Woke up early (at 4:10 - before the alarm). Quikc shower and hopped in the car. On our way to Schiphol airport. We arrive nice and early, no stress. Our flight - to Kilimanjaro - leaves at 11:00, and arrives at 20:10 local time (+1 hr). After a short stop of 1.5 hours the flight continues to Dar Es Sallam, where we arrive on scheduled at 22:30. After arranging our visa ($50 each), we were taken to our 'stop-over' hotel.
October 4th - Co-Pilot
After a good breakfast we are collected at 9:00 to return to Dar Es Sallam airport for our local flight (at 10:30) to Selous. Hopefully the bagage is not an issue, as it is quite a bit more than the allowed 15kg each.
The flight was very nice. We had a femal pilot (Seqai) and Petra was allowed to sit next to her, on the Co-Pilot seat. After we quick detour off about an hour to Zanzibar, where we collected another 6 passangers, the Chessna Grand Caravan flew us in about 1 hour to one of the airstrips in Selous.
As some leaving guest had to wait for the next plane we were asked to stay at Selous International Airport (a picnic table and a toilet) and have our packed lunch there.
After an hour drive, which was already a kind of Game Drive as we saw many animals, we arrived at Lake Manze Tented Camp - our stay for the next nights. On arrival we were offered lunch - a real one - after which we went to our tent. #6 and a real nice one!
16:00 we left for our first Game Drive. And boy, what did we already see a lot of animals!
Impala, Zebra, Giraf, Wildebeest, Hyena, Hippo's, Elandantilope, Croc's, Buffalo's, Elephants, Baboons, Warthogs, Mongoose, Lion's eating and ..... the reason we picked Selous: African Wild Dogs!! Moreover, we saw them hunting, and capturing 3 Impala baby's.
October 5th - Rafiki
During last nights dinner the signs were already there. Petra felt far from good. Last night a soar throat, this morning feaverish. Conclusion is that she, unfortunately, can't join for the morning Game Drive. So she takes 2 paracetamol and returns to bed.
I join the morning Game Drive, joined by a Dutch mother and daugther (Melany & Dorien), and to British sisters (Emma & Jane). We saw pretty much the same as yesterday afternoon, only no dogs this time (no surprise as they are vary rare and always on the move). We did see, as an 'extra', a Kudu and a Loiness that seems to be lost (the guide was sure she didn't belong to the Prides in that region). And we looked very very hard for the Leopard. But no luck in finding this elusive animal.
Back in the camp Rafiki (the local 'resident' Elephant) was snooping around our neighbours tent.
Petra had slept a big part of the morning (she had been served breakfast on the veranda) and had enjoyed the Impala, the Baboons and of course Rafiki around the tent (Lake Manze Camp has no fences, so all wild animals can wonder through the camp without any restriction). She was feeling better than in the morning, but was far from fit yet.
After lunch in the main tent - where again Rafiki was snooping around - we decided to do a boat Safari (Lake Manze Camp offers Jeep, Boat and Walking Safari's), a very good choice! We saw Giraf crossing the Channel (connection between Lake Manze and the Rufiji River). Hippo's, Croc's, Buffalo, Waterbuck and loads and loads of Birds: Kingfisher, Herron, Ibis, Eagles and Bee-eater. Marvelous.
When we arrived back at the camp we heared Elephants everywhere. Petra, saw 4 Elephants when she returned to the tent. Due to that she got a lecture from one of the Masai, as she shouldn't have walked by herself!! (the Masai are guarding the camp day and night and escort the guest to and from the tents during the dark).
When we returned to our tent after dinner, escorted by a Masai, we saw a Gennet running away ....
October 6th - Searching for the Leopard
The morning starts with good and bad news. The good news is that the camp reserved a Jeep just for the 2 of us (on our request, to be able to return to the camp in case Petra was feeling too bad - without disappointing other guests on the jeep). The bad news was that Petra still felt sick. But okay, we were going to give it a try.
The first we spotted was a Hyena with cub. It was very cute as the cub was trying to hide in a, too small, whole in a big tree. Like little childern would do, it stuck it's head in so it couldn't see us anymore, assuming we couldn't see it anymore either.
Somewhat further: "A Leopard cub ..... oh no, it's a Gennet". Yes, we were looking for the elusive Leopard again. And since our guide is trying hard he sees them more often than they are there. After having enjoyed another range of animals and splendid views Nahumu (our Guide) and Abu (the Jeep driver) got word that a Leopard had been spot. It took us about half an hour to get there. We searched extremely well, but didn't find the Leopard. We had breakfast at Lake Manze (picnic) with a nice view over the lake and with that the animals in (Croc's) and around (drinking Impala) the lake.
After breakfast we continued our search, without success. Nahumu admitted the previous group same only a tail disappear in a ditch. On our return drive to the camp we saw Hartebeest, mother and young Bushbuck (very shy and rare to see), and just before we reached the camp 3 Lionesses - mother and 2 almost full grown daughtrers. They had tried to catch a baby Giraf - unsuccessfully.
Nahumu had told us that the Wild Dogs hadn't been seen last two days, so we decided for a boat safari - on the Lake this time. We had the same captain (Rashidi) as last time, and were joined by the Swiss couple that had just arrived. The boat ride was very relaxed, but not as exiting as the one on the Channel the other day ... untill a small fish jumed in the boat .... what a panic.
Tomorrow we will have breakfast at 7:00 (so we sleep long). At 8:00 we are planned to leave for the air strip to leave for Ruaha.
October 7th - Leaving Selous, arriving at Ruaha
A Leopard had been spot nearby. Chance of a lifetime, so the plane can wait (we hope). Speeding through the shrubs and bumping over fallen over trees we arrived there. First falls alarm: a Gennet (again). But than, allthough very short, we saw our first wild Leopard!
And then, as quick as we could (yes, flat out) over the dirt roads to catch our plane. We arrived just in time, pfeww. This time not a big 12 seater Caravan, but a small 5+Pilot seater. Hardly bigger than a car.
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