TANZANIA 2010: Tarangire NP part 1

The terrain soon changed as we descended in elevation from Arusha to Tarangire National Park. Set within the eastern Rift Valley, Tarangire’s rolling hills and small valleys are dominated by Umbrella Acacias and clusters of giant Baobabs (above) and punctuated by endless tall rich green grasslands.

While elephants seemed to be everywhere, Zebras, Wildebeest and Buffalo were noticeably absent, as were many vultures. At the onset of the wet season (December), most of the mammals begin to disperse following a migratory pattern that spreads them out throughout this 20,000 sq km Maasai steppe – between Tarangire and Lakes Manyara and Natron to the north, and the Simanjiro plains to the east. By August they have returned as the Tarangire River, that runs through the center of the park, becomes a major resource for all wildlife during the dry season (July-October).

Just before reaching our tented camp at midday we came across four lioness’s (above) resting in the shade of a baobab. Though there was nothing particularly remarkable about this sighting, everyone was soon well aware that we were in the bush and wild animals can pose a danger – our tents were about 100 meters away!

Minutes later we were admiring the wonderful panoramic view of the park from the Tarangire Safari Lodge included elephants crossing the Tarangire River (above).

Having settled into our tents one eye was kept on roaming lions and the other on all the activity around us. As Mottled Spinetails zipped between the baobabs, tame endemic Ashy Starlings (above) and a Spotted Morning Thrush rummaged about the scattered elephant dung, and Yellow-collared Lovebirds foraged below the acacias behind our tents.

There was great excitement when an African Scops Owl (above ) was found roosting in full view between two tents!

A walk after lunch along the escarpment that our tents are set upon, gave us an opportunity to see many dry scrub species up close including Unstriped Ground-Squirrels, Northern White-crowned Shrikes, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Red-billed Firefinch, Tawny-flanked Prinas, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver and Nubian Woodpecker.

Comical Arrow-marked Babblers (above) preened each other, and we soon added  Walhberg’s Honeyguide, Red-necked Spurfowl, Red-chested Cuckoo and Slate-coloured Boubou. I could hear the alarm calls of Olive Baboons and it was not long before we spotted our four lions leisurely walking through the grasses….. away from our tents!