Trip reports are the heart and soul of this board - I prefer longer but they all work for me.

While correcting an author is acceptable (sometimes lodge names are wrong, etc), I think we should refrain from critiquing reports. Doing so may stop us all from posting

I only stated my opinion. I noticed that on the African board frequent posters form a clique and anyone new or disagreeing is not welcome or simply ignored. This is MHO.

z:
I am sorry that you feel that way. I guess we will just have to disagree. I was new 10 months ago and did not feel that way.

z:

All the boards can seem cliquish if that is what you choose to notice. I really like this board because I find the people on it quite encouraging. Reading the various trip reports gives me ideas for my future trips. And of course they help me get through the months (or years!) of waiting for my next trip.

I also don't think Sherry's report is particularly long. You can skim or skip if it's too long for you.

Best wishes.

z,

Your appreciation of brevity is certainly reflected in your forum name.

As I said, this is only my opinion. You can skip it, you don't need to respond.

bat, Nyamera, climbhighsleeplow, Leely, and atravelynn I appreciate and respect your opinions. Thank you for sharing them. I stated my opinion

Thanks for your encouraging words. I shall continue.

Feb. 19

Ngoro – Serengeti
We departed Ngoro. and headed to the Serengeti thru the Ngoro. Conservation lands after breakfast. The drive is just breathtaking and made us want to come back at some point to do some hiking thru the area.

We did stop at the Old (p) uvai Gorge and museum which is an interesting must see place. We also made a stop at a pre-existing Maasai camp to buy some beads. As we were leaving a few Maasai children raced up to us from nowhere to lead us to the new camp. I swear these kids must hang out in trees. Anyhow, these Maasai had all their wares set up for us in no time flat and went into a selling like mode immediately as we entered the newly formed camp. Again, I had B do my bartering as he knows what’s fair for them while keeping my best interests in mind.

The Maasai for some reason were absolutely enthralled with Mike’s fairly inexpensive Timex watch (he trashes or loses the expensive ones). They would have given us just about anything to get it. They just kept upping the anti to have that status symbol of a watch. It was tempting to take the goods had we not needed his alarm for the rest of the trip.
Note: next time we shall arrive with extra Timex watches.

Shortly thereafter, we arrived at the Naabi Hill Gate into the most impressive Serengeti. The sky, the expansiveness and beauty is beyond words, so I won’t try. I truly don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this.

Immediately after regaining composure or something close to it, we saw a huge pride of lions around a watering hole, as well as 3 more lion families shortly after, a female trying to pounce on a zebra to no avail. A cheetah with 2 cubs, elephants and all the other expected sightings. We also saw our first Topi and common Reedbuck – this was all in the first hour or so. Yes, we decided we really like this place.

Thanks Sherry:
Looking forward to hearing about your mobile camping.

Thanks bat;

We then drove to our mobile camp base which was situated in the Nyaibollo (sp.) area -it’s a bit west of the Moru Kopjes. This seemed to be a fairly good location as we found the migration wasn’t too far away. There were 2 herds migrating - one was east bound and the other south bound, intersecting around the Barufu Kopjes and Goi Kopjes.

Upon arriving at camp we were presented with ice cold Kili beers, in frosted mugs, no less. I think I like this place as well.

We were shown around our tent by B, as the staff did not speak hardly any English (first place we encountered this besides the tribes). So we were glad that we had boned up at least a bit on our Swahili.

Our spacious tent had a huge bathroom in the back with an under the stars shower. Very romantic but I hadn’t been taking my malerone, so it did give me some pause.
The toilet was a flush type containing water and made me almost go into hysterics upon seeing. It somehow had this giant elaborately carved wooden and very throne-like, surround - arms and all. My feet actually dangled from the thing. I felt like a baby ancient princess of sorts from some far away and strange land, every time I got on the thing – Mike was not allowed to take photos BTW.

There were 6 tents and we were the only guests (Wahoo) for the staff of 9 to attend to – may explain the unasked for kili. brought to us at arrival.

The following 2 nights a couple from Oregon and their adult daughter stayed. They were actually the first American guests that we had encountered since our arrival in Africa. We did enjoy these avid photographers and managed to pump them for photo advice over our eve. meals.

Sherry: I am enjoying your report so much, it's just great. I hope you will eventually post photos (I know it's selfish to ask while you're in the middle of the glorious and extensive report but I admit it, I just can't get enough Africa photos!)

Your description of the throne brings to mind Lily Tomlin.

The funny thing about these absolute rabid (in a good way)Oregonian photographers was they had recently been up at the Mara and due to the drought confusion, had seen everything. The only thing on their list that they hadn’t seen was cubs of any kind. We, on the other hand, had so many cub encounters that we lost track. Each time we spotted cubs we would radio them and never be able to get thru. I do hope they ended up seeing cubs.
Ironically, Mike had wanted to see a kill which as it turned out, was something that our Oregonian friends had had numerous sightings of and could never get thru to us, as well.

Highlights:

The food was so good and well presented.
We had a choice of a hot egg type of breakfast made to order, a choice of fruits, yogurts, fruits, granolas,homemade breads and pastries, fresh milk and always freshly squeezed juice.

Lunch and dinners were always served with numerous fruits, vegetables, amazing salads, pastas, fish, chicken and meats. There was always a huge choice of way too much food.

Desserts were all homemade and so good.

I ate everything and never had any ill effects.

Unexpected gorgeous sunrises

Lightning off in the distance at night – spectacular to watch

Seeing 2 early am bat ear fox sightings – these curious guys mulled around our vehicles with such curiosity. So cute to see their inquisitive little faces staring up at us.

Early am honey badger sighting – B was very excited about this.

Baboon sightings on our 2nd day. B was very perplexed as to why we hadn’t seen any until then. Once we saw our 1st one we continued to see them everywhere.

Bad stuff:
The only thing I can think of now is seeing an injured zebra and asking B what was wrong with the zebra’s neck. He very angrily told me that it had been snared by a poacher. He said it still happens a lot. He called someone to come attend to the poor beast.

Oh yes, the other would be when a driver guide drove to within 2 ft. of a male lion. It freaked the poor lion and us out. Some of these guys are in the wrong profession.

And having to leave. …….. We will go back.

Next up:
Seychelles and beyond

Schegal - Mike is trying to get thru photo shop elements 4.0 (never used it before now) - Photos hopefully will be posted at some point

Sandi- and that's the truthhhh! I was going to mention her but I figured you're all way too young to remember that.

Still young at heart.
And today's she's the president's secretary! LOL.

Great trip report.
We saw a honey badger late pm on the 20th near Moru. I wonder if it was the same one?
re The snared zebra. There was a lioness with a deeply sliced neck, also the work of a snare, terrible.

could be a shared badger netwarrior, as ours was seen a bit north of Moru.

Unfort. our pic. of him are basically a quick streak of white low to the ground.
Sherry

I, too, love the throne description. Our guide talked about the honey badgers but we never saw one. Interesting how your sightings and that of the oregonians were opposites. Personally, I'll take cubs over kills any day.

Sherry:
I see that you booked through Africa Advventure. Do you know who was the local operator?

Thanks for continuing, Sherry. I'm really enjoying your report. Also wondering who the ground operator was and was it their mobile camp?