On our way to Lake Manyara we stopped off to hike the rim of the Norongoro Crater with a ranger. Note the machine gun slung over his shoulder….in case we encountered buffalo, lion or elephant. Hmmm…..He taught us what to do in case we came across said animals. We never did, but now I have some strong life skills. Add that to the old resume. The best part is that we didn’t get attacked by a lion, however I almost got shoved over the rim of the crater by a mating Masai bull and cow. Typical.
A Masai boma. The houses are built by the wives, and made of wood coated with mud and dung. In the middle is a stick fence enclosure for all the cattle. The masai walk with spears in case they encounter lion, elephants or buffalo. All very possible, as many of them live within the National Park.
Our Lake Manyara campground. Easily our least favorite accommodation during the safari. We drove down a dusty 4WD road for an hour only to find a sandy barren wasteland. It was dry season, so the lake had shrunk to miles away. I had the pleasure of showering in the outdoor bucket shower with a fence that went up to my belly button. Leave your modesty at home.
The good news? The sunset was pretty and the stars were out in full force….and we were only there one night!
Lake Manyara…..thousands of pink flamingos and pelicans. When they all took flight it sounded like an airport.
Who can find the small deer-like creature in this picture? I made James back the truck up. “I swear I just saw a gazelle IN the tree!” Turns out it is a “rock climber” that has decided trees are just as fun.
We hit the local market in town to pick up some fruits. I got to look at all the different varieties of bananas…and have tasted them all! We stared at the produce, while all the villagers stared at us! Now on to Tarangire National Park.
Love that last photo. You should frame it and hang it when you get home.
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