We've joined the migration

Our tramp through the scrubland of Ndutu, accompanied by an armed ranger was quite exciting. Fortunately it was not too hair-raising...no nasty comments please...even though we were walking on pathways with the fresh footprints of lions, elephants, gazelles, hyena...you get the picture. The thoughts of an aggressive carnivore hidden nearby kept us all on our toes for the 10 km trek. The animals we saw were very aware of our presence long before we saw them, with the towering giraffes showing the most interest in us.

Leaving camp at 6am for a pre-breakfast game drive, we were treated to the magic abilities of James as he constantly found game for us to photograph. The carnivores were all heavy with gourged bellies and the pride of lions with many young were particularly heavy. The cubs could hardly walk as their extended bellies swayed back and forth. The cheetahs were a special sighting, with two individuals and a grouping of four making their way onto our list of sightings.

Following a quick breakfast we left Ndutu, making our way back towards the Ngorongoro Crater. The road took us through huge herds of migrating wildebeest and numerous other herbivores. We soon entered the conservation area that is shared with the Masai tribes. They were sending boys out to chase the wildebeest away from their foraging cattle and goats...with little success. Imagine thousands of determined animals being chased by little boys. They just outran them and continued to go where they pleased!

We are now at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. The road we followed to get here was serpentine as it slowly climbed the crater wall and then snaked along the ridge to reach the lodge overlooking this, the largest intact crater in the world. The lodge is a "slight" upgrade over our previous accommodations and we are basking in the beautiful surrounding we now find ourselves in.

Tomorrow we will be setting off to the crater floor for another early morning filled with anticipation.

                                                     Love Birds

                                               (AKA    M &P,  M&M :-)

        The hikers, protected by our observant Ranger who constantly scanned the area

         The giraffes were least wary of us as we walked through the woodland area.

                                Even the starlings are pretty.

             The resident Genet (related to the Mongoose) in the rafters of the Ndutu Lodge

                                           A beautiful cheetah

                                  Another bird!!!!! Let's call it a peach breasted Serbet!

 This "parade" of elephants put on quite a show right beside our vehicle. The mother gave a loud trumpet as we approached her, warning us to back off.

                                      King of the Serengetti

A Masai village in the Ngorongoro Conservation area. The drive through the area was spectacular and our drive-by photos didn't do justice to the beauty of the landscape.