Ruaha and Zanzibar - September / October 2014

[pault]

Those birds are quite something. We didn't see that (maybe we didn't go dar enough!).

[FlyTraveler]

Is that a Canadian flag I see on your jacket??

 

Yes, it is.

[FlyTraveler]

Those birds are quite something. We didn't see that (maybe we didn't go dar enough!).

 

 

I don't think that this was too far Paul. It is more a question of chance. We saw similar gathering of birds not far from the park's HQ on our last day in Ruaha, will post photos when I get there some day...

[TonyQ]

@@FlyTraveler

That is an amazing number and variety of birds at the river. You make the park look very beautiful!

Good to see you and MrsFlyTraveler.

[FlyTraveler]

@@FlyTraveler

That is an amazing number and variety of birds at the river. You make the park look very beautiful!

Good to see you and MrsFlyTraveler.

 

Thanks for the good words @@TonyQ! The park is actually very beautiful, I have just tried to capture the beauty as much as I could.

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 02, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

At the end of the morning game drive Alphonce spotted a small Lion pride comprising of a male and several females (no cubs), resting in the Ruaha riverbed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then back to the cottage for lunch with a million dollars view:

 

 

 

Oct. 02, 2014. Ruaha National Park, afternoon game drive.

 

 

The first thing we did on the afternoon game drive was to go back to the pride of Lions that we saw at the end of the morning drive. The male walked around a bit and marked the territory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Followed by one of the females:

[Marks]

I just love those blue hillsides in the distance.

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 02, 2014. Ruaha National Park, afternoon game drive.

 

 

Back to my trip report and the afternoon game drive on Oct. 02. Driving towards Ruaha River:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent most of the game drive in the Mdonya River area and for some reason could not see many animals.

Another Ruaha sunset:

 

 

 

 

Then Alphonce decided to drive towards the Kimilamatonge Hill, picked up some tracks and there she was - "A Chui" (Leopard in Swahili). We had a just a very quick glimpse of the leopard before she walked back into the bush:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alphonece immediately drove to an intersection with the hope that the leopard went that way and sure enough the leopard crossed the road again:

 

 

Edited February 27, 2015 by FlyTraveler

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 02, 2014. Ruaha National Park, afternoon game drive.

 

 

We followed the leopard up the road:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The leopard turned around just for a very brief moment, didn't have enough time to compose well the shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gorgeous cat kept walking on the road towards the top of the hill and we did followed it for as far as we could:

 

 

 

 

 

Overall we had a fantastic day in the park with the fabulous Ruaha River birds sighting, the Lion pride and finally the leopard.

Edited February 27, 2015 by FlyTraveler

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 03, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

As usual we skipped breakfast and left for the morning game drive around 06:30 h. Surely enough we were rewarded with a beautiful Ruaha sunrise behind a majestic baobab tree with a heart-shaped hole on it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used the "Golden hour" to take some more landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 27, 2015 by FlyTraveler

[gagan]

Awsome...really awsome photos...did u do night game drive and boat safari...I would love to see ruaha cheetahs,,, monitor lizard , vultures, hyena etc through your eyes.. (I mean your camera pics).

[FlyTraveler]

Awsome...really awsome photos...did u do night game drive and boat safari...I would love to see ruaha cheetahs,,, monitor lizard , vultures, hyena etc through your eyes.. (I mean your camera pics).

 

Thanks for the good words @@gagan! Night game drives are not allowed in Ruaha NP, there aren't any boat safaris, either. For the boat safaris perhaps you are thinking about Selous GR and Rufiji River, most people visit Ruaha and Selous on the same trip.

[gagan]

No.no no you can do night game drive inside ruaha also boat safari... I asked TANAPA office about it ...you can do night safari in selous , mikumi as well as ruaha...check on internet and you will get the details...

[Marks]

@@FlyTraveler Now those are some fantastic baobabs.

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 03, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

Greater kudus and baobab trees on top of the hill:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon after the Greater kudus we encountered a small group of African buffalo, an indication that the big herd is not far. We decided to leave the buffalo herd alone that day and moved towards the Mdonya riverbed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 2015 by FlyTraveler

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 03, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

We stopped on a small bridge over the river to observe troop of Baboons going after their business in the dry riverbed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being a bit too short does not break the sheer determination to get the job done:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 2015 by FlyTraveler

[Marks]

Beautiful color in the second picture in post #266.

[FlyTraveler]

Beautiful color in the second picture in post #266.

 

This is my outdated Nikon D50 body with a kit lens... I kind of like the colors which this camera produces, there will be more wide images taken with it later on in this TR...

[michael-ibk]

Later on? Well, you better hurry up with your report, isn´t your next trip coming up soon? Kgalagadi/Namibia, right?

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 03, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

Continuing with the report and the morning game drive on Oct. 03, 2014. Still on the bridge over Mdonya River, watching baboons and impalas. Male impala coming for a drink:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After observing the Baboons and some Impalas in the dry riverbed we moved on. Not far from the bridge though we encountered this handsome male Greater kudu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was pretty obvious that the animal was going down the riverbed for a drink and we decided to go back on the bridge to observe it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 03, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

Once in the riverbed the Greater kudu was divided between the desire to drink and the necessity to keep an eye on us:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also quite a few Impalas around:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A wider view of the riverbed with the Greater kudu:

 

 

[FlyTraveler]

Later on? Well, you better hurry up with your report, isn´t your next trip coming up soon? Kgalagadi/Namibia, right?

 

Cancelled... for family reasons...

[FlyTraveler]

Oct. 03, 2014. Ruaha National Park, morning game drive.

 

 

Finally we decided to leave the Greater kudu alone and moved on.

 

 

A Masai giraffe crossing the road in front of us with amazing baobab trees in the fore- and background:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More baobab trees and giraffes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A female Masai giraffe with a calf:

 

 

 

A couple of youngsters:

 

 

[graceland]

@@FlyTraveler, glad you are back.. Love the kudu and giraffes!

 

Remembering the starkness of Ruaha compared to my recent Mara trip..mind blowing in one morning. I'd like to see Ruaha in green season; Moli loves it then.

[xelas]

More beautiful photos @@FlyTraveler! Those "old" sensors (CCD if I am not mistaken) do produces some deep colours. Sad to hear there will be no exchange of Kgalagadi experiences; maybe next year?!