2/27/07 on to Lake Maryara N.P.

The alarm went off at 6 AM and we were soon up before it was light out, but the birds were singing so I went outside around 6:30 to bird watch. A short walk from our room produced several Mousebirds, so I returned to get Carolyn. Returning to the same vine/thicket we saw at least seven Speckled Mousebirds. As we continued through the gardens we spotted an iridescent Collared Sunbird (Sunbirds replace hummingbirds in color and feeding habits here in Africa) and a Baglafecht's Weaver which is yellow with a black face. All before our buffet breakfast. We took a few pictures of our lodge and our transportation and then it was off to Lake Maryara N.P., about 57 miles according to my GPS, but much more by car. At a bathroom stop I took a picture of a nearby Maasi village. I was reprimanded by our guide and another individual as it is considered impolite to photograph anyone without their permission, although no persons were in the picture when I took it. there was also a good example of a Baobab Tree across the street from this stop (note: no elephant damage to the trunk of this tree).

While our guide signed in at the park office we quickly found our first African cache near the wash basins for the restrooms. It was a small cache but had a German Special coin under it which I took and left a Jeep travel bug in its place.

Then it was into the park. Our vehicle has a push up roof so that we can stand up and look out in all directions while still having a sunroof overhead. We soon came to a large troupe of
Baboons which were on both sides and all over the road. We watched them groom each other while the little ones played and ate. As we continued down the rod we spotted many new birds and elephant dung along the road (the beasts must be nearby) as it often smelled like a zoo. Soon I spotted a small elephant close to the road, our guide had missed it(he didn't miss much) so I insisted we back up to see it, after all it was our first elephant!! Our guide told us we would soon have many better looks at them and , of course he was right. We next spotted our first Impalas beside the road along with many elephants out on the open plain beside Lake Manyara. The park here lies in the plain beside the lake and below the escarpment which makes the Rift Valley (very similar to the Niagara Escarpment). We also saw our first Vervet Monkeys here. Around 12:30 we headed part way up the escarpment to an overlook and picnic site. We were the first vehicle there but we were soon joined by at least six or seven more Land Rovers and Land Cruisers. Note: both of these Toyota vehicles were used here. The Land Cruisers are larger with four wheel drive capacity while the Land Rovers have all wheel drive.

The signs encouraged us to not feed the birds and animals, but seeing beautiful Red and Yellow Barbets and Superb Starlings underfoot made it hard to resist "accidentally" dropping a few bits of bread. I took numerous pictures of these birds under our table, close up but not very natural, oh well :) Nearby our guide spotted a Grey Hornbill which is similar to Toucans in South America.

Returning to our drive around the park we headed out near the lake to the "hippo pool". Here we saw numerous hippos along with many water birds which included close up looks at the White Pelicans, Saddle-billed Stork,(spectacular) a Fish Eagle, Marabou Stork, and Yellow-billed Stork. there were many shorebirds here as well but a spotting scope would have been needed to sort them out.

Leaving the park we traveled to Gibb's Farm for a two night stay. This is a very interesting combination of a working farm and coffee plantation with a large guest house business. We were taken to our room past several working farm buildings and the manure pile/compost heap. (smelly) Our "room" turned out to be the Library Suite complete with wall to wall books, a kitchen, bath and two bedrooms. We found out later that this was Mrs. Gibb's home after her husband died and the main building was turned into a guest house.

Our dinner included wine and a five course meal and an artist-in-residence opening for his new collection of paintings. Many of which sold tonight. We had an early example of one of his works on our wall so I took a picture of it. The artist was basically self taught. There is a 7 AM bird walk scheduled before breakfast and the lights will go out soon at 11 PM so I must hurry to bed.....