Days 21 – 22 The Grumeti

Posted on 01/07/2011 by admin

We waved goodbye to the Lake for the last time and looked forward to the next few days of game drives in the Tanzanian Parks.  Things got off to an excellent start as we chanced upon a very pregnant Cheetah who looked like she was trying to find somewhere to have her cubs  as we drove to camp in the Grumeti Game reserve.

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Days 16 – 20 Rwanda

Posted on 01/07/2011 by admin

On leaving Uganda everyone had Gorillas on the brain. We crossed the “thousand hills” of Rwanda, where the group got up close and personal with our Gorilla relatives.

One group of trekkers got closer than most when a blackback came up and slapped a woman on the bum!

After all the nervous heart pumping action with the Gorillas we arrived back on the shores of Lake Victoria, as we head into Tanzania.

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Days 7 – 15 Uganda

Posted on 01/07/2011 by admin

From Kenya we hit the Pearl of Africa (Uganda), and its adrenaline capital, Jinja. Rafting the Nile was a hit in more ways than one, with one slightly broken hand in the group.  Cruising the Kazinga channel for hippos and trekking chimps in Kyambura Gorge left smiles on everyone’s faces, as did coming across a huge bull Elephant as he gave himself a dirt bath in Queen Elizabeth National park.

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Days 1 – 6 Kenya

Posted on 01/07/2011 by admin

The action packed adventure begins, with no shortage of game drives and adrenaline pumping activities ahead of us.

Our luck started at the very beginning, in the Masai Mara, where we saw six cheetahs, elephants, all sorts of antelope and plenty of lions with their cubs.  There was some heart stopping action when a very big male baboon
decided he wanted our leftover breakfast bananas.  This exceptional viewing was followed up in Nakuru where both black and white rhinos came out for our pleasure.  Alas the leopard remained elusive.

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Day 11 – Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha

Posted on 22/02/2011 by admin

A fairly cold start to the day but that was to be expected considering how high up we were.  We slowly drove down into the crater floor.   From below the view was amazing you could quite clearly see the formation of the crater.  Again the first thing we saw this morning were elephants all with young.

And then it happened in the distance we spotted the elusive Black Rhino, but we needed to see it closer and as if on cue it started casually wandering over to our vehicle.  This was all fine we got some great shots, but this Rhino was not a happy one and did not like us being there and so decided to have a little run at our 4×4 needless to say our driver gently moved forward! (Please go to our Facebook page to see video footage of this episode! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Absolute-Africa/32274217445?v=photos#!/pages/Absolute-Africa/32274217445?v=wall)

We ventured on through the crater floor and not more than 30 minutes later there was the final animal of the Big Five that we had so far failed to see the Leopard, but this was no ordinary encounter because this Leopard also had a cub with her it was an awesome sight!  We continued on through the park and like buses there was another Leopard that came close up to the 4x4s!

So needless to say it was a fabulous game drive this morning but then it was time to head out and back to Arusha for the final night. We arrived back at camp desperate for showers and an ice cold beer, where Aly, Goodluck and Issac were waiting for us with the bbq underway.  We enjoyed slow roasted goat, chicken and a variety of salads aswell as Goodlucks’s extra special pumpkin soup!   Then it was off to the bar to have a few beers and a few shots to celebrate a fabulous time on our trip, for tomorrow it is time for some of us to go home, for others it’s the journey south and for Aly, Issac and Goodluck it is time to start organising another trip as now we join Damien and Dixon southward bound.  So thanks to all the guys on the trip, the crew, the people we have met along the way and the animals we have encountered it has been an awesome experience!!

Happy Travels!!

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Day 9 & 10 – Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Crater

Posted on 18/02/2011 by admin

We had to be organised this morning  as we had to transfer belongings into the 4×4’s ready to head off to the Serengeti.  A few hours drive and we were at the park gates and fortunately the rains had stopped it was time to see what we could find.

After a short drive we came across the first of the big five a family of elephants who got pretty close to the vehicles.  Next was an abundance of wildebeest and another of the big five the Buffalo.  A pride of lions were then seen lazing around in the long grass.  It was a pretty good start to the game drives.

We set up camp inside the park boundaries and had an enjoyable dinner around the camp fire.  It was a night to be alert as anything could wander through camp.

We were up when the stars were still out to get on our way with the early morning game drive.  The first animal we came across was a spotted Hyena lazing in the grass looking very well fed!  Again there were plenty of elephants and giraffes around all happy with the fresh supply of water to their watering holes.  Again we saw the lions that we had seen the previous day but this time there were two male lions. Maybe time for a change of leadership in that pride!

There were plenty of antelope and zebras around again and we even had the sight of the mating ritual of two zebras (very romantic!).   We had still to spot that elusive leopard and Black Rhino.  We were not giving up!  Determination was the call of the group for the day.

We continued our search throughout the park but to no avail maybe tomorrow will be our lucky day!  We stopped off at the Information centre where some of us got had fun photo’s with the skulls of various animals and then it was time to head out of the park.

It was now time to drive the few km’s to the Ngorongoro Crater.  It was a steady drive up to the top of the rim but unfortunately the cloud and mist had settled and we couldn’t see down into the crater.  Another sumptuous dinner and then it was an early night after a long day and another early start tomorrow.

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Day 8 – Arusha

Posted on 18/02/2011 by admin

Happy Birthday Chris!!

Today we left Nairobi and along the way we picked up another six entrepid adventurers.  The group  just got a whole lot bigger.  We drove south through the Kenyan country side until we reached the Tanzanian border.  Border crossings can sometimes be difficult but no problems were encountered.   A drive along a bumpy road (road works are in progress!) and a couple of bush stops later we arrived in the town of Arusha.    We stopped in town for a bit of shopping and to change money and then on to our campsite.   It was an evening of chats and stories of the past week, setting the scene for the new guys as to the adventures to come and the animals they will hopefully see in the coming days.  Bed time and time to bunker down because the long rains seem to have arrived early and it was a very wet and stormy night!!

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Day 7 – Masai Mara

Posted on 15/02/2011 by admin

With no incidents in the night, no need for zip lock plastic bags (you will have to ask those who have been on safari about the need for a bag at night in your tent when times are desperate!?)  and our guards having no stories to tell of close encounters, we had an early start for our morning game drive in the Masai Mara.

Our early start was rewarded by the sighting of 3 male cheetahs on the road not far into the park. We waited in anticipation as they began to assume a stalking position, only to discover that they were being extra cautious due to the presence of a large male lion looking to protect his patch. The lion jogged over and the cheetahs fled.  Even three of them would not take on a male lion and there was no point hunting as the lion would enjoy their labour by stealing their kill.

We continued on through the park in anticipation of we would see next. The other highlight of the morning was encountering 5 lionesses with 9 cubs (the same ones from the day before), the cubs were a bit more active today with one trying to practice a kill on a guinea fowl – they were all very cute!  We were graced by a herd of elephants and giraffes all in search of water.  Unfortunately no leopard or rhino, fingers crossed for the Serengeti!

After leaving the park about midday, we headed on the bumpy road back to Nairobi. We finished the evening off with Goodluck’s delicious version of Nyoma Choma, a few Tuskers and a game of Pictionary.

One of the group came up with the following picture… needless to say we didn’t get it…. but the answer was ‘Turkey’. When we didn’t correctly identify the bird, rather than drawing a Christmas tree, he thought that the next best option was a draw a kebab… a ‘turkish kebab’ (or maybe a Masai shield).  There may be a petition to rename Shaggy, Turkey in recognition of this fine piece of art work!!

Lots of laughs – a fun way to end a great day.

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Day 6 – Masai Mara

Posted on 13/02/2011 by admin

A very early start this morning so we can get to the Mara in good time.  A few snores were heard from the truck this morning as we made our way to the first stop on our journey, Narok.  Here it was time to grab the best samosas outside of India.

A short drive to the turning onto the road to the Mara, seatbelts needed to be tightened as it was a very bumpy road!!  After about two hours we arrived at the Masai Village.    After a welcoming dance by the resident warriors and local ladies it was our turn to join in.  We had interesting talk and walk around the village, discovering the lifestyle of the Masai villagers.

It was then time to enter the park.  Our first animal encounter was with, zebras and topis.  Time to keep our eyes peeled for some of the big five.  The first one was a group of elephants including some very small ones who were searching for water in the very dry landscape.  We continued on through the park, there lying under the shade of some bushes were a pride of lions with nine cubs.  It was an awesome sight, even more so when we spotted the male lion lying amongst the grass on his back with his legs in the air!!!

These were very last lions we spent a bit of time with them and then continued on through the park.  Unfortunately due to it being so hot a lot of the animals were taking shelter although there was still an abundance of gazelles, zebras and topis.

We headed just outside the park gates and to our camp site on the Talek River.  With our Askari protecting us for the night we listened to the noises of the local wildlife wandering around us.  Let’s hope we all have a peaceful sleep!!

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Day 5 – Lake Naivasha

Posted on 13/02/2011 by admin

Happy Birthday Liz!!!

Today it was another early start for some as it was a walk to Crater Lake.  A leisurely walk through the wilderness where we came up close to giraffes, antelope and warthogs.  No leopards decided to make a showing but it was worth the walk up to the Lake.

After meeting up with the new guys that arrived while we were away, it was time to get on the Lake and go hippo spotting.  Our first encounter was with a single male hippo which we gave a wide birth to as our guide said could be very dangerous even in the water!!  After passing a variety of water birds we saw a group of about eight hippos wallowing in the water it was a great sight to see.

We continued on around the lake we collected some small fish off the local fisherman for the attempt to attract the local Fish Eagles to fly near us.  After a few whistles by the captian of the boat and the throwing of the fish into the water, the eagles flew down from the nearby trees and retrieved the fish with their sizeable talons.  Some great photos were taken!!

On then, to Elsamere, the once home of the famous conservationists, Joy and George Adamson most famous from the film “Born Free”.   We watched a DVD about their colourful lives,  looked around the house which is now a museum and the head quarters of the Born Free Foundation and then it was time to enjoy a variety of homemade cakes, coffee and freshly squeezed lemonade, so very civilised for us lot!!

After a quick shower it was off into the local village for dinner.  Again it was a feast of food all from local produce and freshly cooked.  It was delicious and an enjoyable experience for all.  Back to the bar for a couple of beers and then to bed, because tomorrow we are off to the Masai Mara………

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