We went on safari with our fellow Dar based GHSP volunteers (see below) last weekend and had a grand time. Our friend, Kate, made all the arrangements as her husband, David, was here visiting her. She knows the Morogoro area from past work there. We were off to Morogoro and Mikumi National Park on Friday in a minivan with Charles, our driver.
We spent two nights in Morogoro. Saturday was spent on safari with a guide in a safari vehicle in the park. Sunday we hiked up the mountains outside Morogoro to a gorgeous waterfall. That day is the subject of another post which follows this one.
David, Gail, Kate, Charles, Geoffrey, Laurel, Bill and Esther (L to R) at Mikumi.
Mikumi is only about 5 hours from Dar so it is popular and reasonably convenient in contrast to the Serengeti. It sits adjacent to the Selous Game Preserve to its south, the largest game preserve in Africa.
Approaching Morogoro, which we visited previously for lunch on the way to Dodoma, our orientation site.
We first went to the very colorful Morogoro market on Friday evening and the women shopped for fabric.
Laurel at park entrance Saturday morning. There were only a few vehicles there the day we visited.
The group stretching our legs. We sat outside on the roof of the jeep during most of the day and drove very slowly. The park is ringed by mountains and is mostly savannah. It is a smaller version of the Serengeti.
Impala. Can you say camouflage? These guys blend in and are fast!
Wildebeest are often found with zebras. One smells well and the other sees well protecting each other from predators like the lions in the park.
Zebras. Geoff took many of these pictures and generously shared them. He has fabulous equipment and is an excellent phtotographer with a natural eye for composition. Many thanks, Geoff.
The sky here is every bit as "big" as the American West.
One of many beautiful birds captured by Geoff.
This is a bird in flight. Its belly is a brilliant yellow and contrasts with its spectacular wings.
The park is filled with baobab tress. They are so distinctive and remain leafless for much of the year. They are also generally extremely old.
Herd of elephants. The mothers are very protective of the babies.
I was taken with the giraffes. They blend in extremely well and also protect their young fiercely by kicking!
Crocodile with an open mouth. This is how they cool themselves,
More of my personal favorite, the giraffe. Despite their seeming awkward shape, they are actually quite elegant in motion and can run like the wind.
An unusual family grouping. Most giraffes were seen in loose groups or alone.
Up on the roof. Kate, David, Gail and Esther.
Hippos at the hippo pool.
The very social hippos bobbing in the pool.
We finally found lions. This lioness was lounging after eating kill that we saw in the adjacent ravine. We kept our distance. They do attack if threatened and are treated with great respect by the guides/drivers. This was not a zoo but open habitat.
Lionesses.
The impala are quite beautiful and plentiful, a favorite prey of lions.
This young male lion was hidden but came out to drive away one of the vehicles that was getting too close to where the pride had stashed its kill. Very impressive predator.
The group on break again. We only stopped and got out in very open areas where there was good visibility. You can see the mountains ringing the park int he background.
Here we found impala, warthogs and baboons all cluster together for safety.
Stork. They are about three feet tall and are impressive though quite odd up close.
These are the nests of weaver birds.
Brilliant bird at rest.
Fierce warthogs always kept us at a distance.
Weaver bird nest up close.
On driving back to Morogoro we were impressed by this truck with a picture of the pope passing another truck uphill! Faith is wondrous thing.
Another spectacular African sunset we encountered on our way back at the end of a truly magical day. Kudos, Kate!
Lone bull elephant. These are smaller savannah elephants.
