Given the choice of another morning game drive, or a morning
by the pool looking out over the Serengeti plains, Andrew and I opted for the
pool. Pre-lunch “Safari“ beer followed,
then yet another 3 course lunch.
The others arrived back at 2pm with tales of wild hippo
parties down at the water hole.
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| Photo credit: Mike Stewart |
We had a lazy afternoon, and animal-themed talent quest at
sunset. Dara took the prize with an Irish song, although it was hard to see the
animal connection!
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| Photo Credit for these three photos: Kevin Kearney |
We started on our way home, having to stop only a couple of
kilometres from the hotel to let a large lioness cross the road. The Dik Dik
antelope lay low as the huge cat padded past.
An emergency stop at the Rangers Station was needed when the
bonnet hinges on Elias’s Landcruiser broke. Within minutes of a phone call a
team of mechanics arrived in another Leopard Tours Landcruiser. Two new hinges
were produced and efficiently fitted. Leopard Tours are the biggest tour
company in Tanzania with over 200 vehicles.
It was comforting to have such good backup available when we were so far
away from civilization.
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| Photo Credit: Clare Kearney |
The rest of the drive back through the Serengeti and over
the Ngorongoro Crater passed without incident.
Once we were installed in yet another Serena Hotel Elias and Elliot took
us on game drive in the Lake Manyara National Park. More monkeys and giraffes, but with a forest
and lake backdrop. Elephants so close you could also almost reach out and touch
them. Bush bucks, squirrels, and bush babies. Interesting fact – the bush baby
is a primate!
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| Big game hunter: Mike swatted 45 Tsetse flies during the week. |
The night concluded in the TV room watching England being beaten
by Croatia. A sad day for Andrew.
Day 19
We were dropped off at the slightly run-down Sundowner Hotel
at Arusha and said farewell to our wonderful drivers and guides Elias and
Edwin. Mike presented them with tips, but also fly swats and mosquito
repellent. They learnt to hongi. It was
both a sad and happy ceremony. Sad to
leave the guides and happy to be on our way home.
It seems a life time ago we arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport. Back after nearly three weeks we parted ways with Kevin and Clare who decided to spend the weekend with friends in Malawi. We are on our way home.
A big thanks to Dara for all the editing over the last three
weeks!
And special thanks to everyone who read this far!
La la salama!
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| Photo Credit: Kevin Kearney |
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