Goodbye Serengeti

Yesterday we woke early for a quick breakfast and early game drive in the Serengeti. Serengeti is the Swahili word for endless, and at 5,700 square miles it sure felt endless. Our guide and driver was Emmanuel, who had worked as a ranger in the park for 6 years before becoming a commercial guide. It was nice to have driver that knows his way around and when certain animals will be active in certain parts of the park. We made it back to the campground for a brunch and a few hours of rest before our afternoon game drive. We lost track of all of the animals we saw. I can say that the only animal for which we looked with no success was the leopard. At one point Maggie was the first to spot a cheetah and her three cubs. Emmanuel made mention of the sighting on the CB and Land Cruisers started descending on us from all directions. 

Last night was a bit cold in the park which always leads to good sleeping, until the lions and other animals become active and you start wondering how close they are to your tent. 

This morning we broke camp for one last game drive on our way out of the Serengeti. We saw a pride of nine lions this morning just walking up for the day. It was fun watching them yawn and stretch just like house cats. Out of the park, we drove along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater again, this time being able to see the view as there was no fog this time.

We made it back to Mto wa Mbu and set up camp before a much needed shower and some down time. This evening we met up with a local organization starting up efforts at cultural tourism. We visited a rice plantation, banana plantation, and banana brewer.  After a short walk through town, we were hosted to a dinner of local dishes. Not being an adventurous eater, I stuck to the rice, beef, and bread. 

The only down side to the last few days has been coming to the realization that we will have to cancel our plans to visit a health clinic and orphanage supported by our church in Zimbabwe. Apparently there is an election coming up and everyone assumes it will not go smoothly. When the conversation starts with the fact that we should stay very near the airport so we can leave in short notice and that the needed private security will be expensive, that’s all the discussion we needed to decide to change plans. I’m not sure what that will look like, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out. 

Tomorrow is a long drive into the mountains, with an early start, so it’s an early evening. Goodnight from Tanzania. Incidentally, I learned that we mispronounce the name of the country. 

- Dave