The three of us did just that, over four
nights and five days, starting with a flight to Arusha---Maasai territory--- in
central Tanzania. Our driver/guide, Damian, met us with his Land Rover, which he
took care of like a proud father---not an easy thing to do on the rough park
roads. He was extremely helpful and informative. Without offering an endless list of animals we saw, I will say that we did see two rare black rhinos and our guide spotted two well-camouflaged leopards in trees. The only animal we did not
manage to see was a cheetah. Zebras, lions, elephants, cape buffalo, gazelles, wildebeest were...everywhere!
We witnessed an exciting episode where, at the side of road
in the Ngorongoro Crater, a lioness with two cubs was guarding her dinner: a carcass
of a zebra she had recently killed. We---and she--- watched the cubs go over
and eat as more and more hyenas circled her. It was quite nerve-racking for the
spectators: a TV documentary, live! When a couple of hyenas came close, she ran
at them; they would back off a short distance. Eventually, after the cubs and the
ever-watchful mom had had their fill, they moved away, exhausted and thirsty,
and watched from the tall grass across the road as the hyenas moved in and
stripped the carcass clean. Her hopes of saving the leftovers were lost.
A photo taken in the Serengeti is included,showing masses of hippos submerged in any deep water they could find. The upcoming rainy season was badly needed. The photo
should be especially appreciated in light of the accompanying smell from large numbers of hippos pooping in small pools of water!
