A glimpse of Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Lake Manyara

I wanted to visit Serengeti even before I came to Tanzania. I think the Phantom comics had influenced me even more than I realized. Even though S was equally enthusiastic about visiting the National park, we had to wait for good 5 years for this dream to come true. When S surprised me by saying that we would be going to Serengheti and Ngorongoro during the Easter break, I was thrilled but at the same time I had some concerns. One- it is the wet season out here, and I was not sure if we would be able to see the wildlife to the best possible extent. Two- I was concerned about the safety of my hyperactive 2year old. Even though we have been to short safaris earlier, a safari in Serengeti is quite different. In this case, we were leading a gypsy life for almost 5 days. I thought that would be too much for a toddler. But I guess the God's were with us. Despite the clouds being over cast, it did not rain. We were lucky to get some amazing game views. As for my little girl, apart from having a great time, she lived on chocolates, juices and milk. Do I need to mention how much fun she had?

Ngorongoro at sunrise

 As for the Safari, it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. We visited three national Parks. Viz, The Serengeti, Lake Manyara and the Ngorngoro. And each one was very different from the other. If the Serengeti is was covered with the swampy grasslands, then the Lake Manyara National Park is a rain forest. The Ngorongoro again is very different. It almost has a man made quality to it. I felt like someone had scooped out 100Sq Kms of earth, dug a lake, spread a lawn and neatly arranged all the wildlife in it. It was like huge open air zoo. It was like paradise itself.

The Ngorongoro Crater

To me, it was something much more than a Safari. It was much more than seeing wildlife in action. To me, it was nothing short of a pilgrimage. When I was driving through the grasslands of Serengeti, i realised that I was actually driving through a world that had not changed in the past million years. These lands were actually the home of the early man (Olduvai Gorge). Some patterns like the migration, life, death and adaptation are most likely, as old as time itself. I came back home with something more than just pleasant memories. I came back with a nourished soul.

The Olduvai Gorge

The weaver Bird

The superb starling

Another Superb Starling

The Amado Lizard

The Giraffe Trio

The sun is not enough

The lone male

The galloping water bucks.

Hungry!!

I know this a bad picture of the pretty bird. But you just can't focus when a 1000 ants are crawling all over you!!

The loving pride

Hungry again!!!

Tasting the drink

These two fawns were stalking the snake!!

The leopard turtle

There were atleast 6lakh wilde beasts in that area

Just loved the sight

Simba

The yellow billed falcon

Can you spot the rhinos??

The cutest blue monkey ever!!

The sun bird

The crowned crane

The Kori Bustard

At logger heads

Some poisonous things can beautiful as well

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my memories with you!! Hope you enjoy them as well!!