A Travellerspoint blog

Tarangire Part I

Elephants galore


View The Howards' 40th Anniversary Tour 2017 on Grete Howard's travel map.

It is still dark when we leave the lodge this morning, just as it has been every single morning since we arrived here. Today is our last day in Tanzania, so it won't be long before we are able to have a lie-in once we get home.

There is no sign of the lion from last night around the hotel grounds this morning, but we do see a lot of giraffe close to the lodge today, as well as a couple of waterbuck.

large_Waterbuck__Common_1.jpg

large_Waterbuck__Common_2.jpg

large_Tarangire.jpg

large_Baobab_2.jpg

The weather is still pretty murky by the time we reach the Tarangire National Park gates, hence the quality (graininess) of the first handful of photos.

large_FC971745EB8D8B5BAB498FA802228A04.jpg

These girls belong to a harem. Male impala sometimes have as many as 50 or so females in his harem, here there are nowhere near that many. Where there is an impala harem, there is usually a bachelor herd nearby waiting for the polygamous husband to retire (or maybe just tire, with so many females to service) so that they can move in.

large_Impala_Harem_1.jpg

large_Impala_Harem_2.jpg

large_Impala_61.jpg

large_FCCEE478F2E9DDC7DE3E4EAE7408703E.jpg

Tarangire is famous for its incredible bird life, especially at this time of year, with nearly 500 species recorded in the park. We see quite a few this morning, including a few species that are new to us (known as a lifer - a new addition to the life list)

large_FD2D9082FCE73C5358A22F6E0E9D39CA.jpg

Ashy Starling

large_Widow_Bird..te_Winged_1.jpg

White Winged Widow Bird (a lifer)

large_Parrot__Brown_1.jpg

Brown Parrot

large_Spurfowl__Yellow_Necked_2.jpg

Yellow Necked Spurfowl

large_Barbet__D_Arnaud_s_31.jpg

D'Arnaud's Barbet

large_FF000275DFED6DAD7773C149B9BE6208.jpg

Speckled Fronted Weaver

large_Whydah__Br.._Paradise_1.jpg

Broad Tailed Paradise Whydah (another lifer)

large_Weaver__Lesser_Masked_61.jpg

Lesser Masked Weaver (above) construct elaborate and fanciful hanging nests (below)

large_Weaver_Nes..r_Masked__2.jpg

large_Weaver_Nes..r_Masked__1.jpg

large_Shrike__Magpie_61.jpg

Magpie Shrike

large_Starling__Wattled_81.jpg

A rather wet and bedraggled Wattled Starling

large_FE0118BECEA8918296C31CA4C44E9E69.jpg

large_FE0923A2E2FE678C034E07241D619BF8.jpg

large_FE0F360ADB970BFC1280BD4BE253107B.jpg

large_FE154509FC33C9BAD48EF486DFB7F373.jpg

large_FE64E47DA2B61493B4090AA7B8331250.jpg

We're having to put the roof up, down, up, down this morning as the showers come and go at various intervals. I think you could call the weather changeable.

large_06C38526B503B8F6F21C0BDFAA4986F0.jpg

large_01A6F84FF68678C4D36C2B8676463606.jpg

large_Ostrich_31.jpg

large_052A849FA160FBB5581E3C1B9AEA3099.jpg

large_05550C77D62EDF76154694469FC3138A.jpg

large_Guineafowl__Helmeted_31.jpg

large_05730C47F181A78DE02B6251D53122DD.jpg

large_White_Bell..o_Away_Bird.jpg

large_Go_Away_Bi..e_Bellied_3.jpg

large_Go_Away_Bi..e_Bellied_2.jpg

large_Dwarf_Mongoose.jpg

large_Mongoose_Dwarf_1.jpg

large_Mongoose_Dwarf_2.jpg

large_More_Birds.jpg

large_Coucal_White_Browed_1.jpg

White Browed Coucal

large_Sandgrouse__Black_Faced_1.jpg

Black Faced Sandgrouse

large_Weaver__Wh.._Buffalo_41.jpg

White Headed Buffalo Weaver

large_0755D27DA20A37DBA1E7001DA241B299.jpg

Brown Snake Eagle

large_Eagle__Brown_Snake_2.jpg

Brown Snake Eagle

large_Spurfowl__..w_Necked_71.jpg

Yellow Necked Spurfowl

large_Spurfowl__..w_Necked_73.jpg

Yellow Necked Spurfowl

large_279A9A01CEABBC6D3D6B7576D017F170.jpg

While the mongooses we saw earlier were quite some distance away, these are really close by the road, where an abandoned termite mound has been converted into social housing for a family on mongooses.

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_1.jpg

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_2.jpg

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_6.jpg

As we stay to observe them for a while, small, furry heads pop out of various orifices in the mound, including some cute babies.

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_3.jpg

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_7.jpg

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_5.jpg

And angry little not-so-cute adults.

large_Mongoose__Dwarf_9.jpg

large_Red_Billed_Hornbill.jpg

large_Hornbill__Red_Billed_72.jpg

large_Hornbill__Red_Billed_73.jpg

large_Hornbill__Red_Billed_74.jpg

large_Hornbill__Red_Billed_75.jpg

large_Hornbill__Red_Billed_79.jpg

large_29209AB7DC4383F3DFD80307DD9D3FEF.jpg

large_Warthog_71.jpg

large_Warthog_72.jpg

large_Common_Waterbuck.jpg

You can distinguish the Common Waterbuck from the other species found here, the Defassa Waterbuck, by the white markings on its rump, commonly referred to as the toilet seat.

large_Waterbuck__Common_91.jpg

large_2A51F6319E9365C694D0E5A858EF6248.jpg

Tarangire National Park is famous for its huge herds of elephants, so we are quite surprised to not have seen any yet this morning, just damage caused by these large animals as they passed through.

large_Elephant_Damage_1.jpg

Not long afterwards, when we are on on our way to the Matete Picnic Site for breakfast, we see a lone elephant, as if on cue.

large_30236F860E05E4EF0FCBC61BBEAED90E.jpg

Then a large bachelor herd appears.

large_Elephants_31.jpg

large_Elephants_32.jpg

Time for morning ablutions, in the form of a little dust bath.

large_Elephants_36.jpg

large_Elephants_39.jpg

The mood suddenly turns nasty, with an unfriendly mob marching angrily towards us. Malisa proves that he is just as capable (and safe) a driver backwards, as he has to quickly reverse the car out of the way of the bullies. Never argue with an angry elephant.

large_349BA7FEA8CF8B506D1CF443F94322DB.jpg

large_349E83259A390D94D147FA17EE84A9AB.jpg

It's not all anger management issues this morning, however, there's a bit of bonding session going on here with two teenage brothers butting against each other.

large_Elephants_46.jpg

large_5BFADC3ED7FBCCAE6C49318BAAE93DEC.jpg

When they have finished showering each other with affection, they walk right past out car, so close I could reach out and touch them. I have to really restrain myself not to.

large_5C0B9FC6EC68A4964692974EE5776916.jpg

large_Elephants_51.jpg

large_Elephants_54.jpg

large_618CDCEBB02D0644BEAE121A3370DD76.jpg

I feel so incredibly privileged to be here so close to these majestic giants, watching them go about their daily lives and be party to their family interactions, I almost cry with happiness.

large_Elephants_53.jpg

All around us are elephants, in every direction we look. I have to pinch myself to make sure this is really happening. To think I was only complaining a couple of minutes ago that we hadn't seen any elephants yet.

large_6211DA30C788F7C520590E53F7E5B441.jpg

large_Elephants_57.jpg

large_621955B3D732550A98EAC87FF8E5A789.jpg

large_Elephants_701.jpg

large_Elephants_704.jpg

More family snuggles. This is like reality TV but with animals. Much more interesting.

large_Elephants_60.jpg

large_62575AEDD3342CAE67F60036CCD7256C.jpg

large_62A1C170E432D8194EA18AA1A10995FC.jpg

For some reason this next picture reminds me of Colonel Hathi in the Jungle Book cartoon.

large_62408268915A9461E0802324F98F5290.jpg

large_Jungle_Book.jpg

I have heard of 'pink elephants', but never 'red'. These eles have obviously been rolling in the mud. Or maybe it's the latest must-have face mask.

large_62BDECB2D23937BE6D7504AC9D0CA326.jpg

large_62EEEAA7F1E7D24F0D8CB0E4B10EE137.jpg

She has a young baby with her, probably around four months old. We can only just see the top of his back over the long grass.

large_Elephants_66.jpg

In places the grass is shorter so we can see him better.

large_62FC6284CE2315BD17A2E185A531BD72.jpg

On the other side of the car is an even younger baby, this one is less than 2 weeks old. All together now: “awwwww”

large_631867049D902A332A8494D23904B1F6.jpg

large_Elephants_702.jpg

Look at the difference in size!

large_Elephants_703.jpg

We leave the elephants behind (pun intended) and (yet again) try to make our way towards the picnic site. This could take a while, depending on what we see on the way.

large_66417AA5D765B94E0EBC652496DB46B0.jpg

large_Roller__Lilac_Breasted_34.jpg

large_White_Head..falo_Weaver.jpg

large_Weaver__Wh.._Buffalo_91.jpg

large_Matete_Picnic_Site.jpg

We finally make it for breakfast, to a completely empty picnic site. This place has changed beyond all recognition since we were first here ten years ago: back then there was one squalid long-drop toilet. Now there is a very modern facilities block with clean flushable toilets, lockable doors, water, soap and toilet paper.

large_Matete_Picnic_Site_1.jpg

Check out my next blog entry for more animal encounters with Calabash Adventures, the best safari
operators by far.

large_C94A6755AE2467398EDEE276FEA1B52E.jpg

Posted by Grete Howard 02:38 Archived in Tanzania Tagged animals birds rain travel elephants africa safari tanzania parrot eagle picnic giraffe tarangire impala waterbuck starling weaver mongoose shrike barbet bird_watching hornbill lilac_breasted_roller mongooses calabash_adventures maramboi coucal best_safari_operator widow_bird impala_harem spurfowl guineafowl guinea_fowl go_away_bird dwarf_mongoose matete matete_picnic_site picnic_breakfast

Email this entryFacebookStumbleUpon

Table of contents

Comments

Fabulous close-ups of the elephants, and the tiny baby is so very cute, as are the dwarf mongooses ;) And as always, excellent bird photos too!

by ToonSarah

Thank you Sarah, and thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

by Grete Howard

Awesome pictures as usual. Dwarf Mongoose was a delight to the eyes. Never heard/ see of them before ! It was real treat !Another superb addition Red Billed Hornbill !

by Goutam Mitra

Thank you Goutam, I really appreciate your comments.

by Grete Howard

Comments on this blog entry are now closed to non-Travellerspoint members. You can still leave a comment if you are a member of Travellerspoint.

Login