A very windy night in the tent and a cool morning, but we’re on the Serengeti so who can complain. Our camp looks out over a small valley/plain with small herds of wildebeest, zebra, topi (an odd antelope that looks like someone just patched ill-matching parts together) and more roaming just in front of us all morning (this evening there was a male lion doing his grunting call just outside of camp to make things more exciting).

We headed off on our game drive this morning with plans to be back for lunch in camp rather than the usual box lunch. We took a very long drive from our camp at Bologonja through a very long game circuit heading towards Lobo. We first found a male and female lion that were obviously a mating couple and watched them for a bit before heading off to see more We saw another group of six lions in the same area and likely from the same pride and that was by pretty early in the morning. After that it was driving the main game circuit to Lobo along some hills with breathtaking views of the Serengeti as far as the eye could see. In addition to the standard fare of antelope (wildebeest, hartabeest, thompson gazelle, topi, eland, impala and dik dik) we also saw lots of Cape buffalo and a few elephants. We also ran across vervet monkeys, baboons and both rock and ground hyrax.

A male and his mate

Vervet monkey in a tree

On our way back for lunch (for which we were already late and soon to be much later) we also ran across a large herd of elephants with several babies who were heading for a watering hole for mud and dirt bath that we got to watch for some time. It was glorious to see them socializing so much  and to see the moms so protective of their babies.

At the watering hole

We took a late afternoon/evening drive that ended up with a large male lion devouring a wildebeest and another mating couple in the near vicinity. Oh yes, and not to forget the ostrich and their mating dance culminating with the expected outcome – it was actually not the first time I’ve seen these enormous birds mate.

Guarding his meal

Sunset was amazing as was our dinner. We will be departing for the Central Serengeti in the morning at 8 am. We’re hunting for a cheetah for Danielle as she’s not seen one before, but of course we’ll look at everything along the way.

Sunset in the Northern Serengeti

Will hopefully have internet tomorrow.

Lala salama,

Mike