On November 2, we entered the Ngorongoro conservation area and visited Olduvai Gorge, a Maasai village and then an afternoon safari in the Serengeti.
Baboons are everywhere |
I really thought the baboon was going to attack us from up there |
He's just yawning but still quite scary given how sharp those K9s are |
We stopped to get a great view of the crater...really amazing! And then headed towards the gorge.
Ngorongoro Crater |
I gave my phone to an Italian tourist and she took like 10 pics of us... |
So I had to use at least 2. The background is unreal. |
The scenery all seemed like a beautiful painting |
Masai tribesmen herding cows |
A tower of giraffes (that's what you call a group of giraffes!) |
We made it to the Olduvai gorge and read all about the Leakey's and their work. The gorge is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. It is where Homo habilis (1.9 million years ago), Paranthropus boisei (1.8 million years ago), Homo erectus (1.2 million years ago) and Homo sapiens (17,000 years ago) are said to have occupied. Makes you feel like such a small part of the big picture.
After the gorge, we got to visit a Maasai village. We were greeted by the chief's son of the Nasenya tribe, Paulo along with men and women of the tribe who sang us a traditional welcome song. The Maasai people are nomadic so they typically only stay in one place for about a year. This particular tribe included 120 people.
After the performances, Paulo showed us a typical hut.
We then headed into Serengeti National Park for the first of many safaris.
After the long day, we finally made it to the Nyani public camp site to set up our tent and have some dinner.
The museum had plenty of fossils on display of extinct animals - as you can see, Paul is very intrigued |
Skull of Ceratotherium simum, an ancestor of the present-day white rhino |
Tooth and tusk of Deinotherium bozasi, an extinct relative of the elephants with tusks in the lower jaw |
Here is a rendering of what some of these extinct animals may have looked like |
This is the Olduvai gorge, named after a plant that grows in the area |
After the gorge, we got to visit a Maasai village. We were greeted by the chief's son of the Nasenya tribe, Paulo along with men and women of the tribe who sang us a traditional welcome song. The Maasai people are nomadic so they typically only stay in one place for about a year. This particular tribe included 120 people.
The men singing their part |
The women sang their own part |
Their jewelry was quite special |
Before being asked to join the women, I snapped this photo of this happy tribesman |
I had no idea what I was supposed to do with them but I was holding someone's hand |
Being led away... |
We went inside their village where I joined the women in more singing and jumping |
See- I'm jumping- but I have no idea why |
It was fun except it was just me and this woman jumping while the others (kind of) laughed |
This is me looking at her asking with my eyes, "Why are we jumping?" |
Clearly I didn't get an answer so continued to jump |
After jumping for maybe 5 minutes, I was just pushed away |
The men of the Nasenya tribe preparing to start the warrior dance (jumping) |
While the group sings, each man goes into the center to jump |
Interesting ear lobes |
Jumping quite high! |
Each man can have as many wives as he wants |
Higher! |
Two guys jumping |
After the performances, Paulo showed us a typical hut.
It takes about 5 days to build this hut |
It was pretty cozy inside |
That's Paulo and Paul |
Arts and crafts for sale |
We were told to browse and pick up items we might want to buy |
Negotiating with the sales lady - we totally got ripped off |
Cute kid |
Playing some ball |
I think this kid felt a little left out |
He seemed interested in me taking photos |
Tribesmen hanging out in the shade of the tree - it was really hot |
Donkey |
School house |
Children learn 3 languages - Maa (the Maasai language), Swahili, and English |
They were all very friendly |
Posing for me |
Maasai tribesman |
Paulo, the chief's son |
We stopped for lunch where we saw this strange bird |
Yup, that's the Serengeti |
Selfie |
A different view of the Serengeti |
Male Mwanza flat-headed rock agama |
Also known as Spider-Man Lizard |
We finally headed into the park |
The park covers an area of 5,700 square miles |
A dazzle of zebras |
Hideous hyena |
Lazy leopard |
Impalas |
Why did the giraffe cross the road? |
To get to the trees |
Giraffes are the tallest animal in the world |
We spotted a pride of lions |
All slowly heading somewhere |
This kitty had an itch |
Bye lions |
I thought this one was going to attack the giraffes - it didn't |
Pretty |
The Lilac-breasted Roller looks very pretty today |
Just grazing |
Flock of birds |
After the long day, we finally made it to the Nyani public camp site to set up our tent and have some dinner.
Paul is helping our guide/driver set up the tent |
Hooray - it's ready! |
Checking out some buffalo skulls |
Camping in the Serengeti means having nosy neighbors |
Hey, there's a giraffe at our camp! |
"Is there something behind me?" |
Paul loves to point at things |
Sunset |