Serengeti Day 2 Part 1 - Anniversary Breakfast

The morning greets us with the promise of a beautiful day while sporting an orange glow over the horizon blending through hues of pink into a deep purple sky.

We can still hear the lion roar this morning, presumably the same one that was calling out last night.

Cape Buffalo

Each morning we go out with Malisa as our wonderful guide, we discuss what our 'breakfast' is going to be, referring to the first animal spotted that day. Today it is a herd of buffalo just a few minutes after leaving the camp.

I do find their stare rather unsettling.

Topi

A small herd of Topi enjoy their breakfast near the road this morning, including several young babies.

Sunrise

The sun fully emerges from its daily hibernation, casting a golden glow over everything in its wake.

Including this giraffe

And a magnificent impala

White Bellied Bustard

Mr and Mrs Bustard are both rather well camouflaged.

Lilac Breasted Roller

A couple of Bat Eared Foxes in the far distance

Topi

This little baby is less than one month old; they don't start getting their distinctive 'stocking' markings until they reach three months.

Here you can quite clearly see how the youngsters get darker as they age.

Mum looks rather thin.

Brown Parrot

And he's off...

Rattling Cisticola

Lion

Just like smaller pussycats, lions eat grass when they have a bad tummy, as this old male does. He is terribly thin and probably around eleven or twelve years old. Lions live for around 12-15 years, so this guy is an old chap who is most likely on his last legs. He will have been kicked out of the pride when he was no longer able to provide for the females, with another younger male coming along to replace him. No longer having a pride to depend on for food has meant he has been starved of regular fresh meat and judging by the matted mane he is unable to look after himself properly too.

Spotted Hyena

I wonder if this scavenger is hoping for the old lion's immediate demise?

He assesses the situation and decides it is probably not worth the wait. Any Monty Python fans may, like me, be thinking about the "I'm not dead yet" sketch.

We follow the old lion for a while, as he staggers around looking food.

Having lost sight of the lion, we stop nearby at a mobile camp site (now empty) for breakfast. Is that wise? We may be upwind from the lion, but even so...

Anniversary Breakfast Picnic

On this day forty years ago, Lyn and Chris said “I do” and became husband and wife. I feel so honoured that they chose to spend their special day in Tanzania with us. Back home we have a 'community flagpole' where we hoist various different flags for various different celebrations ~ and of course we (secretly) packed one of those flags for this trip.

The Ole Serai has not just provided the customary breakfast boxes, they have given us a posh food hamper today, containing little tiffin containers with sausages, bacon, and pancakes in an attempt at keeping the food hot.

Plus eggs and pastries – we are certainly not going to go hungry this morning.

What a way to start the 40th wedding celebrations!

This Superb Starling is hoping we'll leave some food behind for her.

She's having a bad hair day as a result of the very strong wind today.

More in the next blog entry.

Safari organised by Calabash Adventures, the best safari company by far.