{"id":4301,"date":"2014-08-15T00:01:53","date_gmt":"2014-08-15T07:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/?p=4301"},"modified":"2020-07-17T00:15:35","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T07:15:35","slug":"serengeti-safari-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/serengeti-safari-part-3","title":{"rendered":"A Drive on the Wild Side – Life & Death on the Serengeti, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

As all good things must come to an end, we are approaching the last days of our amazing African safari<\/a>. We’re finally going into the renowned Ngorongoro Crater<\/a> where some 20 black rhinos remain in ‘protective custody’. After that, we’ll be heading to Lake Manyara<\/a> for a walking safari and some birding before returning to Arusha. We were definitely not looking forward to the 40 hour flight back home\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Sunrise<\/a>
Sunrise at Ngorongoro Crater.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The morning started with breathtaking views at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge and the vast Ngorongoro crater floor slowly came to life with the breaking dawn. Our game drive into the crater provided sightings of numerous resident wildebeests, zebras, gazelles as well as their predators. We even managed to spot a black rhino with her calf in the distance!<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A mirrored pair of zebras.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We noticed that while most of the game animals have scant fear of humans on the Serengeti, many are camera shy. Even the normally vigilant zebras turned their backs when they detected our presence, unceremoniously presenting us with their behinds!<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Elsa in a tree.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Had to do a double-take on this \u2013 we knew Lake Manyara is famous for its tree climbing lions<\/a> but didn’t expect to see one staring at us from a tree in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.<\/p>\n

\"Local<\/a>
Local performers at the lodge sporting cool hat and feathered garb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ngorongoro Serena Lodge offers cultural performances in the evenings. We came across a couple of affable young men from the troupe dashingly dressed for the part.<\/p>\n

\"Lion<\/a>
Lion with his lunch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We saw this lion close to the roadside on our way to Lake Manyara. The kill, probably a wildebeest, was from the day prior.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A grey crowned crane prancing across the savanna.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boasting several hundred species of birds, the lake is a birder’s paradise. We saw crowned cranes<\/a>, huge flocks of flamingos and numerous kinds of water fowl around the soda lake.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
A family of elephants munching contentedly on dry grass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

African elephants can eat up to 660 pounds of vegetation a day, so they are constantly grazing or browsing whenever we see them.<\/p>\n

\"Tented<\/a>
Kirurumu Lodge outside Lake Manyara National Park. The carving on our bed for some reason had an oriental feel to it\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a more modest lodge compared to our digs at Buffalo Camp<\/a>. But the tented camp, spread out along a winding path, offered new opportunities to experience the African bush.<\/p>\n

\"Baby<\/a>
Baby vervet monkey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This juvenile monkey looked very woebegone. Vervets are social animals so did he get sent to the corner because it was a bad boy??<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Grey-headed kingfisher. Unlike most kingfishers, it is not aquatic and lives in dry woodland areas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This grey-headed kingfisher<\/a> is one of the 300 migratory bird species that stop by Lake Manyara. The orange-red beak, chestnut belly and brilliant blue wing feathers make it one of the more striking\u00a0birds in the area.<\/p>\n

\"Nile<\/a>
A Nile monitor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We spotted this colorful Nile monitor<\/a> briefly in Lake Manyara National Park where it was foraging among the forest litter. It’s the second largest monitor lizard in Africa.<\/p>\n

\"Blue<\/a>
Love the dopey look on this blue monkey’s face!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blue monkeys<\/a>, which are not actually blue, can be found throughout the area. They’re often seen up in the shade of the canopy.<\/p>\n