After our two days in the lesser known Tarangire our next destination was the exceptionally well known Serengeti National Park. On the way we had arranged a stop at the Olduvai Gorge Museum. Olduvai Gorge is an active archaelogical site, famous as the location of the discovery of many early hominims (modern humans and closely related extinct species). The gorge is part of the greater Rift Valley, a hot spot of human evolution, including modern humans. In a very real sense, we all came from here. When we last visited 26 years ago the museum consisted of one small room with a window out on the gorge. It’s much bigger now, with multiple exhibits and conference space, but the original small room still exists and has been incorporated into the new space. Our safari organisers had arranged a personalised tour with a very knowlegdeable musuem staff member, and we took lunch in a private room. It was awesome. As amazing as the musuem is there were only a few people visiting. As it is located 6 km off the main road to Serengeti, I think many bypass it in their understandable rush to get to Serengeti. We certainly had to ask specifically to have it included on our tour.
After lunch we resumed our drive to the Serengeti, arriving in the late afternoon.
Of course there were lions demonstrating their usual over-sized domestic cat behaviour.
And a red letter moment with our first glimpse of hyena. They would become the favourite animal of ShelleyB-son. He liked them for themselves, but also I think felt a bit sad on their behalf when our guide shared that they were one of the “Ugly 5” - similar to the “Big 5” but of course with different inclusion criteria. We’ll meet more the ugly 5 later in our tour.
Our accommodation for the next few days was the Embalakai tented camp in central Serengeti. Sadly I don’t seem to have any photos as I was likely too busy enjoying the bar.
After lunch we resumed our drive to the Serengeti, arriving in the late afternoon.
Of course there were lions demonstrating their usual over-sized domestic cat behaviour.
And a red letter moment with our first glimpse of hyena. They would become the favourite animal of ShelleyB-son. He liked them for themselves, but also I think felt a bit sad on their behalf when our guide shared that they were one of the “Ugly 5” - similar to the “Big 5” but of course with different inclusion criteria. We’ll meet more the ugly 5 later in our tour.
Our accommodation for the next few days was the Embalakai tented camp in central Serengeti. Sadly I don’t seem to have any photos as I was likely too busy enjoying the bar.
