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Published: September 5th 2008
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In the last 10 days I have game driven through 3 of the most amazing game parks in Africa. Each year the Great Migration happens between the Masai Mara and Serengetti. These are the only two parks which still allow the migration to happen as all other parks throughout Africa are fenced of for protection purposes. I found it interesting to discover that in the first few years that most parks were fenced off they lost thousands of animals because the fences prevented them from crossing to food and water. The silly buggars didn't understand to go back to where they came from and died a slow death at the fences. Needless to say my experience was not a dissapointment!
My time in the Masai Mara began with an early morning hot air balloon ride which was breathtaking. We had some amazing scenic views and I had no issues with the height thing! Yipee! After the ride we had a Champagne breakfast in the middle of the park which was lovely. Just a usual breakfast, nothing too fancy, just a few thousand wilderbeast and zebras passing by us. It was incredible to watch them move as one mass through the
masai. This was the perfect way to begin my time in the Masai Mara.
After breakfast we headed back to the other group with the opportunity to have a quick game drive through the park and I could not believe our luck- I SAW A LEOPARD! These are the hardest animal to find on game drives in Africa and I saw one. He walking along a river and he frantically ducked for cover when he saw us. I was very excited!!! This now meant that I had viewed all of the Big 5 ( elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and Leopard) I feel very lucky. After that excitment we continued back to camp and then........ believe it or not....... saw a lion and her cubs feeding on the carcus of a wilderbeast. We had to go of track to see them because they were right in the bushes so I did not get any great photos but the image and sound of them gnawing into the meat will stay with me forever. All this had happened and it was only 10 am.
We spent the rest of the day game driving. The migration has already occured but we got
to see all the dead animals and remains of bones that did not make it across the river. In the afternoon we saw a male lion lying the grass. He looked soooooo grand. We also got really close to an injured female lion. Hands down this was the best day of game driving I have had while in Africa. When we got to the Serengetti we were not expecting to see much because all the animals had migrated to the Masai Mara but again I was not dissapointed. This time we saw a LEOPARD with her cubs. Which is an even rarer sight. Our Tour Guide was amazed at our luck. We also saw two elephants fight. It was brutal! We spent 2 nights camping in the Serengetti and that was scary! You hear all sorts of noises. I hardly slept a wink.
Another highlight in the Serengetti was a fisty cuff between two elephants. They really got stuck into each other. We stayed and watched them for about 20 minutes. Then one of the elephants raised his trunk in grand victory and the two of them walked back to the herd in unison. It was very touching and
brought a tear to my eye. he he he
Yesterday we went to the Ngorongoro Crater which is an inactive volcano. It is now this mini sanctuary for all these animals in the middle of nowhere. The animals have adapted to the crater so well that they never have to leave. We saw a great fight between two wilderbeast, some sleepy lions, elephants with huge tusks and very hungry eagles that wanted our boring lunch but nothing will ever top our viewing in the Serengetti and Masai Mara.
I am spending the last two days in Arusha. This will hopefully be my last few days of camping for a while! I really like the group of people I have met on this tour. Most of them are Canadians so I may add Canada to my list of places to go in the next year or so. We have had some great times and very funny moments. Although the guide and tour company were not the best the friendships I have made outweigh the poor food and bad organisation. It is always hard to say goodbye and I wonder if I will ever see them again.
My time
in this part of Africa ends tomorrow. I am sad that it is ending but can't wait for new adventures in Egypt and Morrocco. The Game drives have been unforgettable!
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