Each time we go to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro we follow up the climb with a game viewing safari. This is an event not to be missed! Seeing these animals living in their natural environment just like they always have is a very special experience. We use veteran safari drivers and 4 x 4 Land Rovers with removable rooftops so we can get excellent views and photos of the animals. Photo opportunities are plentiful, the scenery is gorgeous, and the opporunity to learn more about these famous animals we were all introduced to through books and other media at a very young age makes this an excellent way to wind down after a Kilimanjaro climb.
Here are a few pictures from our latest safari. The entire photo gallery is here: http://kurtwedbergphotography.com/International-Expeditions/Africa/Safari-February-2010/11304282_9p9eb#793353096_9o8GP
African Elephant. Elephants in East Africa are easily distinguishable from their Asian counterparts by their ears. Their ears contain many blood vessels and they flap them as a cooling mechanism. African elephants can not be tamed so we normally don’t see them in the circus.
Adult elephants guard their calves closely.
Hippos with storks in the background. Hippos spend most of the daytime hours in water.
Giraffes in Lake Manyara National Park
Spotted hyena in the Ngorongoro Crater with a vigilant Thompson’s gazelle watching its every move.
Zebra in the Ngorongoro Crater with flamingos behind.
Baby zebra learning to run.
Up close and personal.
Black rhinos have been brought to the vere of extinction in East Africa due to hunting and poaching in the last century. On our first safari we learned there were 17 rhinos remaining in the Ngorongoro Crater. Today there are 26.
It is not everybody who is fortunate enough to go on safari and see a black rhino let alone get close enough to get a clear picture of one. We were very blessed to see a couple different black rhinos on this visit to the Ngorongoro Crater
Cape buffalos in the Ngorongoro Crater.
There are over 1100 bird species on East Africa. It would be possible to spend several weeks and still not see them all. Here are a few we saw on this safari.
Egyptian Geese
Southern Grond Hornbill
Grey Crowned Crane
Bee Eater
Yellow-billed storks and African Spoonbills