30.11. - 01.12.2014 | BERLIN, AMSTERDAM, NAIROBI KENYATA
After receiving my luggage at the airport, I am driven directly to my first accommodation, the Safari Park Hotel. After a difficult flight connecting Amsterdam to Nairobi, I am happy to have arrived. Dinner and planning for tomorrow.
Kenya - the land of the vast savannah.
02.12.2014| Masai Mara
After breakfast transfer to the Masai Mara Sopa Lodge at Masai Mara National Park Reserve. The 1,672 square meter National Park forms the northern part of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Wide areas of the park are dominated by open hilly grasslands with scattered acacia. Surrounded by lush gardens, Masai Sopa Lodge sits high on the slopes of Oloolaimutia Hills. I arrived at the lodge at about 1300 with sun - just by the pool - then go to the first Game Drive: wildebeest, zebra, impala, cheetah, buffalo and a lot of other animals ... unfortunately in the rain! A dramatic mood with Thunder rumble as a backdrop.
The lodge is 250 km from Nairobi.
03.12.2014 | masai village, game drive
After breakfast, drive to Game Drive. We meet a small group of lions. Hyenas, giraffes, various antelopes and buffaloes in the Masai Mara. The car gets stuck and we have to get out in the middle of the landscape and clear the wheels. Not dangerous, but inevitable, because the car is so firmly betrayed in the ground that it is released only with the help of branches and a shovel. Afterwards we look for a nice place under an acacia and eat a snack in the shade. Two young hyenas are watching us. We continue to the Mara River - see a group of elephants in the distance.
In the afternoon I visit a Masai village. The Chief explains the plant world and how the tribe lives. Cows are in the village center - young animals partly directly with in the huts. Among other things, the Masai feed on the blood of the cattle - the blood is taken from them without killing the animals. Flies are a sign of wealth - as many cattle attract many flies. The Masai sons are traditionally made man by killing a lion. Banned today, as species protection. I watch the martial arts of the Masai - jump from the state high in the air. The vocals in deep bass.
Dinner and bed time. Tomorrow we head to Lake Nakauru Lodge. A long drive of about 7 hours duration.
04.12.2014 | Mara sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru
I leave the Masai Mara after breakfast and travel along the "bread basket" of Kenya, where I leave behind large fields of wheat and barley on my way north into the city of Narok. Here is the headquarters of Masailand. I drive along the sweeping plains of the Rift Valley, past giraffes and gazelles.
Arrival at the lodge at 13:30 - short lunch at Lake Nakuru. The water here shimmers in soft pink, because many flamingos live here. After lunch, I take a game drive in Nakuru National Park and return to the lodge once the sun goes down.
In the golden evening light I watch a leopard hiding his prey on a tree - best light and unforgettable moment. We come across more leopards, two white rhinos in the dusk.
Lake Nakuru Lodge is located in the heart of the most densely populated marshland, Lake Nakuru National Park, just two hours from Nairobi.
05.12.2014 | amboseli sopa lodge
After a hearty breakfast, I drive to Lake Naivasha for a boat ride.
After an hour and a half drive arrive at the lake and start the boat trip. Ospreys and hippos characterize the picture. The osprey sits high on a tree and falls down - chasing a fish. After an hour, the driver picks us up and continues in the direction of Nairobi. Lunch in a hotel - big security. Then south to Amboseli, where I reach my new accommodation - the Amboseli Sopa Lodge.
Nestled in exotic gardens, surrounded by fragrant Fangipani, flowering thorn trees, giant cactus and colorful bougainvilleas, the lodge lies at the foot of Kilimanjaro.
06.12.2014 | Amboseli
Departure at 0800 after a good breakfast with an incredible view of Kilimanjaro (highest mountain Africa / Tanzania altitude about 5800m). Arrived in Ambolesi, looking for the gray giant. Soon we meet a first group, which we observe from close range. About 25 animals with many boys. Silently, they come from the mountains into the swamplands, where they spend the day.
Elephants everywhere - so many animals, in addition to zebras, gnu's and buffalos, drag the horrors through the landscape. Two African Ospreys are sitting silently on a tree stump. Hippos on the wayside, as well as giraffes and impala, Thomsengazellen.
Lunch outside in the tent - on the way back a group of elephants on the roadside. In the hotel a quiet afternoon. Tomorrow Tanzania!
We have the Big Five: buffalo, rhino, leopard, lion and elephant!
07.12.2014 | amboseli sopa lodge, lake manyara serena lodge
After lunch, continue along the Masai steppe to the Great Rift Valley. The lodge is located high on a ridge, from where I have a nice view of the park below. Incredible views over the Great Gift Valley and beautiful sunset on the Mto Wa Mbu steep slope. Today, I explore Lake Manyara National Park and observe its diverse wildlife. Lake Manyara Park has a rarely found in East Africa groundwater forest, which merges into acacia grasslands. On the banks are swampy areas.
08. - 10.12.2014 | lake manyara serena Lodge, serengeti sopa lodge | HOTBALLOON
After breakfast, I continue my trip to the border of Tanzania and will have lunch in Arusha. Today, I explore Lake Manyara National Park and observe its diverse wildlife. Lake Manyara Park has a rarely found in East Africa groundwater forest, which merges into acacia grasslands. On the banks are swampy areas.
TANZANIA
One of the wonders of the world is the Ngorongoro Crater in front of me. Fantastic view from the top into the crater - rich green colors. Past a Masai village - continue towards Serengeti Lodge. Located on a steep slope of the Nyarboro Hills in the southwest of the Serengeti, is the Serengeti Sopa Lodge, the most famous national park in Africa. Already on the first day so many animals in the Serengeti. Morning balloon ride over the Serengeti alarm clock goes on at 3:30 pm, a quick coffee to wake up. 0410 Depart for the balloon! Through the black night - two hyenas cross the road, a few impalas with bright eyes. Arrival on the balloon at 0600 in the morning with sunrise. The preparations are under way. Short introduction from the captain: since the gondola is across the entrance is so that in each cabin (total 8) two people have to climb into it. The fire heats up the balloon, slowly the gondola straightens and we climb up! It is fantastic - we glide softly over the Serengeti, but unfortunately there are no animals to be seen, only our shadow remains. After a good hour, the wind is not cheap and we have to go down. Jeeps bring us to a beautiful acacia tree - it's been breakfasted with champagne! Out of Africa. Afterwards it goes on the Game Drive! Past lions, leopards in the tree, hippos and many birds! We saw a serval cat!
Morning in the Ngorongoro Crater! Departure 0830 clock!
10. - 12.12.2014 | serengeti sopa lodge, ngorongoro sopa lodge
After my stay and the Serengeti Sopa Lodge I make today an excursion to Ngorongoro. At a picnic with stunning views of the expanses of the savanna, I strengthen myself before continuing to visit a Masai village. Afterwards I will continue to my next accommodation - the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. At the edge, on the highest point of the crater, is the lodge.
Full day crater tour with picnic on 11.12.2014. Cloudless clear sky - but still relatively cool. It's going to get hot in the crater. Two African buffaloes greet us. Soon a lion-male in the bushes and near the mother with the boys. A few Masai offer us a ostrich egg - Mowaku buys it for dinner for two dollars. Far in the distance elephants and a blackmouth rhinoceros. There are 18 pieces here - in 1990 there were 120! Lunch - a bird of prey / black kite - lunges at me and steals my chicken leg! Many hippos in the swampy pond - zebras and a jackal. Hyenas always in groups - a mother with a boy. Incredible landscape - in the middle of the crater lush green with all the animals. On the way back to the lake with flamingos and hippos again. In the lodge around 1600 - time to sunbathe by the pool.
12.12.2014 | ngorongoro sopa lodge, tarangire sopa lodge
Departure on time to Tarangire - leaving Ngorongoro we meet buffaloes and lions. On the way we stop in a small village and buy red bananas from the market. Arrive in Tarangire - ELEPHANTS at 13:30, 4000 copies are in the park. Dense scrubland and wide grassy areas alternate with my drive through the park. The river, which flows through the landscape, attracts many animal herds even in the dry season. With around 2,600 square kilometers, the park is one of the five largest parks in Tanzania.
Surrounded by ancient baobab trees and grasslands, Tarangire Lodge is located in the east of the National Park, on the shores of the Tarangire.
13.12.2014 | tarangire sopa lodge, arusha coffee lodge
On time start for Arusha, the last stop of my trip to Africa. A final drive through Tarangire with all its elephants and this beautiful landscape. Elephants along the way - giraffes and many birds. Arrive in Arusha at 12:30. The Coffee Lodge is nestled in the hills of the fifth highest mountain in Africa, the Meru, which, at 4,562 meters, can easily keep up with the highest alpine peaks. One last evening in Africa - tomorrow on 14.12.2014 my plane goes to Germany.
