We stayed in Serengeti National Park for 3 days and took several game drives. One day we started out early in the morning and came upon this setting where a company was getting ready for the ballooners to land and enjoy their champagne breakfast. It looked very elegant with tablecloths and wine bottles set out. We left the balloon ride for our next trip - it looked like a great activity but would have been an extra $1000 for the 2 of us.
There were countless species of antelope grazing everywhere. These are Thompsen's gazelles and Chris always called them "Tommies".
The track wended its way past this quiet pool.
And we used Clarence and Sandra's zoom lens to capture some bird pictures. This was a lilac-breasted roller. Rollers are named from a tumbling courtship or territorial display flight in which birds "roll" through the air. (from Mark Nolting's African Safari Journal) We never saw them flying or rolling, just perching and watching.
Further along the way, we came upon another hippo pool where cranes were standing in the sun on the shore.
And then we found the lions!! On the other side of the hippo pool, this matron climbed to the top of the hill to lie in the sun -
while across the way , the rest of the pack was intent on watching a herd of Cape buffalo. When the lions were standing, the buffalo were very wary and didn't graze.
But when the lions laid down in the shade, the buffalo went back to grazing. It was an amazing display of the predator - prey relationship.
The matriarch left her hilltop -
and sauntered down -
to cross the road right behind us -
and rejoined the pride.
This pool, across the road from the lion's tree, marked a crossroads on the trail and after spending an hour or so, we headed out again. We loved this corner!
Further along, we found another group, this time with cubs.
They were tuckered out and slept soundly beside mama. We never did see any young lions playing.
All that - and more - before lunch!!
