Ndutu X - lion, 1000 wildebeest, dung beetles, cheetah cubs
A perfect end to a perfect day
11.02.2020 - 11.02.2020
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Baby Boomers - Tanzania 2020
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We set off after lunch to see what nature has to offer us here in Ndutu, and hopefully find a wildebeest herd where we can witness a birth.
African Hoopoe
Juvenile Red Billed Buffalo Weaver
Lion
Under a tree we see a magnificent male lion. Initially just resting, he soon sits up surveying the tourists arriving.
Big yawn. And other funny facial expressions.
He licks his chops and walks straight towards us.
Too close for comfort, or at least for photography!
It's only when we drive away that we realise that Dickson (our driver during our first three safaris in Tanzania) and his clients are right behind us.
Two Banded Courser
Eurasian Avocet
"What are you looking at?"
Blacksmith Plover
Wildebeest Migration
Continuing on our way, we drive alongside thousands of wildebeest, running in an (almost) single file.
The line seems to go on forever, then group into a HUGE herd, surrounding us on every side, and they just keep on coming.
More and more and more arrive, a never ending stream of wildebeest join the mêlée, until there is just a sea of horns.
We see very few babies in amongst this crowd though. A few of the females look like they are ready – they are fat, their nipples have developed and they are struggling to walk – but none are just about to drop. Oh well, we'll keep searching.
Zebra
A few zebras have joined the wildebeest, and we see a few babies too. Our hearts stop as we spot what appears to be a dead baby zebra in the grass.
We hold our breath when the mother appears and starts nudging her little foal. Is he alive?
Yes, he is, and he soon runs off with his mother. Phew.
Dung Beetles
So many wildebeest in one place means two things: 1. we are eaten alive by pesky flies, and 2. it is a dung beetle's paradise.
Within a few minutes, large piles of dung are turned into neat little balls and rolled away.
With my love of dung beetles, I am totally in my element here, and before I know it I have taken over a thousand photos of... basically a pile of shit - plus these fascinating insects, of course.
It is now several hours since we last saw any other cars or human activity. This may be the height of the season in Ndutu, but it is still possible to have large areas all to yourself. Most people go back to the lodge for lunch, preferring to stay out of the sun in the midday heat. I can see why, as we are being cooked to perfection even in the shade of the car. I wouldn't want to miss an animal experience though!
Greater Spotted Thick Knee
Light Tawny Eagle
European White Stork
A number of storks return to roost for the night, gliding effortlessly across the savannah.
Not dozens, not hundreds, but thousands! They just keep on coming.
And I just keep on photographing them.
And the wildebeest just keep on walking.
The storks are followed by a large flock of Cattle Egrets.
Even a small chattering of Wattled Starlings join in. (chattering is the collective noun for starlings)
Cheetah
A mum and her two cubs are very active in the late afternoon sun, running around and playing and for the next 30 minutes or so we delight in their antics. The dozen or so photos you will see here, are whittled down from a massive 1200 images – that amounts to around one picture a second!
I have nothing more to say about this encounter, I think the note I made in my journal at the time sums it up!
Much as we'd love to stay and watch these adorable little animals for longer, we really have to go. We are still quite some distance away from the lodge, and have to be back by 19:00.
Sunset
As we approach Lake Ndutu, I gasp. I don't think I have ever seen such a spectacular sunset here in Tanzania before.
I make poor Malisa stop time after time as a new vista comes into view.
Thankfully sunsets are over rather rapidly this close to the Equator, and we can continue on our way back to the lodge as originally planned.
Until we get to the Marsh.
The light is really poor now, too dark for photography, so I don't feel bad that we don't stop long.
We do, however, stop to help out this vehicle which is well and truly bogged down.
Not sure I'd like to be out of the vehicle this close to two lions.
And they're out!
Having to rush along the basic tracks that make up Ndutu's 'road system', we dislodge an enormous amount of dust. It seems almost incongruous that a few days ago there was heavy rain and every track was a mud bath.
Ndutu Lodge
We finally make it back to the lodge by 19:30, and after a quick shower and change we are the last to dinner. Again.
Apple, feta and walnut stack with home made dressing
Somehow I forget to take a photo of the main course, which was lamb tagine with couscous, green beans and courgettes. I do, however, snap a picture of a large moth enjoying what's left on David's plate.
A very tasty Malva Pudding for dessert
The excellent arrangements for this safari was made by Calabash Adventures, the best safari company by far.
Posted by Grete Howard 15:59 Archived in Tanzania Tagged birds sunset wildlife africa safari tanzania zebra eagle birding cheetah lion stork egrets avocet starlings migration wildebeest courser bird_watching hoopoe wild_animals dung_beetles ndutu calabash_adventures lake_ndutu thick_knee wildebeest_migration tawny_eagle plover lapwing game_viewing blacksmith_plover annual_migration wildlife_photography big_marsh wild_birds cheetah_cubs ndutu_lodge the_great_migration african_birds cattle_egrets africa_safari aniams african-animals thickknee Comments (2)
