Feb 7- 9. We all dream about the magic of the Serengeti. We’ve all watched nature shows on TV so when one arrives, somehow it feels very familiar.

I didn’t expect the sound effects, lyrics, and visuals running through my mind as well. Disney (Lion King) Mancini( Baby Elephant Walk), Looney Tunes(vultures in the trees shushing me to be quiet!), Hugh Masekela with “Grazin’ In The Grass”, Paul Simon and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”, and Babar Books with Maribu Storks, Great art reflecting this incredible place.

Before we entered the park we passed Olduvai Gorge, the site where Mary and Louis Leakey discovered the earliest evidence of human life.

Tanzania is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world; it has proven invaluable in furthering understanding of early human evolution. With that in mind, Mike McCarty and I had to get a photo with the Cougar Flag.

My dream was to see a hippo! We saw many but this was my favorite Farewell Hippo who showed up in an unlikely lake on the last day.

Dick’s dream was to see big cats. We saw them in the Serengeti. He got some beautiful shots.

A mother cheetah and her two cubs

And the lions We saw more males than females which Godlisten said was unusual. We were lucky to see the male lions in the trees. We also saw signs of a Genet, a small cat, in a tree one night.

We saw a shy leopard high in a tree across the plain..too far to photograph.

Baby elephant eating with his Mom..

We stayed in the South Serengeti at Ndutu Heritage Camp for the last 3 nights. Kind, friendly service, the best food, great musicians and dancers, and super comfortable tents.

Notice the tennis racquet on the ground?

This man was a contortionist. His Dad taught him all his moves. He could maneuver his body through the inside diameter of that tennis racquet. My yoga moves pale in comparison. He was quite phenomenal. (Ask me if you want to see video).

This is the Chef!

Kind staff! Our cabin below: