Today was our last full day in the Serengeti. We were all at breakfast at 6:30 AM discussing the lion roars at 5:00 AM and the famous words of Andy Laskowsky “Just when you think that it can’t get any better, it does.” The next thing that happened was a bull elephant walked by our breakfast table!

So after breakfast we all piled into our jeeps. Today Josh decided that there would be males in one jeep and females in the other. About a mile from our camp we found the two lionesses we saw on the morning of the balloon ride. They were also probably the one’s that we heard roaring at 5:00 AM. They appeared to be hunting a wart hog. Our guide estimated that it was a mother and her 4-5 month old cub, probably teaching her to hunt.

After watching this for a while we decided to move on because they kept going deeper and deeper into the bush where we shouldn’t be. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter the boy’s jeep got stuck in the mud. And guess who came to the rescue to pull them out? The girl’s jeep!

This was barely a hiccup on what was to come on this day. Next up was a whole field of baby lion cubs.

Elephants were next on the agenda. These were all along the road so there was no off roading.

Next up we spent a very long time looking at a leopard on a rock in the grass that no one could see. The conversation went like this – you see that big green bush next to the big rock, go up three tiers of rocks next to the tree branch and then look at the third rock to the left. Yah right! All you could see (once you found the right rock) was the head of a leopard lying on the rock hidden by the grass. I am talking at least 30 jeeps all looking at something no one could see. You have all seen the beautiful leopard pictures I have posted. This was just crazy to me after what we have seen the last several days. Finally the leopard got up and walked up the hill to the other side. Of course, then every jeep was fighting to get to the other side of the hill to see if the leopard was there. NOT!

However, better things were to come! We found at least seven male lions (all brothers) gorging on a Cape Buffalo they had taken down. One of the lions must have been injured during the take down and was gorged near his eye.

This is the feast that we came upon.

Off we go to have lunch and we run across this.

We stopped for lunch where there were many hippos.

I had been at this place before and the hippos were unbelievable to watch.

So back to the camp we went for our final farewell dinner. We sat around in a circle and Josh told us how much we meant to him. There wasn’t a dry eye in that circle. He was dressed in his Maasai warrior garb and he played a special song that he danced to.

Many people questioned why I would return to a place that I have already been to. I am sure if you ask anyone who went on this trip, they would understand. There is something magical about the people, the land and of course, the animals. It is life the way it should be, unfiltered and unpredictable. Every place we went we met the kindest, happiest people who compared to us, have nothing. This was and is a life changing experience. I know in my heart I will be back again.

I must also comment about our guide, Josh. You all know that I booked this trip with the stipulation that I get Willie, our first guide, to lead this trip. That did not occur and I was not happy. Josh went out of his way to make sure I could meet Willie on a landing field. I will never forget what Josh did for me. Our trip was different in many ways but mainly because Josh is a Maasai warrior. He brought an understanding of the culture that an outsider could not bring. We clearly were able to experience things due to him being a member of the largest tribe in Kenya and Tanzania. Kudos to you Josh. Asante sana.