Page 15 - Kyalami Issue 3 2025

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3.0 Folder (Inner)
TRAVEL

Zebras in the Serengeti

veld. Interesting birds included Blue-necked ostrich and a population of Black Rhino. Some Alas, our time in Tanzania was almost up
Mousebird, Black-lored Babbler, Ruppell’s of the other birds seen were the Augur Buzzard, and from Ngorogoro we were driven back
Starling, Parrot-billed and Kenya Rufous Spar- Speke’s Weaver, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Long- to Arusha for an overnight stay before the
rows, Purple Grenadier, Gray-capped Social toed Lapwing, Rosy-throated Longclaw and group went their separate ways, some to
weaver, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, African Kenya Rufous Sparrow. Special mention must see the gorillas in Rwanda, and the rest
Gray Flycatcher, White-bellied Go-away bird, be made of a unique flock of birds that was ob- of us making our way home. The ten days
Black Coucal and a Martial Eagle feasting on served, repeatedly jumping up out of the long we spent in Tanzania practising our limited
Gorgeous Sunbird a jackal carcass. Many of the other animals grass. These were identified as male Jackson’s Swahili with the locals, meeting many fine
of the savannah were often seen, including Widowbirds which are endemic to Kenya and people and seeing wonderful wildlife, will be
Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, Coke’s harte- Northern Tanzania. long treasured.
beest, Topi, Masai giraffe, elephant, hyena,
klipspringer and buffalo. Our group at Ngorogoro
Flights over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon
are offered daily and a number of our group
enjoyed the unique experience of gliding
silently over one of Africa’s gems.
The time came for us to reluctantly leave the
Serengeti and we made our way south into
the Ngorogoro Conservation Area, where we
booked into the Serena Hotel. Built on one
of the 600m high walls of the crater, all hotel
Blue Monkey rooms have splendid views overlooking the
vast expanse of the crater below. The Ngoro-
goro Crater is another World Heritage Site
and encompasses the world’s largest caldera
(collapsed volcano).
The next morning, we made our way down the
steep walls and into the crater which, although
only 17km in diameter, supports vast numbers
of animals. One is allowed only a six hour stay
in the crater and our driver Robert ensured that
we saw much of the wildlife, including Great
White Pelican, Lesser and Greater Flamingo,
and hippos in the lake. Also seen were many
of the plains animals of East Africa, including
Jackson's Widowbird the Golden Jackal and surprising to our group,

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