Refreshed after a night at the lodge, today was to be our first day on Safari.

On hearing that there was rain at Ngorogoro, we changed our plans and headed instead for Lake Manyara. It's long drive from Moshi, through Arusha and on to Mto wa Mbe (translates as "River of Moquito's") although many people, still tired from the journey, manged to sleep.

Shortly before Karatu, we left the road to enter the National Park. After a few kilometers the trees gave way to open plains where there were large herds of Zebra and Water Buffalo. Over the next few hours we drove slowly, in convoy. When news of a sighting came over the radio, we made chase. Whilst watching the Hippos, Phyl caught site of 4 lionesses moving quickly over the plain. By the time we caught up with them they were lying down in the grass having aborted their attack. They soon got up and started to pace slowly forward. A few hundred yards ahead, a baby giraffe strolled into view and the lions froze like statues. As the Giraffe and her mother picked at leaves, the lions split into 2 groups and edged forward in a flanking maneuver. Hearts were in mouths. The Giraffes saw the lions in plenty of time and quickly disappeared in the bushes.

We left Manyara around 1600, apart from one of the vehicles... who's occupants spent 20 minutes watching what they thought might be a snake... turned out to be just a log...

"Human beings have a unique and distinctive smell."
"Hey - I just took a photo that looks like something from National Geographic!"