Selous

  Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
Sunday, August 3, 2008

After three short safari flights on a 10 passenger plane, we arrived in Selous Game Reserve.  We were met at the airport (really just a dirt airstrip) by two giraffes and our open topped defender driven by our safari guide.  The safari began in the air with the amazing views from the planes. 






Within minutes, Lindsay the expert plant spotter, noticed a bright pink flower in the middle of the bush.  The plant hunt was on for Doug...and later he determined it was a desert rose - a plant you can't normally see unless it is flowering once a year.   Very special to see it in nature, it was also the present Doug gave Lindsay for her college graduation gift. 



We had amazing safari drives at Selous and the area was very remote, making us one with nature!  The highlights of Selous included an evening sunset cruise with a boat driver that didn't speak much English.  Ashley wasn't too keen when the hippos started surrounding our dingy boat, but the guide said..."no problem".  The pictures were great, but definitely too close for comfort.  We also had lunch with an elephant in our camp, saw bush babies while eating dinner above us in the trees, late night escorts by the Masai warriors to our tents, and outdoor showers that were serenaded by hippos snorts in the distance.

 

The best part of this stop was watching lions eat "breakfast".  Our morning game drive started slow until we came upon another jeep watching lions.  After patiently watching for 20 minutes, the jeeps drove wildebeast towards the stalking lions.  It was our first "kill" we had all seen, and watching the female lions take down a wildebeast, kill and eat was INSANE!  Warning...pictures below are gnarly!!!