Day 10 Serengeti National Park

Today we got up and were collected for breakfast at 6 AM. Because we are in a wonderful camp in the middle of the Serengeti (where wild animals could roam) - like all camps, we must wait for a guard to escort us to and from our tent, so that is why I use the word ‘collected’. I also use the word ‘tent’ rather loosely as the structure has hardwood floors, a full bathroom housed within 3 rooms and a covered porch in addition to the main room. It is very much a permanent structure!  Perhaps cabin would be a more appropriate description. 

The purpose of the early morning breakfast was so we could have a stellar morning of viewing. And our first view was this sunrise. 

This is my photo on an iPhone 15 Pro. 

This is Neil Zeller’s photo shot with his 200-800 long lens - and he IS a professional photographer!

After this amazing photo opportunity - the site of which Neil had scouted in advance for us - we drove onward and saw our first hippos up close. We saw them at an area with a sign that read “Hippo Viewing Loop”. 

Our drivers are so experienced at anticipating where animals will move, Thom was backing up and getting us in position for the path the hippos would take two minutes before they emerged from the brush!  Once the hippos moved back into the bush we moved along and found a few lions!

Female lion sitting in the grass. 

Male lion above. We then headed to the hippo pool area and saw some amazing sites!!

I was so focused on the hippo standing at the far side of the water that I didn’t even notice the 60 or so hippos in the water in the foreground for the first two minutes I was viewing!

Neil Zeller’s closeup of the hippos!

In addition to the hippos there were baboons, impalas and a crocodile in the same concentrated area. Just fabulous!!  The area was equipped with flush toilets and a little snack bar too (and we weren’t the snack for the hippos!)

We saw a number of birds that I could not adequately capture on my phone.  We saw barbets (thank you Chris - I am one away from filling one bingo card now!), Pygmy Falcons, Lappet Vultures, White Headed Buffalo Weavers and Silver Birds and many more I didn’t capture in my notes. 

And I got an adequate photo of a warthog. As Neil always says - they are everybody’s prey, so they don’t stick around for pictures much. 

We then headed back to the Lodge where we had lunch and some free time. The free time got extended as a thunder storm moved in and soaked the Serengeti. We waited an extra hour or so to let the storm pass, then loaded into our trucks for late afternoon viewing. 

We saw a nice view of some giraffes fairly close up!

Then we found a couple of lions in a tree and that was amazing!! Our driver Cornel said the female was pregnant and close to her delivery date so she was trying to find a safe space away from the lion in the area. The whole experience was amazing to witness and I am sure others captured better photos than I, but I will share a couple of them. 

First tree the female lion was perched in. 

Second tree the female moved to along with another female, to be safe from the male lion stalking them. 

Neil Zeller’s closeup of the pregnant female in the tree with sunset lighting!

We raced to get back to the lodge by 7 pm as Rangers will pull you over after that time - looking for poachers. But if our drivers got pulled over after hours they would be let off with a warning and the next time they would lose their guiding license for 3 months (thereby not allowing them to make a living.)

What a fabulous day. Just idyllic. Tomorrow we have another adventure!