Serengeti Game Drives.

Serengeti Game Drives.

Our tent camp is quite new and quite isolated. It is in the middle of the plains with small bushes around. It is a series of large tents equipped with two beds, draped in mosquito netting. There is a couch and two chairs around a solid wood table. Through a flap is the bathroom – a double sink, a toilet and a shower.

The tent is screened with solid flaps that are zipped down at night.

There is lantern-lit path that leads to a central dining tent and a lounge tent. Once dark, you can not leave your tent without a guard to escort you. You can blow a whistle and they will come, or flash you flashlight outside the door. 

At night the sounds of animals can be heard around the campsite. Monkeys or baboons shrieking. Footsteps around the tents- maybe hyena, perhaps even lions. They do not bother the tents, they are just at home in the nature around.

What is more disturbing at night is the wind that whips the flaps of the tent. It is noisy and wakes me. Finally, I remember the ear plugs I have in my bag and I fall back to sleep.

Each morning we awaken early and head out as the sun rises. The animals will be out, heading to the watering holes and hunting before the heat of midday. We stop for picnic lunches along the way and spend our day exploring different areas in search of the wildlife. Top of our list is the rhino and the leopard. Both are elusive and there are no guarantees.

In the distance our guide spots a rhino. We move as close as we can but are limited to the roadways. Off roading is not allowed. Tanzania has very strict rules which restrict vehicles from following the animals off road.

Here and there rock formations jut out from the flatness of the plains. We are told they are ancient volcanic remains which have eventually surfaced as the ground erodes. The structures are beautiful and provide a lookout for animals. From here the predators can watch for prey and gain cover needed to stalk their prey.

We stop at one such spot for a picnic breakfast. The rhino is visible in the distance.

As we follow the roadway we are able to get somewhat nearer to the rhino and capture a few images, stretching the long lenses to their max. Certainly no award winners here, but we do have a couple of photos.

Rhinos are very protected in Tanzania. They have been over-hunted for their horns and are now carefully monitored. They have a chip and each rhino has a warden and jeep assigned. They are always watched to make sure that no one hurts them or bothers them. Over-zealous tourists and guides can not approach them or intrude on them.

The remainder of the day we travel amidst lions – two large males sleep in the tall grass with more watchful females around them. We watch one bored female go up to the male, attempting to wake him and engage him in some play. He shoos her away and she nips at him.

We watch a female washing her herself with her pink tongue and capture the sought-after yawn, mouth wide and teeth bared.

We see many elephants in familial groups and lots of giraffes nibbling the tops off of thorny trees.

Tick. The rhino is off the list. That leaves only the leopard. There is another day.  We head back to camp.

 As evening approaches we capture this lone elephant high on a rock, silhouetted against he setting sun.

We have one more day.......  Come With Me...