Truckin' with Mike and Bev

Today's a moving day. We leave the Ndutu area via Ndutu Safari Lodge to Dunia Permanent Tented Camp ~ a new camp for Bev and me. Asilia establish this camp a few years ago to take advantage of the huge number of lions at the Moru Kopjes.

While Paul checked us out of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and into Serengeti National Park, we enjoyed coffee & tea, maps, and the gift shop at Ndutu Safari Lodge, a traditional lodge that Bev and I have stayed in, on our own, several times.

With no signs and little-travelled back roads, it's easy to get lost, even if we've been through here before (got lost near here in July 2008). We turned back when we reached this old dry stream bed.

Then, finally reaching the Moru Kapjes, we take time for a view under ancient rock paintings...

...gather the beer, wine, bino's and Pringles...

...but why bring your own when Mary & Howard brought their entire Nazdar bar...

...to Gong Rock.

Somebody's going to sleep well tonight with How pouring.

The theme of our trip was "Love Is In The Air" as demonstrated by these

Crowned Cranes and Red-Necked Spur Fowl

Unfortunately "things" happen ~ Black-Backed Jackel and White-Backed Vultures clean up a baby elephant, killed by lions. who lounge on a Kopje ~ we all 'gotta eat

"Nesting" Secretary Birds and Giraffe

Is it a Black-Bellied or Hartlaub's Bustard?

Only way to tell is to settle in with a drink and wait till it flies.

Black-Bellied Bustard

Elephant? - Rock! - Elephant? - Rock!

"If you don't stop looking at them, and pay attention to me,

I might just climb a tree.""

So, over the bridge...

over the Bush Buck...

...we thought it was stuck ~ "Send Jo down after it!" we cried...

past the Vervets

"Who's been texting me all day?"

past the Monitor Lizard, to camp.

Large, comfortable tents, and a work area for my downloading.

Before dinner we had a tour of "the back of the house":

Firewood assisted hot water

The mess tent, complete with gas stove

Water activated charcoal refrigerator

Food storage needs to be protected from "critters"

Solar panels nearly power the entire camp

Every camp has an office

So, after a long day? ~ a dinner under the stars

of Lamb Shank Osso Buco!

Tomorrow we're off to a very special wilderness

~ our own private tented camp at Piaya

There comes a time on every safari when someone just needs a break. It can be "hard work ~ but somebody has to do it" physically and mentally. From a 5AM wake in time to see a cheetah mom and two cubs, to late night cocktails around the fire talking of evolution, nesting habits, adding to our bird and mammal lists...

Today Bev needed a break ~ and here's what she missed ~ two very young cheetah cubs with their mom.