Entries about scent

As often happens here on the south-western rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a heavy mist hangs in the air as we leave this lovely camp behind and head off to “see what nature has to offer us this morning” (one of Malisa's favourite sayings).

Malanja Depression

After a season with abundant rain this year, this part of Malanja Depression has been transformed into a lake. Malisa tells me this is the first time surface water has collected here like this since 1997. There must have been a terrific amount of water here after the rains, seeing as we are now right at the end of the dry season and yet a considerable sized lake remains.

Giraffe

Spotted Hyena

It seems that in my drunken stupor last night, I left my camera on Tungsten White Balance and EV+2 from shooting the stars (or rather attempting to), resulting in a rather blue, overexposed image this morning. Thankfully it can be largely corrected in Photoshop.

Grant's Gazelle

Ngorongoro Crater

As we head towards the Lemala Descent Road, we see the crater bathed in a glorious sunrise.

We are heading down into the crater this morning for a second visit.

By the time we get to the bottom, the caldera is shrouded in mist and full of dust unsettled by vehicles and animals.

Grant's Gazelles

Red Billed Queleas

Helmeted Guineafowl

Laughing Dove

Ostrich

Egyptian Goose

Thomson's Gazelles fighting over a female

It's pretty serious stuff with a lot of effort and loud crashing of horns. They often fight until death.

They look so cute and harmless, but they can be quite ferocious when the affections of a female is at stake.

Wildebeest

Male wildebeest have specially modified glands situated under the eye called pre orbital glands, and here he is rubbing his face on the ground leaving a scent to mark his territory.

He seems rather pleased with himself

African Spoonbill

Wildebeest

They remain totally unperturbed by the hyena in their midst.

Lions

Two males and one female, just lying around doing absolutely nothing.

Occasionally one lifts his head to see if there is anything worth getting excited about before settling down again.

Spotted Hyena

There are a few of them dotted around.

Lerai Forest

Once an area of dense forest, Lerai is now more like a woodland glade, mostly because of the destructive actions of elephants such as this guy.

We spend ages watching him decimate everything in his path until a ranger on foot comes along and (unintentionally) scares him away.

Olive Baboons

Elephants aren't the only animals who live in Lerai Forest.

Scraping at the bark of the tree to get to nectar or maybe insects

Strangler Fig

It is hard to believe that this mass of hanging branches is all one tree.

Little Bee Eater

Bateleur Eagle

A colourful raptor with a large wingspan and very short tail, although this guy does look like he has even lost what little he had from before.

Nubian Woodpecker

Black Faced Vervet Monkey

Call me infantile, but I am forever fascinated by their blue balls!

And evidentially, so is he.

Elephant

As we try to make our way to the Lerai Picnic Site for breakfast, we are waylaid by a youngish (some 30 years old maybe) bull elephant on the road.

He munches his way right past our car – if I was so inclined I could reach out and touch him. He seems completely unfazed by us.

We finally manage to get to the picnic site for our breakfast. And so ends Part ONE of today's adventures. Thank you Calabash Adventures for this great opportunity to see such amazing wildlife.