Day 5 – Safari (Ndutu Woodlands & Great Migration)

Early start this morning. Up and at breakfast at 6:00 and meeting Ally at 6:30 to start the day. There is a story I want to share but have been waiting to see how it all turned out first. You know me, Ms organized and all. Packed for a few weeks, even unpacked and washed my clothes and repacked them. Took pictures of MOST EVERYTHING I was putting in my bag. But what did I forgot? What was the most important thing NOT to forget? The charger for my camera batteries. OMG! I had purchased a third battery just the day before I left, just to make sure I never ran out. Put in on the charger right beside my bed and I completely left home without it. It wasn’t until we were leaving Arusha for the airport to fly to the Seregeti that I discovered I didn’t have it. Saying I was devistated doesn’t even come close. Even though Rich had his camera, it just wasn’t the same. My lifetime dream and I was going to miss capturing ever minute. So I started talking to Ally about it and since there are multiple flights to the nearby airport where we would be staying, I asked if he thought ADS (my Safari company) would be willing to buy one and send it on a flight over and I would pay them when I get back to Arusha. He explained what happened and told them I needed a charger, etc. Thank the lord, they agreed. So Timan, one of the welcoming ADS employees, went and bought me one and put it on a plane so we could pick it up the next day (remember the day we went back to the airport and the presidents were flying in?) Well, that’s why we were there. I was so elated…I was saved. So flight arrives, Ally walks out to meet the pilot and he comes back with a small package in his hand…yeah! But it looked a little small to me. Opened it up and what they sent me was another battery, not the charger. Can you believe it? Now I have two completely dead batteries and one with only 3 notches left on the one left in my camera and no way to charge any of them. Ally called them right away and Timan then went to 5 different locations in Arusha and no one carried just the charger. Really? It’s a Nikon? Who doesn’t sell just a charger AND why can’t a Nikon battery recharge through your computer like most other devices? I was once again devistated :(. Then I got the grand idea to just buy another camera, it would come with the charger and I’ll just sell it but when/how would I get it? They once again agreed…I so love this company…bought me a camera and put it on the first flight out this morning. And to beat it all, the airstrip is only like a few minutes from where we are staying so it was convenient enough. Plane lands and pilot comes out with Nikon box in his hand as he steps off the plane…hands it to Ally as I am screaming thank you and he told me to take lots of beautiful pictures. So now, 2 of the three batteries are charged and I am set to go. I have beaten myself up about this so much. Of all the stupid things I brought that I didn’t need, how could I do that? Ally told me that’s when we are reminded we are all but human…no one is perfect. So, if anyone is in search of a Nikon…lol! Ok, enough of that story.

So we left the camp this morning and drove down to the lake, just to catch the sunrise over the lake. What a sight to see. Rich has commented several times that there has been a full moon here every night, how is that possible? We drove around the lake and saw remnants of the many animals that have lost there lifes around this water. Sort of sad when you think about it…coming to just get a drink of water…lifes n necessity … and your life is cut short. As we went on around the lake we saw a Cheetah, just walking along the edge of the water. She kept looking at animals on the other side, probably wondering how she was going to get over there. Then, she just laid down and enjoyed the breeze. Sat and watched her for a while than went on our way. Lots of other adventures to take.

Again, I can’t begin to tell you how dusty it is. Rich said he has sneezed more in these 5 days then he has in months. Just like yesterday, Ally turns onto this isolated road that honestly looks like it’s going no where, but who are we to question him, right? We drove FOREVER, only seeing Gazelles, Zebras and a few Wildebeest here and there. He told us we were driving to see some herds of Wildebeest…ok, better be worth it. And OMG…once again our socks were blown off. It wasn’t a just a herd of Wildebeest, this was seeing them in full migration. They estimate there are between 2-5 million here in Africa. Pretty sure we saw at least 4 million of them today. They went from as far as you could see left and as far as you could see right, just all walking in the same direction. It looked like everyone other one also had a new baby. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Any picture or video we have taken can not truly capture the moment.

Headed back towards the camp for lunch and a little siesta before we hit a late afternoon drive. Ran across another pride of lions just chilling under a tree. This group has a couple younger adolescent lions, but still no cubs to be seen. Still have 5 days for that. Back at camp had a great lunch, recharged all of our stuff, Rich took a nap and I am finishing the 1st 1/2 of the 5th day here. Maybe I can keep up now.

Part 2 of 5th day. Our afternoon drive was all the way around the lake. The terrain here is more like I pictured Africa would be. We saw a zebra and a baby zebra who had died of what appeared to be natural causes. So very sad. We then spotted a leopard laying in a tree. It was amazing to see how he was holding himself up there. A few monkeys, lots of birds and the norm, zebra & giraffes. Back at camp at 6 with an hour to get ready for dinner.

Shower was much needed tonight because of all the dust. Dinner tonight was exceptional. Learned tonight that in Tanzania, a man can have as many wives as he wants…Rich thought that was ok, me not so much! Glad to hear Ally say that was not for him, he could not split his heart. You are a good man Ally!

As we were being escorted back to the tent tonight, two different warriors led the way – both with flashlights. I know there were buffalo spotted on camp today. As we turned the corner to our tent they spotted two buffalo right in front of our tent. I was video taping the entire walk back so I caught it all. They went into the bushes to flush them out but we never actually saw them leave. From there on, all escorts tonight were by golf cart.

Rich was finally able to reach Linda this evening by phone, but we continue to have problems with the internet connections here. Limited at best. Posting pictures is a problem but Ill try. Will try to post day 4 and 5 tomorrow. We are starting at 7 tomorrow. I’m going to try and sleep tonight.
DSC_1043

DSC_1064

DSC_1319

Posted on

10,004 thoughts on “Day 5 – Safari (Ndutu Woodlands & Great Migration)”

  5. Helpful info. Lucky me I found your website accidentally, and I’m surprised why this
    twist of fate didn’t happened in advance! I bookmarked it.

  8. Simply wish to say your article is as amazing. The clarity
    on your submit is simply nice and i can suppose you’re an expert in this subject.
    Fine along with your permission allow me to seize your RSS feed to stay up to date with coming near near post.
    Thanks 1,000,000 and please keep up the gratifying work.

  9. I am really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems?
    A few of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera.

    Do you have any tips to help fix this problem?

  12. I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great information I was looking for this information for my mission.

  13. I have been surfing online greater than three hours as of late, but I never found any attention-grabbing article
    like yours. It’s beautiful worth sufficient for me. In my opinion, if
    all website owners and bloggers made excellent content
    material as you probably did, the net will probably be a lot more useful than ever before.

  15. I do trust all of the concepts you’ve introduced in your
    post. They are really convincing and will certainly work.
    Still, the posts are very short for novices. Could you please
    extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.

  16. I am not certain the place you’re getting your info,
    but great topic. I must spend some time finding out more or figuring out
    more. Thank you for fantastic info I was looking for this information for my mission.

  19. Wow, amazing weblog format! How long have you ever been blogging
    for? you made blogging look easy. The full glance of your site is wonderful, let
    alone the content!

  24. Great beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your website, how could i subscribe for a weblog site?
    The account helped me a applicable deal. I have been a little bit acquainted
    of this your broadcast offered brilliant transparent idea

  25. Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative.
    I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you
    continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  26. I like the helpful information you supply for your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your weblog and test once more right here regularly.
    I am relatively certain I will learn many new stuff proper right here!

    Good luck for the next!

  27. I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or weblog
    posts in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.
    Reading this info So i’m happy to convey that I’ve a
    very good uncanny feeling I found out just what
    I needed. I such a lot certainly will make sure
    to don?t put out of your mind this site and provides it a
    look regularly.

  28. Hello there, just turned into alert to your blog via Google, and found that it is really informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate for those who proceed this in future. Lots of folks might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!

  29. Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? With thanks

  30. Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however
    I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog
    post or vice-versa? My site discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from
    each other. If you happen to be interested feel
    free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you!
    Terrific blog by the way!

  31. You really make it appear so easy with your presentation but I
    in finding this topic to be really something which I feel I’d
    never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very
    extensive for me. I’m having a look ahead for your next
    publish, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!

  32. Καθώς τα χρόνια περνούν, η βιομηχανία του τζόγου συνεχώς εξελίσσεται, προσφέροντας ολοένα και περισσότερες επιλογές διασκέδασης. Τα καζίνο δεν αποτελούν απλώς χώρους παιχνιδιού, αλλά και εμπειρίες γεμάτες ένταση, όπου οι παίκτες αναζητούν τόσο τη διασκέδαση όσο και την πιθανότητα μεγάλων κερδών. Ειδικά στην Ελλάδα, όπου το πάθος για τα τυχερά παιχνίδια είναι βαθιά ριζωμένο, η δημοτικότητα του διαδικτυακού τζόγου αυξάνεται σταθερά.

  34. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  35. Hello I am so glad I found your weblog, I really found you
    by accident, while I was searching on Bing for something
    else, Regardless 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 read 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 great deal more,
    Please do keep up the excellent job.

  36. Καθώς τα χρόνια περνούν, η βιομηχανία του τζόγου συνεχώς εξελίσσεται, προσφέροντας ολοένα και περισσότερες επιλογές διασκέδασης. Τα καζίνο δεν αποτελούν απλώς χώρους παιχνιδιού, αλλά και εμπειρίες γεμάτες ένταση, όπου οι παίκτες αναζητούν τόσο τη διασκέδαση όσο και την πιθανότητα μεγάλων κερδών. Ειδικά στην Ελλάδα, όπου το πάθος για τα τυχερά παιχνίδια είναι βαθιά ριζωμένο, η δημοτικότητα του διαδικτυακού τζόγου αυξάνεται σταθερά.

  44. Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your post is just great and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.

  50. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very useful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

Leave a Reply to wbtc bridge explained Cancel reply

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