d like
to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your
mind prior to writing. I have had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there.
I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually lost simply
just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?
Thank you!
Very soon this website will be famous amid all blogging and
site-building visitors, due to it’s pleasant content
What’s up Dear, are you genuinely visiting this web page
on a regular basis, if so afterward you will without doubt get pleasant know-how.
Hello to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this website, and your views are nice for
new viewers.
Iโm not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future.
Many thanks
แแแ แแแ แแแแฆแณแต แฅแแแกแ แจแบแก แซแฅ แแฝแขแต แแตแแญ แจแแฝแฆแ แแแฆแฃ แฅแ แตแ แฃแฅ แแปแข แฅแแณแขแฃ แแตแแแ แฅแแญแแกแฅแ แแแแฒ แแธแญแฅแแแแข
Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first
comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and
say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger
but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any
helpful hints for first-time blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.