Safari - Day two (2nd instalment) ...

... however - loaded back onto vehicle and away we went!  A few twists and turns and a few more giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, baboons, warthogs etc. etc. later and we came to a large expanse of water .... Lake Tagalala!  Loads of wading birds and little dots in the the water in the distance - hippos!

We travelled a little way round the shore of the lake, the idea being to cross a ford but Salum had got stuck there the week before and had to be rescued.  He wasn't too keen to repeat the experience .... lol!

Decision made and diversion taken.  Without the diversion we wouldn't have found a skeleton of a baby hippo.  Salum reconstructed the head for us.

Next thing, we turned a corner and there - out of the blue - was a table all laid out for ...... breakfast!  Yep, proper breakfast in the bush with it all cooked fresh right there, waiter service, proper (well, porta) loos and all!  Could it get any better?  Well, yes, it could *LOL*

Our cruise ship (nope, they hadn't been joking!) ... SS Beho Beho II (you don't want to see SS Beho Beho I, trust me *hehe*) with a 'come as you are' dress-code.  Now that's just the way I like it although I wasn't always too keen on the other prospective dinner guests  *lol*

Official photographer.

Captains dinner?  A kamikaze jumping fish!  If they weren't jumping over the boat they were landing in it.  Unfortunately one slapped poor Anie right in the face and left her with rather a bruise.  It didn't live to tell the tale!

Take off?.

Yellow billed stork

Hippos (just a few in this shot but there were loads!)

Captain Salum and Stewardess Anie.

.

Just loved these dead trees in the middle of the lake.

A couple of large crocs. 

There were hundreds of the things all around the lake.  Apparently this particular lake has the largest concentration of crocs in the world.  We got a bit too close for comfort to some of them, for my liking!  Salum took us right up to the shore on some occasions, just to disturb them so they would come into the water.  Mind you, we ended up being more frightened of the jumping fish than the crocs & hippos - *LOL*

Having enjoyed a good hour or more on the lake we took our leave.  There was a large group of impala by the lakeside and, as we approached them they started to run and jump the water.  A beautiful sight. 

The next item on the day's itinerary was to visit some hot springs for a swim but by this time, nearly 8 hours after we'd started out, we were all tired and decided to pass on that idea and make our way 'home' for a well deserved rest and drink ... and thereby lays the start of the next story!

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Safari - Day two (1st instalment) ....

18th February ... and a special day! Well, we were told that it was to be a special day. No idea how long it would take - could be a couple of hours but could be as many as 8 ... dependant on what we found and that we would be having a cruise - right!  Off we set at 6:30am and within 15 minutes we had our first 'WOW!' moment. (As ever, click on any image to enlarge)

Bull elephant.

So close we could almost touch him!

Warthog family. 

These creatures were so funny.  When they ran their tails would stick upright and they prance along.  Had us in stitches many a time.  It was unusual to get any standing still long enough to take a photograph.

Selous Grave.

The grave of the guy who the reserve was named after. 

Eland.

Very shy and extremely elusive.

Who d'yer think you're looking at? 

Zebra.

As curious of us as we were of them.  We saw many and there were a lot of young about as well.  In fact, all of the species had a lot of young.  It was amazing to see.

Wildebeest.

Look at the number of babies there are in this herd. 

These wildebeest, zebra and eland were all together - but seperate.  It was wonderful seeing the different species sharing the same space.  Not something you see in a zoo or even a wildlife park if we're honest, at least, not in the same way and from choice

Nursery group of giraffe. 

Adult giraffe tend to herd all the youngsters together with just a couple of adults in charge.  This group was much bigger but impossible to photograph together as it was too spread.  Again they were as curious of us as we them - lol!

 

Beautiful birds.

Not sure what the black, white and grey ones are but they're bound to be some sort of bee eater!  Update:  They're not!  They're long tailed shrikes, according to Google  - lol!

Carmine-chested bee eater Lilac Breasted Roller ...

Northern carmine bee eater

(aka 'the red arrows' as named by Salum, our guide). 

If you could see the way they flew around the vehicle, swooping from side to side and flying parallel you'd know why.  Near impossible to photograph unless perched but I gave it a go by holding camera out and clicking as they flew by and hoped for the best - lol!

9 to 9:30 and we stopped for breakfast - or so we thought. 

Salum brought out the picnic basket and made our tea and coffee and we had rolls and snacks out in the open.  Comfort break?  Behind the vehicle or a distant bush if brave enough.  Poor Jackie had to shout for the engine to be started ... *LOL*

We knew it was still early but thought that this was it - breakfast in the bush - and that we'd be making our way back.  Having been told that it could take as little as 2 but as many as 8 hours we were pretty convinced we'd had the best ... however ...

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Normal and ...

... ordinary, back down to earth, life is starting to kick in properly now. I've already had my impaired glucose tolerance blood tests since I've been back ... the 2 blood tests within a couple of hours after fasting for 12 hours! Wasn't as bad as I was expecting, bearing in mind my needle phobia and history of aborted blood tests 'cos they can't find the vein. This time I had a nice Dracula who took one look at each arm and decided that my hand was the best option. Sooo much easier, no histrionics involved because of failed attempts and all taken and finished in a civilised way. I've had bloods taken from my hand once before and I've tried getting the surgery to do it this way since - because it was so much easier - but they won't for some reason only they know. I will be trying to get it done that way again though!

I've visited Dad and sorted out the worries he's built up (un-necessarily) over the past 3+ weeks and I've made an appointment with the dentist. A loose tooth I had for some time before I went away (with no problems) started to play up occasionally while I was away and it's flared up again today. I've resolved to have all my teeth sorted out as I've a broken one as well - which isn't a problem and hasn't been since it broke a couple of years ago - but it should be dealt with, I guess, so if I've got to have a needle for one they may as well deal with 2 at the same time.

Got to make some appointments for Dad now and pay a few bills for him and he'll be straight. I've still to unpack my case and get that sorted but at the moment I'm so tired! Think my body is trying to catch up with all the sleep I didn't have while away. I didn't have one decent night because of the heat and the amount of water and fluids I drank throughout the day. At least I'm sleeping well now - well, at the moment, at least *LOL*

Sadly we also lost a very dear friend while I was away but hubby kept that news from me until I got home. By then the funeral had taken place as he died the day after hubby's birthday. Totally avoidable death had nursing staff supervised properly and it's now the subject of investigation. Unfortunately it won't bring him back and a 54 year old, gentle, kind, funny and generous man is no longer with us.

I'm prepping photos for the next instalment of the holiday so ... watch this space *LOL*

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Challenge result.

Thanks to those of you that entered the challenge and apologies for the late posting of the winner ...

The entries were low in number but high in quality so I thank those of you that took the time to let me see your creations. I shall be adding them to the slideshow on the sidebar in due course.

Anyway, on to the winner, drawn at random by Random.org

Number 4:  Myra W.  Congratulations Myra. I have your address so I'll get the goodies off to you in the next day or so.

Enjoy!!

Safari - night one (2nd post for today) ....

.... however .... no twin beds in banda (note from pic in previous post). There was a king/queen sized bed and a double 'day bed'. Staff turned both down & prepared the mosquito net on both on the first evening so we had a bed each. Problem with that - day bed had no fan over it (and it was very hot, even at night) and it was also against the wall which geckos liked to occupy at night (although netting put a barrier between them and bed). I wasn't going to be able to sleep without the fan ... or even with it as it turned out .... and Jackie wasn't about to share the day bed with geckos, even if there was a barrier between them and the bed *LOL*

Decision made - we'd share the main bed! It was big enough that no contact need be made except ... Jackie's a wuss *hehe*! Well, so am I but I'm a bit of a braver wuss than her and was able to grit teeth and deal with most things by telling myself they wouldn't hurt, especially if they were the other side of the netting! Jackie? Not - a - chance! The slightest thing, no matter what side of the netting it was on, made her squeal and jump and always in my direction *lol* She eventually did go to sleep while I ended up soaking a towel to lay over the top of me to cool me down so I could try to grab a few zzzzz's.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully and we were called at 5:30am (yep, every day while on safari ... 5:30am up and out on trail by 6:30am) by a gentle knock on the door and a tray of tea and coffee being left outside the banda.

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Safari - Day one! ....

17th Feb:  Early up for internal flight to Beho Beho (pronounced Bay-oh Bay-oh), Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania .... like 5:30am early up as flight went at 8:30am and we had a 45min drive to get to the airport. Thinking it would be a quick-ish run through, that early, as streets not busy? WRONG! The place was buzzing with everyone on their way to work and school. Couldn't believe how early Dar wakes up *LOL* Somewhat different to the UK where the streets are still pretty quiet at 6:30-7am. (Click on any image for larger view)

Glad he's relaxed!  I was sitting directly behind him ... small 12 seater plane!

Beho Beho International Airport (or Terminal 5 as Salum, our guide, has named it!)

A view of just part of our banda (room/suite, whatever you want to call it) from the open verandah.  Behind back wall was bathroom with the shower open to the skies.  To the right, out of picture was the 'study' area.

Just a small part of the view from our banda

Our first game drive - the Sundowner - and a small selection of what we saw on that first drive.  Apparently nobody had seen the lions for around 2 or 3 weeks and we found them (or rather, Salum did) on the dry Beho Beho River bed on our first time out.  Needless to say we never got our sundowner drink until we got back to the camp.

Baboons with young

Lone male bull elephant.

There were also impala, giraffes, wildebeest, vultures, birds of various kinds, marabou storks, zebra and many more ...
Jackie and I were still managing to keep out of trouble at this stage ... however ...... !

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Back to Reality ...

... and the freeezing cold! 3 weeks in temps in excess of 35c and arriving back to -4c came as a bit of a shock to say the least, especially as boiler sprang a leak and now we're told that it's an uneconomic repair so new boiler needed. We can control the leak by just putting it on when we want hot water and turning it off again. No heating other than the gas fire in the lounge!

Anyway, back to Paradise for a while and sheer luxury! A brief foray into 'how the other half live' *LOL*

2 flights (Emirates and I would highly recommend them) totalling 5867 miles with approximately 4 hours stopover in Dubai airport, we arrived in Dar-es-salaam on time at 3:30pm on 15th February, having left Gatwick just 35 minutes late at 8:45pm the previous evening. Tanzania is 3 hours ahead of UK time.

A couple of nights in a luxury hotel on the "Seacliffs" in Dar-es-salaam started the experience and a meal in the best oriental restaurant in Tanzania (in the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinsky) set the scene for the rest of the holiday.  (Click on any photo for larger view)

We were taken to a village museum ... different living styles of the people that populate, or did populate Tanzania over a period of time ... and a craft village. Fascinating, especially to watch the craftsmen at work. Amazing abilities handed down from generation to generation. Street life was all around and let's say that Health and Safety hasn't yet reached Tanzania *LOL*

I think Jackie and I managed to stay out of trouble while in Dar but ... it didn't last!

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Hubby's 70th Birthday

Hubby celebrated his 70th birthday while I was away on my luxury holiday (fast becoming a distant memory now) but I made sure that I'd made his card before I went and left it with strict instructions not to open it until the day! Because of that I couldn't post it here in case he saw it. Not that he reads either of my blogs and not sure he even knows how to find them but Murphy's Law says that if I had posted earlier he would have found it *LOL*. I guess I could have scheduled a post but time ran away and I never got round to it but .... here it is now! I have to thank a dear friend, Kim, as she cut the letters and numbers for me on her Cricut. She found me searching for diecut numbers and letters while at the Glitterpot recently and offered to do them for me. I would have done them manually but she saved me a fair bit of time so ... Thank you, Kim

Think everything is pretty self explanatory by the pictures alone. Martha Stewart, Kanban and Nestabilities being the main ingredients along with Kim's input. (Click on any image for larger view)

As you may gather, we don't do 'lovey-dovey' *LOL*

Enjoy!!