|
Tarangire National Park
|
|
Via the new tarmac road it
takes only about two hours from Ngurdoto to Tarangire National Park. The
significant baobab tree is the symbol of this park. These huge trees with
their silver bark are immediately noticeable for every visitor. Baboons
love to eat it's fruit of this tree - and so do the bushmen.!
 
|
|
Tarangire Safari Lodge has several comfortable
tents for visitors, all with electricity, bathroom and solar heated
showers. There is no fence around the lodge, sometimes the wild animals
are very close or even inside the camp - prooved by droppings visible
in the morning.
|
|
These little animals are sometimes found INSIDE the tent! Suntan lotion and insect repellent are a must!
|
|
The lifeline of the park
is the Tarangire River. It carries water all year round -but very little
at present.
 |
|
If there are no VIPs approaching,
the giraffes use the runway as playground.
|
|
It hasn't rained for months and it is very dry. But there is also an advantage to this - at least for the visitor - animals are better visible.
|
|
Tarangire NP is famous for its elephant population and there are elephants everywhere and of all sizes in this park.
|
|
Elefants need a huge amount
of food, mostly they eat leaves . To reach it they create considerable
damage.
|
|
It is hard to believe but
the next living relative of the elefant is the hyrax. The anatomy of this
little animal is very similar to the one of the elefant.
|
|
A pride of lions rest in the heat of the day..
|
|
This lioness rests with her offspring far away from the pride. As we come closer she gets more and more nervous. Maybe because the little one is too curious.
|
|
There are hundreds of baboons
in the park and their pink backsides are visible from far away.
|
|
To protect their eyes warthogs close them while running. Their skin is very tough and doesn't stretch, therefore their little tale is pulled upwards when they run....
|
|
Buffalo reach up to 800 kilograms
in weight and are considered very dangerous. They are always alert and
watch intruders constantly.
|
|
Dikdiks are some of the smallest
antelopes. They don't drink water and their diet consists mostly of herbs.
They basically marinate themselves….they are considered to have excellent
taste...
|
|
All stripes are different!
|
|
All kind o birds live in the park, but it is hard to take pictures from them.  
|
|
In late afternoon we get lucky and see some big cats.
|
|
The camouflage of the leopard is perfect. Without the help of the rangers we would have never seen it!
|
Towards the end Nigel, our guide,
has something special in mind. We drive far outside the borders of the park.
And he finally he finds what he was looking for: a huge herd of elephant bulls.
First they watch us inquisitivly, but then they decide that we are not interesting,
turn round and disappear.
  |
|
We also have to leave now - but only after we take a short visit to the little Massai Market.
|
