Lake Manyara - Final Safari - Borrowed Camera

With 1 day of safari and a travel day left on the trip my camera gave up the ghost.  It has been brilliant but as one might expect got a lot of work and pocket time to say nothing of the magnet sands yesterday.  Looks good... just won't work ... so will check out the warranty back home.

I was thinking it was a relief as I would just enjoy the sights vs. taking pictures .. but Jonathan handed me his hand held and once again I saw the world through a camera.  Funny but I can now see why Jean enjoyed our trip last summer and composing "shots".  I am constantly hearing a little voice saying things like oh that would have been a great picture ... or dang I missed that one.  Anyway... off I go with Jonathans and will really on our shared photo site once established when I get home.

We headed out of the Ngorogoro hotel at 8:30 headed for the final safari at Manyara Lake Game Reserve

Break downs of extremely colorful vehicles
 along the roads is a common sight.  I think this is a transit bus

Lake Manyara  a shallow lake in the East African Rift of Tanzania.  Ernest Hemingway called it the loveliest lake in Africa.  It is the home of a diverse set of landscapes and wildlife.The name Manyara comes from the Maasai word emanyara which is a species of plant that is grown into a hedge around a family homestead and is a Masai description not for the lake, but in general for a lake shore region."
The National Park itself is 27 square miles and the lake's alkaline waters cover approximately 89 square and dry spells expose large areas of mud flats. While most known for baboons, the lake and area is also home hippos, elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, warthog, monkeys, birds, lions, etc.  










I really liked this shot and another I had but appear to have deleted.   I'm sure one of the others got a similar one and I will add it later. These beauties were 15 yards away wandering along through he forest.








































These animals are all impressive for very different reasons.

Black Face Velvet Monkey - Male!

Ground Horn Bill

We got maybe our best baboon experience as advertised when we  came across a group of maybe 100 baboons (they were everywhere) that were in the trees, on the ground and road.  We stopped and with engine off just listened to them ... very very cool.  Lots for young to old and teenagers rough housing as well.  We loved watching the little ones getting off an on ... some riding stampede rodeo style.

Leading away from the forest to the fringes of Lake Manyara are the flood plains. Lake Manyara provides has over 300 species of migratory birds including flamingoes. We got down to the flood plain and lake just before noon.

There is such an amazement with the animals and sky.  These adults /  kids were hanging out and grazing by the water.

Maybe what I liked best were the giant fig, mahogany and other immediately around the park gates draw nourishment from the underground springs replenished from the crater highlands.  A hippo pool gave us a chance to see some of the big monsters up close and out of the water.  

I rode with Christie, Francis,
 Jonathan and Petra with
driver Nyiti.

 A hippo pool gave us a chance to see some of the big monsters up close and out of the water.  At the same pool I got someone to take this one with David our IBM Tanzania GM, his wife Grace and Evelyn .. they have been a great addition to our group.  Mr. Hollander and Mr. Young though are a little crazy for young Evelyn!!

We spent about 5 hours observing the flora and fauna.  The red and yellow barbot was at our lunch stop.

Saw many of these 6 ft. + termite hills all week 

2 ft. tall dik dik in hiding

A couple of shots along the drive back through the forest.  This scenery and sights in this country just never gets tiring.

 Last night of the safari and last night in Tanzania was spent at the Lake Manyara Lodge.  Like many the sleeping quarters are away and not attached to the main reception and dining area.  It makes for some interesting walks back to your room after dark with many patrolled to ensure the safety of guests from the animals.  I had a close encounter with a security guy on my way back to my room ... he saw me coming ... I did not notice him sitting on a rock until 2 feet away.  Spectacular views and even greater from the pool.  Group shot to follow!

 Spectacular views and even greater from the pool.  I had returned the borrowed camera to Jonathan by the time someone took a picture of a bunch of us relaxing at the end of our last day of safari. I'll add one later.

Well I finished this off at 4 am. in Calgary after travelling from Kilimingero to Dar es Salaam to Amsterdam .. then Calgary.  This photo kind of sums up in a muted way my feelings on the entire experience, our hosts,  my team mates, the sites, the sounds ... Tanzania.  Very different and at times less comfortable than home... but wonderful and both a work and life highlight.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to the experience!!

Asanteni Sana !!