Explore. Dream. Discover.: Safari Weekend!!

We took a long weekend to spend on a safari! It was just incredible! There is too much to say! I will give a quick overview, then put up pictures!

Day 1:
- Drove from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park.

- The roof of the safari vehicle pooped up, allowing us to stand. I got the front seat, and therefore the best view!

- First view of animals!

- Stopped at a lookout point which had the most incredible tree! Seriously obsessed!

- Bathrooms at campsite had toilet paper AND soap! Talk about 5 star service! No hot water though, and so many mosquitoes. Showering when mosquitos are everywhere makes me feel very vulnerable.

Day 2:

- Drove through Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

- 1000’s of zebras

- Gave candy to a local boy on the side of the road.

- Stopped at a lookout overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater. Beautiful!

- Stopped for a packed lunch. Chicken again?!

- Went to a Maasai Village (a local tribe). We were welcomed with dancing and jumping, as well as got a tour of their huts that slept 6 people per hut. It was very interesting learning about their way of life.

- Spent the night at a campsite in the Serengetti. We were told not to keep food in the tent as hyenas often walk through the tents at night. My tentmate had to pee really bad at 4am, so we waited until we didn’t hear weird noises and went to pee outside the tent. We heard branches snapping and when I flashed my flashlight towards the sound, we saw eyes looking back at us. We ran back inside the tent. We later learned that buffalo was walking through the campsite, and the noises we heard were lions roaring, hyenas, as well as baboons.

Day 3

- My poor tent mate – I slept talked and apparently told her there was a snake in our tent.

- Had a 5:30am sunrise game drive. Again, so many animals!

- Went back to campsite for brunch. A herd of elephants walked through the campsite!

- On the way to the crater, we saw a cheetah resting in a tree. One of the safari vehicles broke down at this spot. Good timing. We suntanned as we waited, and made sure the cheetah stayed where it was!

- Arrived at our campsite on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater in the dark due to the breakdown.

- Ice cold showers and squat toilets. Thank goodness for baby wipes! My friend got travelers diarrhea here of all places. HAHA. So glad it wasn’t me!

- The stars were amazing!

Day 4

- Was an exceptionally cold night. I slept great!

- Extremely foggy, got out of tent and could barely see 5 feet in front of you! We were 2800m (?) in elevation.

- Drove down into the Ngorongoro Crater! One road in, and one road out!

- We were able to see a black rhino!! This is apparently rare as there are only 18 rhinos left in the crater.

- There were momma and baby lion cubs sleeping after a big breakfast. They were so close, and I got some great pictures! One of the female lions had a big wound on her head. Our guide guessed that she got into a fight with a wildebeest.

- Had lunch by a hippo lake where hippos were suntanning by the shore. There were birds across the lake and the guide warned us to be careful if they came over and to hide our meat. Sure enough, they come and would swoop down and try and grab our food. I was so scared I ate in the jeep.