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

2,565 thoughts on “Day 3 – Safari (Moru Kopjes & Gong Rock)”

  2. We’re a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our
    community. Your website offered us with valuable information to work on.
    You have performed a formidable job and our entire neighborhood will probably be grateful to
    you.

  5. Hi, There’s no doubt that your website may be having browser compatibility problems.
    When I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some
    overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
    Other than that, fantastic blog!

  6. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.

    I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
    I’m quite sure I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here!
    Good luck for the next!

  13. With havin so much content and articles do
    you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My blog has a lot
    of unique content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my
    authorization. Do you know any ways to help protect against content from being ripped off?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

  16. So why not plan your next meal (or two) at one of these fantastic Bellagio restaurants?
    One popular sightseeing tour option is a guided bus tour that takes you through the iconic Las Vegas Strip.
    From the glitz and glamour of the famous Las Vegas Strip to the world-class entertainment, casinos, and dining options, there’s something for everyone
    in this vibrant city. Mandal Bay is a stunning resort city located in the heart of
    the Las Vegas Strip. This restaurant located on the 64th floor of Mandal Bay’s Delano Hotel offers a breathtaking
    view of Las Vegas while serving up mouth-watering French and Italian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist.
    Additionally, take into account the airline and hotel
    included in the package. Additionally, July brings one of Reno’s most anticipated events – “The Biggest Little City Wing Fest.” This
    festival not only celebrates delicious chicken wings but
    also showcases live music from both local talents and
    renowned bands. One standout spot is Carson Kitchen, where chef Kerry Simon’s innovative American cuisine
    shines through dishes like bacon jam and glazed donut bread
    pudding. The menu here is equally impressive with
    dishes like roasted langoustine with sweet pea velouté and caramelized veal sweetbreads with wild
    mushrooms.

  18. Nagano Tonic sounds like an interesting blend for boosting energy, supporting metabolism, and promoting overall wellness.
    I like that it draws inspiration from traditional Japanese health
    practices, which often emphasize balance and natural ingredients.

    If it works as claimed, it could be a refreshing way to support vitality
    and healthy weight management.

  20. 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.

  27. We absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s
    to be what precisely I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write
    content for you personally? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you
    write in relation to here. Again, awesome site!

  30. HepatoBurn sounds like a smart choice for anyone looking to support liver health while also
    boosting metabolism. I like that it targets both detoxification and fat-burning,
    which can work hand-in-hand for better overall wellness.

    If it delivers on its claims, it could be a helpful supplement for maintaining energy,
    digestion, and healthy weight management.

  31. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.

    After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I
    hope you write again soon!

  33. Hello There. I discovered your weblog using msn.
    That is an extremely neatly written article. I’ll
    be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of
    your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.

  41. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as
    with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
    Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to
    see a nice blog like this one nowadays.

  43. Howdy! This blog post could not be written any better!
    Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him.
    Fairly certain he’ll have a very good read. Thank you for
    sharing!

  44. May I just say what a relief to uncover somebody who genuinely understands what they’re talking about online.
    You certainly realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    More and more people have to look at this and understand this side of the story.
    I was surprised that you aren’t more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.

  45. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog.

    It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here
    and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
    Fantastic work!

  47. iGenics sounds like a promising supplement for supporting eye health and protecting vision as we age.
    I like that it focuses on nourishing the eyes with antioxidants and other key nutrients to help combat oxidative stress and maintain clarity.
    If it works as claimed, it could be a great daily support for anyone wanting
    to preserve sharp vision naturally.

Leave a Reply to Finance Legend Cancel reply

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