| Tarangire and Lake Manyara, Tanzania |
After Amboseli our next destination was Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. On October 11,
after breakfast at the Amboseli Safari Lodge on we drove through Amboseli Park for an hour or
two to the border town of Namanga, where we went through brief border formalities, switched to
Tanzanian-registered vans for a two-hour ride to the large Tanzanian town of Arusha, where we had
lunch at the "Flame Tree Restaurant". After lunch we transferred to larger Toyota Landcruiser
vans with a new driver, Nickson Andrew Monyo. Our local tour operator in Tanzania was Ranger
Safaris, OAT's Edwin continuing as our tour leader.
after breakfast at the Amboseli Safari Lodge on we drove through Amboseli Park for an hour or
two to the border town of Namanga, where we went through brief border formalities, switched to
Tanzanian-registered vans for a two-hour ride to the large Tanzanian town of Arusha, where we had
lunch at the "Flame Tree Restaurant". After lunch we transferred to larger Toyota Landcruiser
vans with a new driver, Nickson Andrew Monyo. Our local tour operator in Tanzania was Ranger
Safaris, OAT's Edwin continuing as our tour leader.
After stopping at a couple of more gift shops we finally arrived at Tanzania's Tarangire National
Park after dark. There we had been scheduled to overnight at Tarangire Tented Safari Lodge but
were bumped "because of overbooking" and instead checked into the less desirable Tarangire Sopa
Lodge. .
Park after dark. There we had been scheduled to overnight at Tarangire Tented Safari Lodge but
were bumped "because of overbooking" and instead checked into the less desirable Tarangire Sopa
Lodge. .
The following morning, 12 October, we went on a very successful wildlife-viewing drive to a marshy
area of Tarangire National Park. At were among hundreds (perhaps thousands) of zebras and at
close range saw many other wild animals including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, several lions, a
leopard and a huge variety of beautiful birds. The park is reported to have 3,000 to 4,000
elephants.
area of Tarangire National Park. At were among hundreds (perhaps thousands) of zebras and at
close range saw many other wild animals including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, several lions, a
leopard and a huge variety of beautiful birds. The park is reported to have 3,000 to 4,000
elephants.
Lion in shade of tree, Tarangire National Park
Looking for wildlife in Tarangire National Park
Zebra eating leaves of an acacia tree, Tarangire Park
A male and his harem
We got back to the Tarangire Sopa Lodge for lunch and went to our second drive of the day at 4:00
pm and saw more wild animals.
pm and saw more wild animals.
The following morning, 13 October, we had an early departure from the Tarangire Sopa Lodge and
headed for Lake Manyara National Park, arriving there an hour or two later. Lake Manyara is in the
Rift Valley adjoining a high escarpment form which a constant flow of fresh water attracts much
wildlife. Lake Manyara itself is salty, as it has no outlet. We toured the park and saw perhaps a
hundred hippos and baboons as well as thousands of birds (mostly aquatic), and also elephants and
zebras.
headed for Lake Manyara National Park, arriving there an hour or two later. Lake Manyara is in the
Rift Valley adjoining a high escarpment form which a constant flow of fresh water attracts much
wildlife. Lake Manyara itself is salty, as it has no outlet. We toured the park and saw perhaps a
hundred hippos and baboons as well as thousands of birds (mostly aquatic), and also elephants and
zebras.
After a picnic lunch we left Lake Manyara National Park, headed for Gibb's Farm near the village of
Karatu.
Karatu.