Sunday

Another incredible day. I'm going to stay and turn in my air ticket and become a guide or a ranger. We stayed in a lodge, which means a real room. It's amazing how much better we both slept without elephants and lions running up and down the halls. This morning and afternoon we went to Lake Manyara national park. As soon as we got in there were many many monkeys and baboons scrambling around. The baboons we've been seeing are the small baboons not the large variety but they are something. Always grooming and eating each others nits yum. Then we went a very short way and Momma and baby elephant were munching on grass. The baby didn't quite have the Hang of it and it took her a couple of tries to get the grass from the ground to her mouth. The adult elephants use their tusks like chopsticks to pick up the grass or branches. The elephants just ignored us and went about their business. There something about the elephants and the giraffes that really make me just watch and watch and smile. Speaking if which we saw a pack of 7 giraffes all very close to the road. When we stopped one ran away. She sounded just like a horse clopping. Then there were 6 and they just stood and ate and were so sweet. More zebra and wildebeest. But after lunch the guide, Jon, suddenly stops backs up and there was a lion in a tree. Jon pulls in under the tree and after the shock of seeing the lion in the tree we look and see there are 3 adult female and 4 baby lions in the tree. We're clicking away pictures like crazy. Remember we're in an open topped vehicle with lions over us taking pictures. Some part of my mind is going this isnt good but I couldn't stop taking the pictures. Remember I'm the one who gets nervous easily. Only 1 of the 7 lions was asleep. Apparently the guide said ok can we go and I went wait. Then David said can we go and I said wait. Then David said were going NOW. Afterward I asked David why we stayed under the tree so long and was astounded (but I know my husband does not lie) that the reason was me.

Forgot about the hippos. They were all in a big pond. Just lying there but every once in awhile they would roll over and splash. Big big animals.

This I found sad although David keeps spouting circle of life garbage to me. Apparently when male cape buffalos get old they're kicked out of the pride and sent off to this hot springs part of lake Manyara. The water there is salted not fresh and not healthy for them. That's where they die. There were 3 just hanging around looking pretty miserable. Plus one cape buffalo skull that a lion had eaten a few months before. The good news is that they let the old female buffalos stay with the pride and continue to protect them. david asked if I knew what anthropermorphic meant.





- Posted from the ipad

Location:Lake Manyara