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.
20150205_014827

20150205_072127

Posted on

74,622 thoughts on “Day 3 – Safari (Moru Kopjes & Gong Rock)”

  3. 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 had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
    I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to
    everything. Do you have any points for rookie blog writers?
    I’d really appreciate it.

  4. Hello! I just would like to give you a huge thumbs up for the great information you have got right here on this
    post. I will be coming back to your site for more
    soon.

  5. I relish, result in I discovered just what I was looking
    for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless
    you man. Have a great day. Bye

  6. Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe
    for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
    I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

  7. I got this website from my pal who told me about this web site and now this time I am browsing this website and reading very informative articles here.

  10. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article.
    I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
    Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.

  11. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your blog. You have some really good articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an email if interested. Kudos!

  12. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the page layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?

  14. Heya outstanding blog! Does running a blog like this take a massive amount work?
    I’ve virtually no expertise in computer programming however I was hoping
    to start my own blog in the near future. Anyways, should you have any ideas or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off subject however I simply had to ask. Kudos!

  16. Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is wonderful, as well as the content!

  18. naturally like your web-site however you need
    to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number
    of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality however I’ll
    definitely come again again.

  20. My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here at web, but I know I am getting familiarity everyday by reading thes pleasant articles.

  23. I’m very happy to uncover this page. I need to to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely liked every part of it and I have you book-marked to look at new things on your website.

  24. Ijiir i m lu ôron kwagh sha mi la ka ajiir a ior ve eren anumbe a sha Intanet, a gomoti u tar u Indonesia (go.id) a eren tom a mi u eren tom a ikyagh vev ki tomough shi kohol akaa a ior ve keren la. Ijiir ne ka i er tom a gbenda u i ver ajiir a sha Intanet a gomoti la, shi i tese akaa a a per atindi a Google man akaawan a hen ijiir you la wang yô. M vande ôron kwagh u ikyav ne sha ikyev i google form la acin imôngo, kpa zan zan hegen kwagh môm er tom ga, shi ajiir ne nga zan hemen u yeren kwagh u ior ve ker sha Intanet sha u keren akaa a ve soo u eren sha Intanet la. Kwagh ne ka a lu zayol sha ci u ka a vihi mlu u mbatomov mba gomoti shi a yange mba ve eren tom a ve la.

  28. After checking out a handful of the blog posts on your web site, I honestly appreciate your way of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and let me know what you think.

  35. Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other
    person’s website link on your page at proper place and
    other person will also do same for you.

Leave a Reply to canadian pharmaceuticals online safe Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *