It’s just as well that I had to abruptly end my last post before all of the photos uploaded, because my Serengeti pictures are so much better than the ones from the Ngorongoro Crater.
We left the beautiful Tloma Lodge in Karatu at 7 AM for an all day drive to our tented camp deep within the Serengeti.
I’ll be honest. I was NOT looking forward to 8 hours of rockin’ and rollin’. The road along the dusty, misty rim of the Ngorongoro Crater was very narrow, the drop into the caldera was steep, and visibility was poor. We were ALL very grateful that our drivers (Freddie and David) were experienced and skillful.
After a few stops and a picnic lunch, things started to get interesting. When we spotted a lioness standing guard on a big rock, we figured she must be protecting SOMETHING, but what?
First, one little head popped out in the crevice.
then a second one,
JACKPOT! We couldn’t believe our luck.
That must have been auntie on lookout duty, because here comes mom.
But wait…it gets better.
Remember the discussion about the differences between cheetahs and leopards a few posts earlier? Which one is this?
What about this one? It was REALLY far away, so the photo may be pixilated, still, you might be able to figure it out.
Suddenly the drive didn’t seem long, or bumpy or dusty. We were ALL thrilled.
Despite being out in the middle of nowhere, our tents are quite comfortable. Best of all, the bucket showers are so easy to operate, compared to some of the complicated faucet configurations we’ve encountered.
You pull the one with the wooden handle to get the water flowing, and pull the metal one to make it stop. The temperature is Goldilocks perfect, because the camp staff has heated the water to baby bear “just right”.
If you need more than 5 gallons, you yell and a staff member will bring it to you, but I didn’t ever use all 5 gallons. Hey, water is a precious resource, so when I was clean, I pulled that metal chain.
My tent was the next to the last one, right beside the party animals, Rachel and Hannah, two of my new best friends. Their tent was the gathering spot for those who wished to drink wine before happy hour.
But let’s get back to the animals:
There were so many great hippo shots, I struggled to choose just one, but settled on the one that captured both the hippo AND the crocodile.
Babies are always popular, so here’s one hitching a ride on mom, with the second one shouting “hey, wait for meeee”.
Mom and baby elephant walked right in front of us.
We can’t forget about the birds. I don’t have time to look up the name but it is a lilac something or other.
We are at the airstrip waiting to board our flight from the Serengeti airstrip to Arusha, so forgive any typos or autocorrect. I’m pressing publish without proofing.
Destination NOW 
Your pictures are utterly fantastic, the cubs absolutely adorable and the details about your camp and driving adventures captivating . What amazing memories, truly!
Diana
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Thanks, Diane. It has been a truly amazing trip, and the blog describes only a very small segment of our experiences. I think Mike would have had a hard time
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Amazing photos, Shelley, you couldn’t have had a more perfect collection of critter encounters. Unbelievable. I loved them all. They seemed to be unafraid or inhibited by prying eyes …. what an experience that must be. And the first cat was a leopard, right? the second, a cheetah? and a hippo and a crock sun bathing, together? Didn’t know they got along … wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that water. Continue taking pics, please. And may the good karma with the natural world be with you!
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Thanks Tom, yes we were very lucky to see so many amazing animals. And I didn’t even go
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Oh, my… gorgeous photos! It’s almost as if the animals are paid staff and came out just for you to enjoy.
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Thanks Janis. This was a very small samp
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What beautiful photos. Loved the ones with the lion cubs and the one with the hippo and croc chilling by the lake.
This looks like the most magical experience.
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Thanks so much for commenting. It really was magical, especially for someone like me, who loves watching the big cats.
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I can imagine. Is this your first safari?
So glad to have found your blog. Due to my health I can’t travel, but your posts and wonderful photos are making me feel like I have visited these places for myself. Thank you for that.
Maddy
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Hi Maddy, I’m sorry you aren’t able to travel. That’s so kind of you to say that my blog makes you feel like you’re traveling along.
I’ll be visiting South America in January. I hope you’ll follow along!
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No, it was not my first safari. My husband and I visited South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2014. The countries are all unique. I’m glad I was able to experience them all!
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Fantastic photos. I need another trip to Africa.
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Im thinking I might go again too, but not within the next two years. I’ve already got 6 trips booked–3 per year.
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