I honestly didn’t know where to start with describing this visit/safari, so it took me awhile to get organized. It meant the world to me to have all of these beautiful people here with us and then to have them go on possibly the best safari that I’ve ever been on with us just makes it all the more special. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Mike’s 40th birthday; I know he was with us the entire time. We were able to add two new mammals to our spotted list (caracal and African wild cat) and we’re now calling this our ‘animal encounter’ safari…in the best possible way. Thanks, Wayo, for a great weekend.
Family/Cousin Time
They called themselves the Fabulous Five. I couldn’t agree more.
There were animals, too. In addition to the nightly sounds of wildebeest, lions, and hyenas around camp, we also had some fun encounters with animals.
Encounter 1: Baboons…much cuter on the side of the road than when they are jumping up and holding on to your window (Kristin’s scream was awesome) or even jumping inside the car and stealing the box of tissues.
Encounter 2: Up close and personal with this big tusker. 
No zoom needed for this close-up from Kristin’s vantage.
Encounter 3: Breakfast with a giraffe who came to visit us at camp. That’s our tent.
Encounter 4: No actual photo footage because it was dark and at dinner time. We were eating dinner and saw car lights coming up the road to camp. Then we realized that it was a park ranger lighting the way (for our benefit) of a female lion who meandered about 15 meters away while we ate. About 20 minutes later she walked back out the way she came (without escort). We probably saw over 50 lions over the 4 days, but this was completely exhilarating!
The gang went looking for footprints the next morning on the road the lioness was walking (our dining table is in the foreground).
Encounter 5: After hearing a story about some lions that were curious about some other guests’ breakfast on some rocks, we thought we’d be extra cautious and take our break on some low rocks that we could completely drive around so Georgia could try and catch some lizards. We were completely surprised when an African wild cat jumped out from under a rock after we’d already been there for several minutes. Happened so fast that I didn’t capture that either. This happened right after the caracal sighting.
We also got to see a fair amount of animals fighting with each other which is always fun. The elephants were the coolest to watch although the giraffe head knocking and zebra biting were also pretty amazing.
Tanzanian traffic jams (check out the baby giraffe on the right)
Again this year we were lucky enough to be camped right in the middle of THE migration. Wildebeest and zebra as far as the eye can see. It’s also calving season which means lots of cute babies.
Lots of animals means lots of carnage
Leopard with it’s kill up a tree.
Jackal with a baby Thomson’s gazelle in it’s mouth
You can even see the blood on the mama cheetah’s face from their recent meal (mom and two cubs)
The Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are always stunning with beautiful and interesting people
So much to see
I miss these two so much already
Georgia and her constant journal writing including the creation of her own secret language. She reminds me so much of her daddy with her brooding looks.
Fiona, (one of) my beautiful goddaughter(s). Her independence and confidence (or sassiness depending on how you look at it) will serve her well.
So much fun
Sam, Kristin, and Megin – thanks for coming all this way to see us and experience some of this beautiful country that we’ve called home for the past five years. It meant so much to our kids to have Georgia and Fiona come visit them. (And thanks for sharing your photos with me. I’m sure you’ll recognize some of them here). Karibu anytime!
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And I have to say that this was the also the safari of the selfie-stick. I’d never actually seen one in person before and I thought they were a joke, but we saw them constantly….in cars full of people. I mean if only there was someone standing right here that could take my picture for me…..
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