Cal and VA | Adventures | Africa

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Friday September 15, 2017

Up at 5 am, coffee served in the tent at 5:30 am and then off for a game drive at 5:00 am.

africa2017 — We saw Egyptian Geese, Black Chested Snake Eagle. Herds of Zebras single file along the ridge line and then groups all headed to the Mara River at sunrise.

africa2017 — A little early for this Spotted Hyena

africa2017 — We saw a Serval Cat, or a miniature Cheetah being chased by a herd of barking Zebras. He climbed the tree then ran again until they stomped him to death on a rock. Our guide and driver had never seen this before and seemed very concerned.

africa2017 — Serval running from the zebra. Only a few minutes later the zebras had killed the little cat.

africa2017 — Bad zebras looking into the rock pile where the body of the Serval cat lay

africa2017 — We then rode over to three lions who had just killed a Zebra and one was still eating while a gang of Zebras looked on in mourning.

The female lion had killed the Zebra and the young 2-year old males had feasted first. Zebra are mean and territorial.

africa2017 — A lioness eating zebra - which we had little sympathy for after the Serval cat incident.

africa2017 — Lazy male lion after a meal

africa2017 — Male lions

africa2017 — Male lion with a messy face

africa2017 — One of the male lions got up and moved to the kill. Once he did the lioness backed off and let him eat.

africa2017 — Lions and acacia tree on savanna

africa2017 — A short ride away was a small pride of lions playing and enjoying the morning

africa2017 — Lion drinking water

africa2017 — Young male lion

africa2017 — Two of the young lions then went toward the zebra and practiced stalking. Remarkably the zebra did not seem to worried.

africa2017 — Catching some rays

africa2017 — Lion on tree sharpening claws

africa2017 — At 8:30AM, we stopped for breakfast on the Serengeti. We had sausage rolls, fresh pineapple, banana muffins and boiled eggs.

africa2017 — We wanted to see a Wildebeest crossing the Mara River. This was not that crossing but we were able to see Zebra leading Wildebeest - typically the Zebra are bold and make the move first.

africa2017 — Once they start the Wildebeest all seem to know they should run to the river/stream and get across as a group. Here a small Wildebeest jumping small stream

africa2017 — Zebra on a ridge line

africa2017 — Zebra coming down to water for a drink

africa2017 — We saw three Giraffes - one with an Oxpecker Bird eating all the ticks on the neck of a Giraffe. The males are noted by the tips of their horns which have no fur.

africa2017 — Giraffe closeup

africa2017 — Yellow Billed Oxpecker on a giraffe neck

The Yellow Billed Oxpecker eats insects and ticks. Both the English and scientific names arise from a habit of perching on large wild and domesticated mammals such as cattle and eating arthropod parasites. It will also perch on antelopes such as wildebeest. In a day an adult will take more than 100 engorged ticks.

africa2017 — Giraffe pattern

africa2017 — The Black Backed Jackal has occupied eastern and southern Africa for at least 2-3 million years

africa2017 — Zebra colt and mother

africa2017 — Zebra colt nuzzling mom

africa2017 — Leopard tortoise moving slowly along - we wondered how it survived with all the dangerous animals about.

africa2017 — Hippo bones near a stream

africa2017 — Zebra watching us watch him

africa2017 — Giraffe in a ditch - yes the giraffe is standing up

africa2017 — Big lion resting under a tree

africa2017 — Male lion cleaning himself - just like a little kitty

On way back to Camp, we saw a Black-faced Monkey.

We saw a pack of Mongoose who are akin to Meer Cats.

Lunch was back at Camp at 1:00PM. Then rest before going out on an afternoon drive at 4:00PM.

africa2017 — Wildebeest portrait near camp

africa2017 — Several Reed Bucks along the stream's edge.

africa2017 — We saw a Long Crested Eagle on top of the tree.

We saw a large pride of baboons. Leopards and baboons do not get along and a baboon can down a Leopard.

africa2017 — We saw a Verreaux's Eagle Owl in a tree with pink eyelids.

africa2017 — A Hammer Cock Bird and colorful Kingfisher.

This is a Grey Headed Kingfisher

africa2017 — We watched a Saddle Billed Stork fishing

africa2017 — Giraffe in the setting sun

africa2017 — A stork in silhouette

africa2017 — Martial Eagle hunt baby Gazelles and had the leg of a hare he was eating up in a tree.

africa2017 — Cape Buffalo

africa2017 — Sunset of the Mara River

africa2017 — Sunset on the Serengeti

At dinner by the fire we saw the Milky Way and Scorpio.

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