part one · serengeti national park. we spotted a cheetah ... on our second day we visited the...

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Part One

Tarangire National ParkTanzaniaJanuary 2014 2

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We were out in the Tarangire National Park, early in the morning, when we spotted three young Cheetah cubs playing in the distance.

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We watched for a while, spellbound; then they went to join their mother, sitting on a mound in the shade of a tree.

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We watched for a full ten minutes, as they nuzzled their mother, and all had a good look around, before settling down together.

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Later that daywe saw Leopards

This particular sighting was in the afternoon game drive in the

Tarangire National Park.7

We were watching a mother leopard with a cub in the far distance, half hidden in the long grass, when . . .

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Suddenly, someone in

our jeep said, “Look behind

you!”

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We all turned round, and there, quite close to us, was another cub, almost fully grown, stretched out in a dead tree, quietly dozing.

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We watched for a good ten minutes, before she stretched, yawned, then gracefully climbed down . . .

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. . . and sauntered off to join her mother and sister.

It just shows that you literally need eyes in the back

of your head when watching

wildlife.

Ngorongoro CraterTanzaniaJanuary 2014 13

Two days later we were in the Ngorongoro Crater.

It was a steep descent into the crater, passing many baboons on the way: it is a large enclosed area, meaning the wildlife remains there.

We saw at least ten lions on the morning drive.

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We spotted this lion in the distance, walking along a line of bushes, heading our way.

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In fact, he came right up to our two jeeps, and decided to scent mark the one behind us.

We were able to get several close up shots, as he seemed to be in no hurry.

Then he wandered off, and decided to half heartedly stalk a zebra.

Serengeti National ParkTanzaniaFebruary 2014 17

The following day we were out in the Serengeti National Park.

We spotted a cheetah in the distance, sitting on top of a termite mound – the highest vantage point in this flat land.

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After about 15 minutes, during which time the cheetah looked left and right several times, keeping a watch, we spotted another cheetah in the long grass, heading her way.

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As soon as they recognised each other, they walked off into the distance together (a mother and full grown cub).

Seeing them for so long, just doing their own thing, makes you sigh with pleasure.

You can’t take your eyes off them to worry about camera settings....

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Tadoba Andhari Tiger ReserveCentral India

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I had been to India before, visiting the main cultural sites, but this was my first time in India on a wildlife trip, where we stayed in three different jungle lodges.

On our second day we visited the ‘Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve’.

The morning drive included blankets and hot water bottles, with frost on the ground. This was the afternoon game drive; on entering the park, we drove to a waterhole(always a good idea for wildlife viewing).

A tigress had been seen here, deep in the grass, but there was no movement.

We managed to manoeuvre our jeep to the front, and waited, watching a Crested Serpent Eagle.

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After about 30 minutes, she emerged from the grass, and walked along the edge of the water right in front of us!

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She looked annoyed as the jeeps were blocking her path on to the track (used by jeeps and animals).

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So she carried on round the lake and disappeared into the grass.

I took several shots on burst mode, as well as a short video clip.

We had a fantastic view - a definite senior moment!

I think I fell in love with tigers there and then!26

January 2016More Tigers

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24th Jan 2016

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25th Jan 2016

Continued in Part Two

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