Serengeti February 2014 - Day 6 - Feb 12

On February 12, 2013, 8PM, by the campfire of our private camp in Piaya, three of us, Mike, Bev, and Paul poured a glass of Scotch and drank a toast to our great, dear, true friend, Terry Chambers, who was back home dying of cancer. We went on four safaris with Terry and Jan ~ 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 ~ wonderful trips full of laughter and adventure, serious fun ~ for those who have been, a bond that can never be broken. He said at one point, "If I have cancer, I'm going back to Africa!" I guess Bev and I felt like we were taking this trip for him. We found out the next day that Terry passed away while we were toasting him. 

Terry, at his most lovable self

And again ~ at his most lovable self

So anyway, back to reality, whatever that is. Fast forward to February 12, 2014. The Lemala Camp on the Crater Rim is set in an Acacia Lahai Forest ~ Red Thorn Tree ~ magnificent trees.

Of course we stop for breakfast, on the edge of the Lerai Forrest on the Crater Floor. On Crater day, we leave camp at 6AM (or try to, anyway) fully packed, baggage and all, with both picnic breakfast and lunch. Bev & I camped with Paul, and Roger & Kathleen (our first trip ever!) in this forrest, 1988, down in the crater, an honor that hasn't been allowed since 1990.

Why go in so early? How about a mating pair of Servals.

The landscapes are sweeping, magical. Animals everywhere you turn.

Even zebras "of a different color".

Cape Buffalo being groomed by Red-Billed Oxpeckers.

Moms & babes.

Kori Bustards strutin' their stuff.

Grey Crowned Cranes

Four days on safari and we've remarkably already completed the big five: lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and this black rhino. We would see several more rhino before the morning was over.

A family of Golden Jackel.

"Love Is In The Air" became the theme of this trip. Especially after a serious(ly funny) discussion over dinner about who wrote that song. I finally got up the guts (when no one else would) to ask the folks at other end of the table, and soon nobody could get the damned song out of their mind ~ and we had new friends.

So, finally up and out of the crater, half way around the rim, to the road through Endulen, and out onto the plains of the Ndutu area of Southern Serengeti. With a stop for a picnic lunch, of course. 

There's always a point on the trip when you have to just stand back in awe ~ it's nearly impossible to take in the vast numbers of wildebeest and zebra that make up the Great Migration. Literally as far as the binoculars can see in every direction.

Not the sharpest shot of a Lesser Kestrel, but a beautiful bird never-the-less.

Okay, so we see this huge, one-tusked bull elephant and Jo says "I think he's okay, let's go over and see" and we drive right up to him ~ well, slowly, and with respect. He proceeds to walk right up to the front of the truck and pulls a large clump of grass from about 2 feet from the front tire, swishes it up between his legs to knock the dirt off it, and eats it, as if to say "In You Face", and walks away. I think my heart was beating at about 200! Everyone said the same. Bev got teary!

"Love Is In The Air"

A tender moment ~ take notes guys!

Now, after a day in the Crater and driving around Ndutu, it's time to find Olakira Tented Camp. You'd think either Paul or Jo would know where it is, but no, we have to ask directions. "Well, I think Olakira is to the North". "No, no, it's over there, on that hill, to the South". "No, no, no, it's definitely across the lake, to the East". Yada yada yada..