lions!! (serengeti national park, tanzania)

The final stage of our big trip took place in Tanzania. We went on safari in the Serengeti with a fantastic duo: Moses and Emily, our tour guide and driver, from Moses' company, Sange Safari. We were trying really hard to keep our budget small, and Mosses was amazing at finding us cheap, clean and safe places to stay. Safe being a relative term - we camped in our tent inside the Serengeti for two nights, and there are no fences at the campsites!! We had hyenas watching us brush our teeth, and heard lions calling nearby in the morning. 

Speaking of lions, here is a highlight reel of some of our best photos of the kings and queens of the savanna. We were astounded at the number of lions in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - we saw lions every day. 

Our first lion sighting, on our very first game drive! This pride was beautiful and sleepy, with tons of cute cubs, which made for great photo ops. Our driver Emily had tracked this group for about 45 minutes through the grass and brush, aided by the other car you see in the photo. We were the only two cars for miles. It was beautiful and quiet as we sat with the sleeping pride.

The male lion with this pride is sleeping under the tree on the right-hand side of the photo, a hundred yards away. We got to go see him too.

You could almost hug them. (Almost.)

Our cue to go! Just kidding. He yawned and fell back asleep. Guides usually say that they don't like to see lions - they are too boring, because they're usually sleeping! 

Day 2 - Jennifer spotted this lady near a watering hole we had been parked at, watching an elephant. She seemed to be waiting her turn.

This guy was quite content to take his time. A single lion nearby didn't bother him a bit.

Getting impatient?!

We assume this was the rest of her pride - they were about 100 meters down the road, enjoying a recent warthog kill. The mothers are licking blood off the baby's face. Lovely.

The action around the kill! The male has already eaten, and is watching while junior tugs at the meat.  

Another day,  another lion. Now we're in Ngorongoro Crater, and we came upon this guy as we drove down the road. There was a huge pile up of cars a bit further on, so to avoid the crowds we watched him walk across the plain for a few minutes. 

Eventually we joined the crowd, who was watching this group. Can you count how many lions are in the grass?

One more...

A couple more still….

Ah! One more!

Our last lion sighting of the trip, also in Ngorongoro Crater - this gentleman was off on his own, a mile or so from the last group of lions, just enjoying an afternoon in the sun. Now that we're home again, it is fun to think of these lions and wish them well in their grassy home. Soon the wildebeest will be migrating back south, and then it's good times for lions.