Retired Nomads: Central to Northern Serengeti

Today we had a full day of game drives on our way from central Serengeti to northern Serengeti.

Thank goodness I only had a 24 hour bug as I was feeling much better. I still ate light for breakfast, but I could tell I was on the mend. Wilson could see it too and was relieved. He was prepared to get me to a doctor if needed.

We saw a porcupine early on in our drive. We could definitely see the savannah changing as we drove. Grasses were getting longer and kopi rock formations were cropping up as well.

Porcupine

We watched an African Harrier Hawk which has the ability to climb, using wings as well as feet, and its long double-jointed legs, which enables this bird to raid the nests of cavity-nesters.

Then we came across a hippo pond with numerous hippos in it. There were lots of young ones and a lone male that stayed upstream from the rest of them. Perhaps guarding the others or looking to mate.

We stopped at an airstrip where flights go from central to north Serengeti to use their restrooms.

we knew we were taking a similar plane later in the trip

wow, it needs to get more lift SOON....

We came across a young lioness lying on a kopi. We also saw a family of Banded Mongoose, but pictures aren't great. (small animals and long grass)

Hamerkop

Next we saw a leopard in a tree that seemed to be checking out the zebras below him. Wilson said it would need to get one of the smaller ones. Eventually, the last of the zebras passed and the leopard did not try for one.

the small guy on the left got lucky today....

Elephants were numerous as well.

We then came to what used to be the back road to Kenya. (it is now closed). It's where Central becomes Northern Serengeti. We had our lunch here with zebras nearby. There were restrooms (of sorts) here which were the last ones once we were in the northern Serengeti. (only bush toilets….as in go behind a bush)

having our lunch

seems there is always one Zebra that has to watch us

the guy at the post seemed to be making fries

worst bathroom of the trip....make going behind a bush seem like the better option

One lady with another safari vehicle really had to use the restroom, but she refused to use this one. (I lived)

We began to see larger herds of Wildebeest and also more carcasses.

Warthog is the tall grass

White-backed Vulture

lots of Wildebeest

Warthog family

Wildebeest carcass

cute young Zebra

some of the roads were a bit rough

Wattled Lapwing

lots of Wildebeest (it was smoky & dusty)

Red-necked Francolin

We spent three nights at Sayari Camp. Here is the link to their site: http://sayaricamp.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx

Wilson had never had clients that have stayed here and it seemed he was not all that comfortable there. I have to say that while the luxury tents were very nice and the food and service were quite good, we both felt like something was missing here. The management and staff seemed not to gel. We were seated in the sitting room while we were “read the rules” of the property. It was kind of long and drawn out and since it was at the end of our safari, we were already familiar with not going out at night alone and calling to get someone to pick us up when it was dark. We just wanted to go to the tent and shower.

The first night we had appetizers as we got to know the other people staying there and then had dinner at a long communal table. Someone stood at the end of the table and read the menu which were 2 choices of appetizer, main and dessert. We were seated next to 4 people from Texas and when we told them we live in Panama they asked if we knew Cat Mandell. Of course I was just shaking my head no as I didn’t expect to actually know the person he asked about. Once it registered who he said, I said yes, she was our realtor and one of the first people we met here. They used to be her neighbors in Texas. Small world sometimes.

We decided to add the hot air balloon ride that day and Wilson made all the calls needed to see if and when there was an opening. We met with the pilot before dinner and he said we could do it the next day if another couple did not confirm and they would let us know at dinner. The couple did confirm so we had it scheduled for the day after that. The Pilot was impressed that I used to be part of the chase crew for a hot air balloon in Arizona for 5 years and even more impressed that I had been to the large festival in Albuquerque. He was an interesting guy that was actually from Turkey and he said he grew up living in caves. So, it was off to bed for a full day of game drives.