Day 3 safari: Hippos galore

We had breakfast in the round shed near to the reception building. Kim had bought some tomatoes on the first day of the safari and brought it along for breakfast. The waiter offered to have it cooked and when he understood that he wanted it fresh on his toast, he fetched a sharp serrated knife for him. Good to see staff using their eyes, brains and initiative. It comes with understanding the customer too; not something seen amongst staff in developing countries.

We explained to Richard that we wanted a shorter day if possible. We’d be happy to return to the lodge about 1500 instead of 1700-1800. He suggested a turnaround at Serengeti park about 1230 and that the game drive would be part of the drive there and back (rather than having additional time game driving).

As we prepared to leave, I heard an unusual knocking sound. Looking up by a tree, I saw a woodpecker pecking on the trunk of a tree. That action generated a very distinct hollow knocking sound which didn’t seem possible from a solid trunk.

We set off and backtracked to yesterday’s stinky hippo bridge and took a left turn to where the fat mammas were soaking. It was quite a sight to see them all, then two of them started play-biting with each other’s open jaws. When I thought I had had enough, we went to hippo pool where there were literally tonnes of them! The setting here with the shallow pool-like river and rocks in the background looked perfectly contrived!

From here, we continued to the heart of the Serengeti where we saw many of the animals from the first two days. Eventually, we stumbled upon a few vehicles looking at a distant tree. We joined them and saw three leopards on the various limbs of a tree. We could see the silhouettes of their movement but the camera zoom (or binoculars) was necessary to get a better view.

Richard’s sight and hearing were amazing. He could see from his peripheral vision, part of an animal and he would stop and grab his binoculars. He could hear things too, like eg. something had come loose on the vehicle.

After lunch on a low hill, we made our way back to Ikoma Lodge arriving back around 1500. We took the opportunity to rest and relax in daylight for a change, accompanied by a cuppa tea then a beer watching the sunset.

The Serengeti area is much warmer than Arusha and the Tarangire/Manyara nightstops. We felt a little sweaty during the day and wished for a little more breeze while in bed at night. However, it wasn’t uncomfortable.