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.
This article gave me more value in ten minutes than hours of searching elsewhere, the information is dense but presented clearly enough that nothing felt confusing or overwhelming.
Every paragraph in this article adds something meaningful, there is no padding or unnecessary repetition which makes it a very efficient and rewarding use of reading time.
This article hits all the right notes for someone who wants to learn quickly without sacrificing accuracy, I finished it feeling genuinely more knowledgeable than when I started.
Excellent resource that I will be returning to regularly, the depth of coverage combined with the accessible writing style makes it suitable for both beginners and experienced readers.
The care taken with word choice and sentence structure in this article makes a real difference to how smoothly it reads, it is polished writing that respects the reader’s time.
Really solid piece of writing that left me with a clear understanding of the topic, the logical progression from basic concepts to more advanced ideas was very well handled.
The examples used throughout this article are spot on and really helped me connect the theory to real-world applications, making the learning experience much more effective.
Very few articles manage to be this comprehensive while remaining this readable, the author has done a superb job of balancing depth with accessibility throughout the entire piece.
This article is a real gem, packed with insight and written with care, the kind of content you bookmark immediately and revisit whenever you need a clear explanation of the topic.
Wonderful piece of writing that manages to be both informative and entertaining at the same time, a combination that is far harder to achieve than most people realize.
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for reliable information on this subject, the writing is trustworthy, well-sourced, and communicated in a very approachable manner.
The introduction immediately drew me in and the quality never dropped throughout, this is writing that respects both the subject matter and the intelligence of the reader throughout.
The writing in this article has a natural rhythm that makes even dense information feel easy to process, a quality that separates good writing from great writing in a very clear way.
This piece is a masterclass in how to write informative content that actually engages the reader, I was hooked from the opening paragraph right through to the conclusion.
This article was incredibly helpful and well-written, providing detailed information that answered all my questions and left me feeling fully informed on the topic.
Every paragraph in this article adds something meaningful, there is no padding or unnecessary repetition which makes it a very efficient and rewarding use of reading time.
This is exactly the type of content that makes people want to return to a website, the value delivered here is undeniable and the writing quality is consistently excellent throughout.
I come back to this kind of content regularly because it consistently delivers real value, this particular article is a shining example of what good writing looks like.
Very few articles manage to be this comprehensive while remaining this readable, the author has done a superb job of balancing depth with accessibility throughout the entire piece.
This post impressed me with how confidently it handled a nuanced topic, avoiding oversimplification while still remaining accessible to readers who are new to the subject area.
Very well organized and clearly written, this article makes it easy to extract the key insights quickly while also rewarding readers who want to engage with the full depth of content.
An incredibly thorough exploration of the topic that leaves no important question unanswered, readers of any background will find something valuable and actionable to take away.
Really well structured post that makes it easy to follow along and absorb the key points without feeling overwhelmed by too much information at once.
Really well structured post that makes it easy to follow along and absorb the key points without feeling overwhelmed by too much information at once.
I have read many articles on this subject but this one stands apart for its quality and depth, the author clearly has both strong knowledge and the ability to communicate it well.
I appreciate that the author does not talk down to the reader but instead assumes a level of intelligence that makes engaging with the content feel respectful and rewarding.
The attention to detail in this piece is remarkable, small touches like clear subheadings and well-chosen examples make a big difference to how easily the content can be absorbed.
Genuinely one of the most helpful things I have read on this subject, the explanations are crystal clear and the overall tone makes it feel like advice from a trusted friend.
I appreciate your work, thanks for all the great blog posts.
Excellent resource that I will be returning to regularly, the depth of coverage combined with the accessible writing style makes it suitable for both beginners and experienced readers.
Well, I don’t know if that’s going to work for me, but definitely worked for you! 🙂 Excellent post!
This blog post is a perfect example of quality over quantity, every sentence adds value and there is no filler content which makes it a pleasure to read through.
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I’ll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
I appreciate that the author does not talk down to the reader but instead assumes a level of intelligence that makes engaging with the content feel respectful and rewarding.
We’re developing a conference, and it looks like you would be a great speaker.
I had been struggling to find a good explanation of this topic and this article solved that problem completely, it is now saved in my bookmarks for future reference.
I absolutely adore your site! You aggressive me as able-bodied as all the others actuality and your broiled PS is absolutely great!
whoah this weblog is wonderful i like reading your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You already know, many people are looking around for this information, you can help them greatly.
Hello this is a wonderful write-up. I’m going to e mail this to my friends. I came on this while searching on yahoo I’ll be sure to come back. thanks for sharing.
I was suggested this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!
This piece delivers real substance from beginning to end, the kind of reading experience that reminds you how good online content can be when someone truly cares about their craft.
There is a lot of misunderstanding about these issues today. Your material helps explain things.
I think other website proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and great user pleasant style and design .
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
Certainly. And I have faced it. Let’s discuss this question. Here or in PM.
whoah this weblog is wonderful i like reading your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You already know, many people are looking around for this information, you can help them greatly.
I want to see your book when it comes out.
Great post, keep up the good work, I hope you don’t mind but I’ve added on my blog roll.
Your posts provide a clear, concise description of the issues.
Great blog right here! You seem to put a significant amount of material on the site rather quickly.