Serengeti, ten out of ten !

[africawild]

 

 

Is this map showing Namari's location generally correct. Seems a long way from the Mara border. I thought the Lamai wedge is where a number of camps such as Sayari are located.

 

https://www.expertafrica.com/tanzania/serengeti-migration-area/namiri-plains-camp/google-map

Lamia Wedge is the corner of Serengeti north of the Mara River .

Namiri camp was our first camp in central Serengeti , is about 90 minutes driving east from Seronera , no way you can drive to the Mara river from here !!

 

We had to fly to northern Serengeti , our camp there was Sayari , from this camp it takes 15 to 20 minutes to the crossing bridge to the Lamia Wedge .

 

I think there are only 2 camps in the Lamai Wedge , Serian Lamai and Kimondo , most other camps are in Kogatenge area , south of the Mara river.

 

Paco

Paco

 

I see 6 camps plus Sayari in the Lamai wedge area on the Expert Africa map above. This in an area that had no camps a couple of years ago.

 

Serian Serengeti

Singita Mara River

Serengeti Green Camp

Lemala Kuris Hills

Lamai Serengeti

Mkombes House Lamai

 

 

http://serian.com/we-call-it-home/serengeti-tanzania/serengeti-mobile/#lightbox/0/

 

I you zoom this map from Serian website you will see a small triangle up in the north of the Serengeti sandwiched between the Kenya border to the north and the Mara River to the south , that is the Lamai Wedge.

 

I think there are only 2 seasonal mobile camps in the area , Serian Lamai and Kimondo from Asilia .

 

Paco

[AKR1]

Thanks Paco.

 

@ Sek07 has some excellent details on the Lamai Wedge in her brilliant trip report. I can't see the post number on my mobile device but it's on Jan 30, 2016

http://safaritalk.net/topic/15748-september-2014-kenya-tanzania-safari-with-serian/page-3

[africawild]

Time to wrap up this trip report , only 2 more days to go.

 

Our last full day in Serengeti started cloudy and foggy , not promising a great time , but how wrong we were !!

 

We had decided to go back to the area where we had left the female leopard the day before.There where some elephants around.

 

 

But soon the fog cleared and we found the leopard resting in a rock

 

 

Very soon she started to move , she had something hanging in the big tree , something she had hunted the night before

 

 

 

After taking a bite and relocating the carcass higher in the tree , she went back to her favorite spot , the curious rock formation

 

 

 

By this time 2 or 3 more vehicles had arrived so we decided to leave her and we headed to the river planning to have breakfast and see what was happening there. At crossing point number 8 there was a big herd ready to cross so we move the vehicle a bit further up to have breakfast while waiting for the cross.

 

And of course , 5 minutes after we had set everything they started to jump into the river , the crossing was on !

 

 

And after this crossing there was another one and another one more , 3 different crossings in a matter of 2 hours and almost no vehicles around.

 

 

 

 

That was it for and incredible morning.

 

After lunch we went to the river again and this time we found lions , one young male and 2 females .

 

 

We already had our ration of crossings so we decided to go back to the rocky area in search of the leopard again and , in northern Serengeti you need to know that when you go to the rocky area you are going to find this beauties !!

 

 

 

There where 2 more vehicles looking for the leopard but was Kivuyo again the one who spotted her , laying peacefully in another rock .

 

 

Then she started to move around until she found a better rock , a bigger one with a better view !!

 

 

 

Finally she went back to the tree where her dinner was waiting

 

 

It was time to start to go back so we said good by to the female leopard ( we where leaving next morning ) and started to head towards camp. In our way we came across this nice view .

 

 

 

But the sunset was not over, we had a surprise waiting for us . I have to say that one of the reasons for this trip was our silver wedding celebration.

The people of Sayari had prepare a special sundown in a very special spot , a huge rock with and incredible view of the Serengeti and even Kenya in the background .

 

After they served our drinks and snacks they left and we had a private sundown for half an hour . I took this shoot with the camera laying on the rock.

 

 

One last full day filled of great moments that we will never forget !!

 

Paco

[AfricIan]

Another great day and more super photographs Paco, culminating in that special sundowner. Many congratulations to both you & Rosa.

[Atravelynn]

That rock is almost as good of photographer as you are! Lovely shot of the 2 of you having sundowners.

 

The klipspringers (those were the beauties you were referring to, right?) in the sunset are delightful as well, not to mention the leopard.

 

What an outstanding trip.

[Game Warden]

Stunning photos @@africawild and thank you for sharing such a personal moment with us here at Safaritalk.

 

Matt

[Gregor]

Lovely trip report and fantastic pictures

[AKR1]

Paco, congratulations to you and your lovely wife. And again thanks for this memorable report.

[xelas]

Amazing trip report, amazing photography, and amazing spot for an anniversary! Worth remembering .

[africawild]

Another great day and more super photographs Paco, culminating in that special sundowner. Many congratulations to both you & Rosa.

Thank you Ian ,

 

When we crossed our path in Botswana i guees we were around our 15th year of marriage , times fly !!!

 

But how lucky have we been , taking a safari trip almost every year since then !!!

 

Paco

Edited April 28, 2016 by africawild

[africawild]

That rock is almost as good of photographer as you are! Lovely shot of the 2 of you having sundowners.

 

The klipspringers (those were the beauties you were referring to, right?) in the sunset are delightful as well, not to mention the leopard.

 

What an outstanding trip.

Thank you Lynn !

 

Yes , the klipspringers are the beauties , i never get tired of them !!

 

Paco

[africawild]

Stunning photos @@africawild and thank you for sharing such a personal moment with us here at Safaritalk.

 

Matt

Thanks Matt ,

 

Safaritalk is safarifamily .

 

But don´t tell my wife , she doesn´t know i have shared the picture !!

 

Paco

[cheetah80]

Yay, I was looking forward to the continuation of this. Very special last day - wonderful leopard sighting! And many congratulations for reaching such a special milestone, I can't think of any better way to celebrate it.

[deano]

@@africawild - great trip, report and pictures. Really liked everything you posted but the "rocks" with klipspringers, leopards and even plain old trees caught my eye. And nice to see somebody celebrating 25 years. Congratulations and Rock On!

 

kind regards

 

deano.

[twaffle]

Speechless pretty much, with the beauty of the photos Paco. The klipspringers are especially good. Congratulations on the anniversary, I hope you have many more to come.

[ZaminOz]

Wow

I must say that I love your landscape photos!

[dlo]

Congrats on the anniversary! You couldn't have picked many better spots to celebrate.

[africawild]

Thank you all again .

 

Our last day in the country involved a full morning safari , lunch in camp , packing and the flight to Kilimanjaro .

 

We had planned with Kivuyo to drive a completely different area from previous days , so he proposed an area with huge open plains to the southern east of camp, very similar landscape than the Lamai Wedge.

 

We left camp at 6 , like usual , and the first sight ,almost in camp, was this beautiful sunrise scene.

 

 

 

And a few minutes later another sunrise silhouette .

 

 

 

 

We saw this nice eland herd but they started to run away as soon as we tried to approach.

 

 

 

 

The morning was going to be a lion morning. First we came across a lioness with 2 cubs , they where beside a buffalo carcass but they went for cover as soon as we arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After crossing several streams driving east we arrived to the lovely area that Kivuyo had mentioned the night before and it was indeed very beautiful. There were several wildebeest herds around and also zebras and gazelles. We decided to stop for breakfast, the spot was priceless.

 

 

 

 

After breakfast we drove along a small stream where Kivuyo had seen lions many times and soon we started to find them , many of them .

First there were 2 resting by short bushes. Some vultures were in a small tree beside probably waiting for some action.

Two different views of the same scene, one close shot an a wide angle view.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a few minutes later , in the distance , i was able to see a small cloud of dust and what i guessed it may be a lion fight We drove fast but when we arrived we saw this male moving away and another one that had crossed to the other side of the stream.We also could see the reason of the fight.

 

 

 

 

Soon more members of the pride appeared in scene , the cubs wanting to follow the honeymoon couple.

 

 

 

 

We were having fun with the pride but we had to start going back to camp , sadly we had a plane to catch !

 

Kivuyo said we could drive back to camp checking what was happening in the river. At crossing point number 10 there was a small herd about to cross but after waiting some time we had to go.

Driving back along the Mara river we saw another herd heading to number 9 and minutes after we arrived they started to cross ! It was a very nice crossing , the view of the river was different and the wildebeest were heading strait toward us after crossing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another incredible morning in the Serengeti , we only crossed one other car during our morning drive ( with the lions ) and had a private crossing , just us , to end our wonderful trip.

 

In our flight back we had the chance to have a view of the magnificent Ol Doinyo Lengai.

 

 

 

We arrived at Kia Lodge were we had a day room , rested a bit , took a shower , had dinner and late at night we sadly headed to the Airport leaving Africa after another incredible trip and hoping to be able to come back soon.

 

Some black and white images will follow to say goodbye !!!

 

Paco

Edited May 5, 2016 by africawild

[Atravelynn]

I like your close up and wide angle shots of the same scene. A private crossing. What a send off! What a trip!

[apfac]

Hi Paco,

 

What an excellent trip report, and most of all great photography, great composition....; While safariing, one has a "natural" tendency to go for close ups and neglect the all scene around. You have nicely stated at the beginning of your report.

 

You mention, several, numbered river crossing points, Do you know by any chance which way (West to East/ vice-versa) do they count them, and from where do they start to count them? Did you saw all the crossings West from Kogatende ?

 

I experienced the same AF problems with my D300S, sometimes. Apart from dust getting into the lens-body contacts, I noticed that the combination of high temperatures, heavy lenses may play a role on the "loosening" of the body ring and lost of contact. With the D810 never had problems.

 

Waiting for the B&W photos.

 

AP

[africawild]

Thank you AP,

 

This is what i understood;

 

There are 10 "usual" crossing points , name from 1 to 10 .

 

I am not sure but i think they start West of Kogatende but most of them are East of Kogatende.They are name West to East .

When wildebeest cross North to South they usually start to cross at number one and keep moving the crossings following the numbers until the end of the season around November when the last crossingS happen at number 9 at 10 .

 

Of course animals cross anywhere , not only at this most usual crossing points , they even have crossed over the Kogatende bridge ( can you imagine what a dissapointing crossing must that be !!! )

 

All the crossings we saw were between 7 and 9 , both inclusive !!

 

Paco

[apfac]

Hi Paco,

 

Thank you for the useful info, mainly regarding the migration flow which is understandable. Just hope to see some action next October.

 

Still waiting for the B&W´s !

 

un saludo

 

 

AP

[Hads]

Wow what a splendid Trip report Paco.

I love the photo on post 65 of the Lion in front of the Wildebeest. 10 out of 10 mate - well done.

[Marks]

Beautiful pictures; the one featuring two zebra is a marvel!

[africawild]

As I said , here are some pictures in black and white to finish.

 

They represent some of the things why we want to return again and again !!

 

 

Calm

 

 

 

 

Family ties

 

 

 

Predator Power

 

 

 

Backup security

 

 

 

Glorious skies

 

 

 

Cute cats

 

 

 

Endless plains

 

 

 

Dead beauty

 

 

 

Harmonic chaos

 

 

 

Confidence

 

 

 

Hope

 

 

 

Great migrations

 

 

 

Personalities

 

 

 

Drama

 

 

 

Freedom

 

 

 

Symmetry

 

 

 

Solitude

 

 

 

The perfect set

 

 

 

Cheers SERENGETI !!!

 

 

 

I would like to thank all the people involved in this trip, which has made it possibly one of our best trips ever , ATR , the people of Kia Lodge , Coastal Aviation but very especially the Asilia TEAM , they have been extraordinary in all aspects !!

 

 

Paco