A change in pace after Kilimanjaro and a significant upgrade in accommodation.

In two pop-top Landcruisers we were rattled around the Ngorogoro Crater Conservation Area, the Serengeti National Park (via Olduvai Gorge) and finally Lake Manyara National Park.

Nights are spent in the Ngorongoro Farm House, located on a working farm near the town of Karatu, followed by three nights of ‘glamping’ in tents with en-suites at the Kati Kati Camp (the highlight) on the Serengeti Plain and a final night at the Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp.


Everywhere the wildlife was stunning.

We were unbelievably close to lions, saw the ‘big five’ – the lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros, witnessed the great wildebeest migration and learned about animals and birds we didn’t know existed.

The Masai Giraffe, also known as the Maasai Giraffe or Kilimanjaro Giraffe. It is hard to believe that these graceful creatures can kill a lion with their deadly hooves.

We saw several large herds of elephant (or possibly the same herd several times) with lots of babies and stroppy teenage boys fighting.

The leopard is the most elusive of the ‘big five’. We were very lucky to have this encounter.

Lake Manyara did not bring the expected viewing of flamingos but there were plenty of unexpected treats.

A male dik-dik. This tiny antelope only grows to 30-40cm at the shoulder.

Lots of cute monkeys and baboons but the weirdest has to be the vervet – the dominant male has bright blue balls!