Today was our last safari game drive (other than the drive out from the Park tomorrow, as we make our way to the Kilimanjaro Airport). We will be flying back to Nairobi for two two nights before flying to Victoria Falls and then to Madagascar. We are looking forward to the new experiences.
We learned a new thing about Tarangire Park today. It was the 5th Park established in Tanzania (after Serengeti / Manyara / Mt K / Mt Meru). Compared to others, this one was not very controversial because the resident population in the area was very low. There are tse-tse flies everywhere, and people and the livestock couldn't take it. Between the painful bites and sleeping-sickness, no one stayed for very long, and the area was basically uninhabited.
Tse-tse flies are awful. They are hardy creatures - You whack them, and they fall to the ground, and then after a few seconds, they start flying again (but now angry). Bites are painful, and they do bite through thin clothing. Insect repellent is only a minor deterrent to them. I am not a fan. But they did help with the establishment of this park.
The trip today was a good one. We found a lot of elephants exhibiting a number of behaviors, a lioness on the hunt (we did not see if it was successful), a juvenile brood of 11 ostrich 'chicks', and some new birds. And, of course, the landscape was a treat.
We also saw a 'Not Do'. A driver (another van) decided to cross the Tarangire river (2-wheel drive). He successfully made it half way. He was trying to entice our driver to pull him out with his 4-wheel drive, but the strap was too short to reach from the stranded vehicle to ours, if ours remained entirely on dry ground - so the request was for us to submerge ours. After a long discussion, and then some shouting by the other driver (all in Swahili, but it didn't take a working knowledge of the language to understand the gist), we wished them well and left. I asked if there were crocodiles in the river - the driver replied "No. But there is no such thing as 100%". There were clearly elephants (some walked by during the conversation and the initial attempts to free the van). And though we did not see any hippos at this location (the single greatest killer in Africa), we did see some in the park - and it doesn't take much depth for them to hide.
Pictures and details below (all video is from Jana and Christopher):
Our lodge is overrun by hyrax, vervet monkeys, and squirrels. Usually, there is one dominant creature. Here there are at least three. Here is a hyrax on the roof (they are good on steep rocks/cliffs, and also the lodge roof)
Baobabs do not grow quickly. This one is either growing very slowly, or is not doing so well (you may need to expand to differentiate it from the tree behind)
A red hornbill next to a black hornbill on the railing.
Dik diks are very territorial. The dominant one (right) was being challenged for his territory. After some head-butting and a chase, he maintained his claim to the area.
This dik dik fight, though very serious to them, was adorable to us. Although this video missed the initial head-butts, you get a pretty good feel for their combat. Following this scene, there was a chase. These creatures are terribly fast.
A brood of ostriches. It is not uncommon for clutches to be up to 18 eggs. At about 10 months, they begin to differentiate male/female (male's feathers turn dark). Didn't see mom or dad, but this group was 11. They are nearly adult-size, so I assume they are approaching 10 months.
A Nubian Woodpecker.
Hidden pumba!
An enormous pumba down at the water. The size of a small horse. At first, Jana and I could not believe this to be a pumba, but our guide (and the binoculars) confirmed it to be.
A dik dik.
View of the river valley.
Two waterbuck on the opposite valley face.
A Bateleur Eagle, with a mouse (you may need to expand the image)
We came across a lioness on the hunt. We did not see if she was successful.
A number of wildebeest in front of a baobab.
A lot of baboons at the waterhole. We witnessed a lot of behaviors. Below is a baboon-fight (center of image). We also saw baby baboons, baboons at play, and baboons making more baboons.
Infant baboon playing with juvenile baboons (courtesy of Christopher taking iPhone video through his binoculars for a closer view):
View of the cliff wall at the river. Along the river, soil colors can change rapidly from red to green to grey to white.
Pumba!
Termite mound in a region with deep red soil.
A dashing zebra standing still.
A road-side convention. Many, many zebra.
Don't do this. Especially if you have clients inside. Our driver tried to help, but he could not get them out without putting his vehicle (and us) at risk.
And just upstream from the stuck jeep come the elephants, including a baby (which will make Mom protective/aggressive). Fortunately, they cut up the hillside 30 yards before reaching the van.
Elephants feeding. You can see how this one pulls the grass, and then shakes the dirt of the roots before eating (to prevent unnecessary wear on the teeth). That trunk is one dexterous tool.
Later, this bull came up the road toward us, dusting. The driver cut the engine and asked us to keep the level down. These guys don't like surprises or loud noises. If undisturbed, they walk by without issue.
A vervet monkey posing for his glamour shot.
Mount Tarangire nearing sunset.
A picturesque acacia skeleton.
Pumba! Red from rooting around in the red dirt in this area.
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