In the overcast morning that we were in Ndutu on the edge of the Serengeti we came across 15 cheetahs grouped into 4 family units. This was the first group consisting of a mother cheetah and 4 cubs that are almost her size. Adult male cheetahs are solitary and elusive and also a lot bigger than the females. Kisami our guide seemed surprised that we saw so many cheetahs in one morning. Cheetahs are the fastest creature on earth with top speeds of almost 70mph but we didn't see any running or hunting. We saw them stand around, slouch about, slowly walk, look here and there, act bored, etc. The guides say that if they see cheetahs hunting, they give them a much wider berth to not disturb their hunting maneuvers. The Thompson gazelle is their meal of choice.
This is sunrise over Ndutu Lodge
Here's a giraffe munching on one of a seemingly limitless variety of African acacia trees.
In Ndutu, the giraffes we approached noticed us and then started moving away form us. We saw one of them break into a full-on giraffe gallop--I've not seen that before.
In Tarangire, every giraffe that we saw stopped what it was doing (eating mostly) and just stared at us until we moved.
Several of the guys in our group were true birders. This is a Secretary bird.
a silver-backed jackal
a bat eared fox
and a spotted hyena carrying a pork chop or a warthog chop or a spare rib or a gazelle rib
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