April 13, 2015- Lake Ndutu & Southern Serengeti

Monday, April 13, 2015
Lake Ndutu & Southern Serengeti

Another gorgeous sunrise

Flamingoes on Lake Ndutu

Giraffes in the neighborhood

Bat Eared Fox

Jackal

Dew on the grass

Breakfast in the woods

We arose at 5:30 (electricity comes on at 5am until 1pm..then again at 6pm to 11:30pm) and headed to the lobby area of the Ndutu Lodge for our morning coffee ( no delivery here) before meeting Peter at 6:15 and heading out on our morning safari. It was foggy and the fog was just beginning to lift so after driving for awhile, we stopped to eat our box breakfast a bit earlier than usual while it finished clearing. Everything looked so eerie in the fog.

Foggy start to our game drive

We spotted giraffes, zebras, cute bat eared fox, warthogs, jackal, pink flamingoes in and around the edge of Lake Ndutu in our first hour and in great morning light. This is one of the main reasons to head out early. 

Pair of elusive Giant Eagle Owls

Another couple from our lodge find the owls too

Fischer's Lovebirds

Actually caught one in flight with my camera!!

We were lucky to have Peter hear and then be able to find a pair of Giant Eagle Owls, very elusive birds. They also pair for life. Next up, Gary spotted a group of lovebirds in a dead acacia tree. They are related to the parakeet & have very bright colors. They were right next to the road.

Never tire of seeing cheetahs

Beautiful cheetah!!

Eland & Gazelle

Secretary Birds

Two old bull elephants

The very elusive serval cat. We were very lucky to see!

Most of the rest of the morning was spent out of the woodland area in the grassy plain watching a hungry cheetah and a group of Thompson's Gazelles. The cheetah didn't have much cover & the "tommies" always spotted it. While we were there, there was no chase. As we started to head back to camp we saw a group of eland, the largest of the African antelope family...they towered over the small gazelles in front of them. We were also lucky enough to spot a pair of secretary birds in their nest atop a tree and close by a pair of old male elephants. Then almost immediately after that we spotted two small cats in the high grass...one ran and we were able to identify it as a serval cat....very cool indeed! You never know what you might find when you are on a game drive!

Lake Ndutu

Our "road".....

We went back to the lodge for a hot lunch & then returned driving mid afternoon. We headed mainly to the marshy areas of Lake Ndutu this time. We found several herds of zebra, another cheetah at rest, and the smallest African eagle, the Pygmy Falcon Eagle. Peter spotted this small eagle from quite a distance. This is an area where you need a knowledgeable guide as there are really no roads here around the two lakes, Lake Ndutu & Lake Masek. It could be easy to get lost. Peter stopped & gave advise to a guide of whom Peter said was not knowledgeable of the area...it really pays to have a great guide & safari company!!!!

Our guide Peter, in the center, offers advise to another safari driver. They then quickly pulled it out.

Shortly after that encounter we saw a safari driver who was horribly stuck & had been for over a half hour per one of the passengers. There were two other safari vehicles there offering help. Peter was able to help with suggestions & they were shortly out of a precarious position. He told us the driver was certainly not experienced. Apparently this was the second time he was stuck today! There are 12 in the group and they all piled into one vehicle & went back to the lodge while the second vehicle was unstuck the first time...

The wildebeest herd gives the chetah & her cubs plenty of room

Two of the cubs

My dream was to get a "cheetah in a tree" photo & I was very lucky to get not only one....

...I got one of the cubs up a tree too!

Shortly after this encounter,  we got very lucky & found a mother cheetah & her three cubs. Peter has been counting & says that our cheetah count is now 16 !!!! Wow! We left the cheetah for a few minutes to watch a line of wildebeest & a hyena but the hyena was injured so he didn't give chase. The cheetah saw the hyena & immediately left the area with us right behind. We were then doubly lucky to see her jump in a tree to scout with her three cubs right behind. Great photo op!!!!

Heading back to the lodge.....