Safari--Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti

There's something remarkably different about the light in Africa, and I don't think it was our proximity to the Equator because I noticed it in Zambia as well. It's the warmth of the light; everything basks in its unique glow. It certainly lends quite an aura to a scene punctuated by wild animals. In the three days following the climb, we covered many miles, lots and lots of hours in two safari vehicles. We traveled to three different parks, each one different from the next. I would definitely return both to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti and would spend far more time at both, preferably in very small lodges.

Tarangire
Baobab trees with massive trunks (resembled broccoli florets)
Huge herds of elephants
Tons of giraffes
Uncrowded and peaceful
Leopard in a tree
Elephant flapped its ears, trumpeted and charged at Jan & Anna's truck when the truck separated him from the rest of his herd
Warthog families

Broccoli floret (baobab) in background

 

Meerkats

Ngorongoro Crater (the largest intact caldera in the world)

Baboons

Umbrella acacia trees (think broccolini)

The richest looking soil imaginable

Herds of wildebeest and zebras, with many babies

Lions

Spotted hyenas

Maasai villages

Broccolini (umbrella acacias)

Serengeti

Vast open plains

Huge hordes of wildebeest on the horizon

Piles o' hippos

Leopard walking right towards us

Lion in a tree

Elephants galore

Pink flamingos (oh so better looking than the ones in the yard)

Giraffes with newborn

Frolicking Thompson's gazelles

Lots of vehicles hovering around best sights

Spectacular hot air balloon ride

Snacking giraffe

Hippos

Elephant itching eye

Lion napping in tree

Hippo returning to water

Vervet monkey with her baby