Kenya & Tanzania: August 2025

Aug 23, 2025

Travel Recommendations: Do's & Don'ts

Many of you have asked me questions about how I plan for travel and few other questions related to safety. Here are some suggestions:

Travel Style: Personal or Group:

I prefer to travel with a group as it has many advantages:

They take care of all planning and logistics, good hotels
Offer English speaking guide
In a small group (20 or less), you get to have meals with everyone, get to know / meet interesting people and develop friendships.
Most cover key points of interest and offer immersive experience like lunch at a Host family, work in a farm, etc.

My first trip after retirement was to Australia and New Zealand in 2018, where a high-end tour company arranged personal itinerary for 6 weeks for us. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, however we were missing company/interaction.

I was referred to Odysseys Unlimited tour company by a friend some 10 years ago, so, I booked a trip to Provence, south of France in 2022. Later from fellow travelers found out about other travel companies. Now a days you can use ChatGPT for recommendations.

Now I have shortlisted few travel companies that are good and enjoy group companionship where we meet fellow travelers, eat Breakfast, lunch, dinner etc. and share life stories:

Travel/Tour Companies in USA:

Odysseys Unlimited: Upper-mid price range, reliable, small group guided tours, Quality accommodations and well-designed itineraries.

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.): Based in Boston and they focus on small-group tours (10–16 on land) and cultural immersion with "Trip Experience Leaders" who are local to the destination. Recognized by Travel + Leisure and USA Today for educational and philanthropic leadership.

Gate-1-Travel: Value for money, budget travel, yet compressive itineraries and nice hotel accommodations. Join their mailing list and they offer 10 to 20% off every few months. Use Discovery small group trips, that are limited to 20.

Adventures Abroad: Canadian-based small-group tour operator—perfectly tailored for travelers seeking experiential, mid-range guided tours worldwide

Road Scholar: A non-profit focusing on educational tours for adults, especially seniors and multigenerational groups. Offers moderate-price programs with knowledgeable instruction and thoughtfully curated experiences.

Collette Tours: A century-old family-run company delivering classic guided tours (small group "Explorations" around ~18–24 travelers) with quality accommodations, meals, optional excursions, and solid travel protection.

G Adventure: A Canadian company, and they offer a wide variety of travel styles to suit different preferences and budgets, including trips for youth in 20s and 30s.

Here are my next 4 trips:

Oct 29 - Dec 05, 2025: Nepal & Bhutan. With pre-trip to Delhi and post trip to Chennai, Nasik and Mumbai.

with Gate-1 Travel

Jan 14 - Jan 31, 2026: Costa Rica: Pura Vida & Rainforest Discoveries with Post-trip Extension to Tortuguero

With oattravel.com

May 07 - May 23, 2026: Canada: Rocky Mountaineer Train (Jasper -> Vancouver) with visit to Calgary and Jasper & Banff National Parks. Post trip 7 days at Vancouver Island.

with Gate-1 Travel

Oct 15 - Nov 15, 2026: 20 Day Japan by Rail Tour (Tokyo to Fukuoka) with 7 day pre-trip to North Japan (Sendai, Matsushima, Yamadera and Amori City; Hot Springs) and 4 day post trip to Osaka.

With Adventures Abroad, A Canadian Company

Travel/Tour Companies in India (from ChatGPT):

Thomas Cook India: With roots dating back to 1881, they offer comprehensive international tours—covering Europe, USA, Australia, and New Zealand—with the backing of strong global partnerships.

Cox & Kings: One of the world’s oldest tour operators (since 1758), it provides elegant, customized international and corporate travel experiences with attention to detail and heritage.

SOTC Travel: Established in 1949, SOTC delivers well-crafted, value-conscious group and customized tours across the globe. Known for reliable planning and excellent service, it's a trusted choice for mid-level travelers.

Travel Triangle: An innovative platform connecting travelers to local agents globally, enabling highly customized, flexible itineraries—suitable for romantic, adventure, and luxury vacations

TUI India: Branch of global TUI Group offering beach holidays, cruises, and luxury vacation packages across Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Adventures Overland: Specializes in epic overland and road-trip adventures—such as multi-country bus journeys from India to London or touring Europe in supercars—ideal for thrill-seeking travelers.

Safety During Travel:

I avoid countries that have unrest, protests, political issues etc. Safety is always an issue, so, I don’t venture out myself in the nighttime. I don’t carry any valuables with me, no jewelry for women, costume jewelry is fine. Money belt under your pants, or lower front pockets with a zipper.

I typically travel with a group tour, where they take care of all logistics as well as security.

Choose a good airline that is profitable and reputable that maintains their planes better.

When flying, do not remove shoes until after take-off, say at least first 10 min. Also, put your shoes on 10 minutes before landing. In case of crash landing/take-off, you will need the shoes to get out of aircraft in hazardous/fire conditions.

Airlines / Bookings:

Initial Research for Airline Options: I look for options on Kayak or Expedia. Try mid-week, Tue/Wed/Thur, as flights are less crowded and less expensive.

Then I go to airline webs site and book the flight. For long haul, buy premium economy. Then then do selective upgrades for overnight flights if reasonably priced. Some airlines allow you to bid for bus class upgrades and I do that.

Try booking direct flight, they may cost more, but saves you time and avoids missing connection. In case of connection, ensure that you have at least have 3 hrs. layover, to give extra time for delays, security and terminal changes.

Never book one way flight, more expensive. Try booking a round trip or multi-city booking. e.g. New-York -> DEL; BOM->New-York ( vs. One way ticket New-York->Del and separate ticket BOM->New York). for intercity, book separately. Expedia is good and they provide good technical support.

I arrive one to two days before the tour starts, to relax and recover from jet lag.

Use Viator or Trip Advisor to book a walking city tour day-2 to familiarize the city.

Many times I extend the tour, where they book hotels or I book myself on Expedia or Airbnb and visit museums and other activities.

Miscellaneous:

Binoculars: Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 8x32 Binoculars, HD Optical System. Just right size for safari or travel. Very good quality and just the right size.

Photography: If you have a good Phone camera, it should be good. For wild-Life and Birds, better to buy a traditional camera with at least 20X optical zoom.

Clothes: Except for one pair formal pants and shirt and may be a jacket, use casual wardrobe:

informal wear, that is made with modern tech, water repellant, airy, quick dry, this way you can wash in the hotel and in 6 hrs. they would dry.

Shorts and T-shirts for during the day and a few long-sleeve shirts and sweaters for cooler evenings /mornings.

Dressing in layers, as sometimes the temperature can vary widely based on seasonality and time of day. Bring long-sleeved shirts, a sweater or fleece, a lightweight waterproof windbreaker, and a rain jacket.

Medicines: Carry medicines for all possibilities, fever, cold, upset stomach, electrocyte, diarrhea, Antibiotic for throat infection, Amoxicillin for general infection, first aid, pain relieving patches for Back pain, Wrist band, Knee and ankle support.

Footwear: Water proof sandals & shoes

Swimming gear: Many hotels have pool and Sauna, so bring your own gear.

Sun Glasses and spare eye glasses

Coffee/Tea: Bring you own favorite instant coffee and tea bags, as you may not like coffee/tea in some hotels/countries.

Laundry: When staying in Airbnb, I also carry 4 cloth washing pods, as many will not supply them

Rain/Sun: Light Rain gear, hats, small light umbrella

Power/Chargers: International power plus, chargers with long cables for Phone and other gadgets.

Carry Bag: Always carry critical meds, and overnight clothes, in case you checked language doesn't get there on time.

Local Travel: Uber is almost worldwide and they are the safest. If arriving late night, ask hotel to arrange pick up, unless you are in safe cities.

Local Guides: Before you depart, do research about the country, cities, places to see and come up with your own list of places you want to visit. Some would-be covered by the tour company, some you can do yourself during spare time or pre/post trip.

Money:

Always carry at least at least $500 USD ( 5s, 10s, 20s and 50s)

I use Debit card to withdraw in local currency at a major bank (in city) and not at the airport, where they charge high transaction fee and unreasonable exchange rate

When paying by credit card, always charge in local currency and not USD, as your bank always provide the best exchange rate.

Aug 21, 2025

Movies / Documentaries on African Safari:

When I was 10 year or so, I saw Hatari at Odeon cinema in Delhi and then again later some 20 years ago. The following is a collection of movies & documentaries that I recommend, to experience an African Landscape and Safari.

Top Movies with African Safari:

Out of Africa (1985): Based on a true story. Danish baroness Karen Blixen, from Denmark, living on a Kenyan coffee plantation, forms a complicated and passionate relationship with a free-spirited big-game hunter named Denys Finch Hatton. The film explores their love and the beauty of the African landscape.

Hatari! (1962): The word Hatari inSwahili means danger/risk. John Wayne leads a diverse team of professional animal catchers in Tanzania, Africa. They capture wild animals for zoos. The film focuses on the camaraderie, humor, and romance among the group, all set against breathtaking African vistas

Borne Free (1966): True life story. George and Joy Adamson (Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna) live in the wilderness in Kenya. In self defense, George kills a lion and his mate only to find they were protecting their three cubs. He and his wife decide to raise the cubs.

Aug 19, 2025

What Brought me to Kenya & Tanzania

My love for Kenya began in 1986, when I saw the movie “Out of Africa”. I have seen this movie, perhaps more than 15 times since then and it is my all-time favorite.

The movie starts with the dialog "I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of Ngong hill..." with a joyful music by John Barry.

When I met Neelam (born in Nairobi), I was saw her as an “Out of Africa Girl", Meryl Streep. p.s. Neelam also had resemblance to Nutan, a famous Indian actress in 60s, and my favorite also. Plus her airline background, and my passion for airplanes, sealed the deal, at least from my side.

Released 1985; Directed by Sydney Pollack; Main actors: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford; Music by John Barry (many compositions were inspired by Mozart.

Music:

The piece of music by Mozart most famously used in the movie "Out of Africa" is the Adagio from his Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622.

While the film's score also features other Mozart pieces, the Clarinet Concerto is the one most closely associated with the film and is considered a central part of its emotional landscape. It is not a symphony, but a concerto for a solo clarinet and orchestra.

p.s. A concerto is a musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, while a symphony is a larger-scale work for a full orchestra without a featured soloist.

Awards: It won a total of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was nominated for a total of 11 Academy Awards. The film also won multiple other awards, including three Golden Globe Awards.

Here are links to few of my favorite Clips:

Out of Africa intro:
Out Of Africa • Main Theme • John Barry
Out Of Africa| Robert Redford and Meryl Streep Own a Coffee Farm in Kenya
Meryl Streep's Powerful Poem (Full Scene)

The Movie Story: (Source: Google AI Gemini):

"Out of Africa" romanticizes the life of Danish writer Karen Blixen. Based loosely on Blixen's 1937 memoir of the same name and other biographical sources, the movie chronicles her experiences in colonial Kenya from 1914 to 1931.

Karen Blixen was know as "Baroness Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke" and she wrote books under pen name: Isak Dinesen.

She married Baron Bror von Blixen, a Swedish nobleman, (hence, she was known as Baroness) writer, and professional big-game hunter and guide in Africa. They were married from 1914 to 1925.

The film opens with a flashback, as an older Blixen (Meryl Streep) reflects on her time in Africa. In 1914, she arrives in British East Africa, having entered into a marriage of convenience with Baron Bror von Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer). Their plan was to start a dairy farm, but Bror's lack of interest and his extravagant spending led Karen to shift their venture to a coffee plantation in the foothills of the Ngong Hills.

Karen quickly falls in love with the land and its people, forming a deep bond with her African staff and the local Kikuyu tribe. However, her marriage to Bror is troubled by his constant philandering and lack of commitment. It is during this time that she meets the free-spirited big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford). Their initial encounters are marked by an intellectual and mutual respect, which blossoms into a passionate and complicated romance.

The core of the film's narrative is the unconventional love affair between Karen and Denys. While Karen seeks a traditional, committed relationship, Denys is a man who values his freedom and independence above all else.

Their love story unfolds against the stunning backdrop of the African savanna, with the film emphasizing the contrast between Karen's civilized European ways and Denys's wild, untamed spirit. Denys teaches Karen to see Africa not just as a place to be tamed, but to be understood and appreciated in its raw beauty, even flying her over the vast plains in his biplane.

The film follows Karen through a series of personal and professional struggles. She contracts syphilis from Bror, which forces her to return to Denmark for treatment, and her coffee plantation faces ruin due to a drought and the worldwide collapse of coffee prices. Amidst these hardships, her relationship with Denys is a source of both joy and pain. The climax of their relationship is tragically cut short when Denys dies in a plane crash.

In the end, with her plantation facing financial failure, Karen is forced to sell the land and return to Denmark. Before leaving, she makes an emotional plea to the new authorities to ensure her African workers have a place to live. The final scenes show her bidding a tearful farewell to the land she had come to call home. She never returned to Africa.

Summary of Actual Movie Vs. Reality: (Source: Google AI Gemini):

The movie is lauded for its stunning cinematography and powerful performances. However, when it comes to historical realism, the movie takes significant liberties. It's best described as a romanticized, Hollywood adaptation of Karen Blixen's life, rather than a faithful historical account.

Here's a breakdown of how the film compares to reality:

The Source Material:

The film is "very loosely based" on Karen Blixen's 1937 memoir Out of Africa, her 1960 book Shadows on the Grass, and other biographical sources.

The memoir itself is not a straightforward narrative; it's a collection of reflective stories and vignettes about her life in Kenya.

The movie's screenwriter, Kurt Luedtke, extracted dramatic incidents and romantic elements to create a more linear and compelling story, adding scenes that didn't happen in real life.

The Source Material:

The film portrays a sweeping romance between Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) and Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford).

In reality, Blixen's book barely mentions her relationship with Finch Hatton, and what is described is a chaste friendship, not an explicit romance. The filmmakers likely drew on her letters and other writings to create the love story.

The romanticization extends to Finch Hatton's character. While the film presents him as a wise, anti-colonial figure, the historical record suggests a more complex individual with a condescending view of the native population.

The Depiction of Colonial Kenya:

The film's focus is on the experiences of the white settlers, with Africans often serving as a backdrop or as a way to demonstrate the main characters' benevolence.

The film largely ignores the negative impacts of colonialism on the local population. It omits significant events from Blixen's life and the historical context, such as a major locust swarm and her detailed accounts of the German army's activities during World War I.

In her book, Blixen discusses the differences between ethnic groups, such as the Kikuyu and Masai, and is critical of certain colonial practices. This nuanced perspective is lost in the film, where all African characters are often presented as a single, undifferentiated group.

The Characters:

While the major African characters like her loyal aide Farah and cook Kamante Gatura are taken from the book, they are far more important in the memoir than they are in the film. The movie doesn't allow them to be real people with their own lives and motivations; they exist primarily to serve the story of the white protagonists.

The film downplays or omits important aspects of Blixen's life, such as the syphilis she contracted from her husband Bror, and the fact that her relationship with Finch Hatton lasted for many years, not just a year or two as suggested by the film's timeline.

In Conclusion:

The movie sacrifices historical accuracy for a more conventional and romantic Hollywood narrative. It's a film about a European woman's memory of Africa, filtered through a romantic lens, rather than a truly realistic depiction of colonial Kenya.

//------------ Some Photos

Below photo was taken in 1925 with Farah Aden and Karen herself when Karen's mother came to Kenya for a visit on the farm. The boy Tumbo developed a very close relationship with Karen Blixen on the farm such that Karen would refer to him as her adopted son.

Below Karen and Farah and Juma, in 1930 on the farm in Africa. On her right side Farah Aden (1885-1942), her Somali butler/Manager, and his son Saufe; on her left her waiter Juma, half Masai, and his son Tumbo.

Below Denys Finch Hatton

Below some photos Karen Blixen:

Karen Blixen died on 7 September 1962

Karen initially dreamed of becoming a painter and even studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Blixen's paintings often depicted portraits of local farm workers, showcasing her empathy for her subjects.

Below is Oil on canvas. The old Kikuyu named Ereri, was painted by Karen Blixen in 1924

Below: The women, who worked at the coffee plantation

Below: Abdullahi Ahmed. He was a Somali, not kikuyu and was the half-brother of Blixen's chief farm manager, Farah. She hire Abdullahi as a kind of page boy. She did so when he was about 10 years old, and noticed quickly that he was an exceptionally smart boy.

When she later on supported Abdullahi's formal education she discovered that he was something akin to a math genius, and had an aptitude for chess, beating seasoned and much older players at their game.

Blixen kept in touch with Abdullahi through letters long after she had returned to Denmark. He wrote his on a typewriter that she sent him from Denmark. He left Kenya, moved to "Somaliland" and became a Judge!

Kenya: Maasai Mara National Reserve: Aug 15, 16, 17

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is in south-western Kenya, and just north of Tanzania Serengeti Nation Park. It is named after the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the region. The word "Mara" means "spotted" in the Maa language; a description of the landscape dotted with Acacia trees and shrubs.

It is approximately 1,500 sq. km, 1/10th the size of Tanzania’s Serengeti Park.

To get here from Tanzania’s Serengeti Park, we had to take 2 small flights. First one to the border, then short bus ride, customs/immigration and then next flight to Maasai Mara. The roads are rough and it would take more than 10 hrs, hence small planes.

It has a large population of Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffalo, Wildebeest, Zebras, Giraffes, and hundreds of bird species.

Our first encounter was with Giraffes, Zebras, Wildebeests and Elephants:

We then encountered Lion's pride, consisting few females and many cubs. The male lions were drinking beer and playing Bridge, not far from there.

We later spotted a single Cheetah.

Soon, she started positioning herself for the hunt.

In the Photo below, you can see she is hiding in the tall grass and awaiting for the right opportunity to kill an antelope. We waited for 30 minutes, it seems she didn't have any confidence, we than left that location.

As we were returning to our lodge, we saw elephants, Zebras and Cape Buffalos, walking towards a safer place for the night.

Below an Eland, the largest ( 2000 lbs) Antelope

Below an Topi, highly social and fast type of antelope

Below an Marabou Stork, trying to create nest

Below Lions in a Mating ritual.

Below Hippos in a Mara river

Note: We couldn’t spot Rhino as they hide in the bushes and are not necessarily near the trail roads.

Wildebeest and Zebra Migration:

The Wildebeest Migration is an annual circular migration of over a million wildebeest, along with zebras and other herbivores, across the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya.

This spectacular event is driven by the search for fresh grazing and water, making it a continuous movement dictated by rainfall and seasonal changes. The migration is famous for its dramatic river crossings, particularly at the Mara River, where wildebeest face perilous journeys through crocodile-infested waters.

The total number of animals participating in this migration is estimated to be over 1.5 million wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and other herbivores.

They typically move from one area to next every 2 to 3 months. They eat grass and once they are finished grazing (like a Lawn mower), they then move to the adjacent area where fresh grass is ready to be eaten. The terrain, altitude, wind conditions are different in each national park, hence the vegetation season slightly varies and hence Wildebeest and Zebra migration.

Accommodations: There are over 100 accommodation options in the Maasai Mara. The accommodations range from large, permanent safari lodges to smaller, more intimate tented camps. They also vary in terms of price, from budget-friendly options to high-end, luxury safari camps (including JW Marriott)

We stayed in “Sarova Mara Game Camp”, a Safari Lodge. It is a luxury tented camp, with 4-star hotel type of facilities. The tent is placed under a permanent roof (to protect against rain), and over a wooden floor platform, with canvas walls and a roof. The bathroom is in adjacent connect structure with all amenities.

Below is a photo the structure of the tent:

Click here for more Photos of Kenya: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Kenya: TAGS, Talia Agler Girls Shelter in Nairobi

Neelam and I visited the TAGS shelter on Aug 6th in Nairobi. The Talia Agler Girls Shelter (TAGS) was founded in 2012 after the death of Talia, daughter of Mindy and Richard Agler from Boca Raton, Fla. Talia had spent 3 months in Nairobi during college as an intern at the CDTC, Center for Domestic Training and Development run by Edith Murogo. The TAGS shelter is now an arm of that organization.

Richard is the founding rabbi, now Rabbi Emeritus, of Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton, Fla. He is also a cousin of Jasmine, our daughter-in-law. We met Richard and Mindy recently at our son’s wedding and were moved by the work they are doing in Nairobi. It compelled us to visit TAGS, where we were welcomed by TAGS director Edith, the staff, and all the girls who are currently on a winter break.

The Shelter provides support and a range of services for recovery to girls and young women who have experienced human trafficking, sexual abuse, child labor, domestic violence, and forced migration from Kenya, the East African Community, and other parts of the world.

It is a safe haven for vulnerable girls and young women. They offer accommodation, education, vocational training and psychological and medical support, empowering girls to rebuild their lives.

Below is a short video of the girls singing welcome song for us. p.s. Photo of their faces is not allowed, hence a side view.

Neelam and Edith are dancing as children were singing songs

For more information, please visit:

//======================== A Personal Appeal ==========

Dear Friends, I have a humble request for those who can afford to support this organization and make donation, please do so. Neelam and I have personally visited them and seen the hard work, education and love given to girls in shelter.

At TAGS, they believe “Saving the World—One Life at a Time”, by rescuing girls/women from human trafficking, sexual abuse, child labor, domestic violence, etc. They currently provide shelter and schooling for 75 students and another 50 are training to acquiring skills so, they can support themselves and re-integrate in the society.

Their funding source has been primarily from well-wishers from the USA. The top three things needed in the next three months, and the cost are:

School tuition fees for 125 girls (75 at Shelter and 50 at Training center) per semester/4 months: $ 25,000
Shelter supplies per month: $1,500 (6 months = $9,000)
Psychological support per month $350 (6 months = $ 2,100)
Back-to-school backpacks/school supplies/notebooks = $ 60 per student for 75 students ($4,500)

The donation can be of any amount (suggestions $50 and up) and every $ counts. For donations, please see the bottom of link below:

Donations for TAGS

p.s. TAGS is a Publicly supported tax-exempt organization under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), based in USA. Donors can deduct contributions made to the Organization under IRS Section 170.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

If you have questions or need more information, please reach out to me:

Santosh747joshi@gmail.com

+1-973-727-7210

Love, Neelam & Santosh Joshi

A personal appeal by Neelam

Aug 15, 2025

Tanzania: Serengeti National Park: Aug 13 & 14:

The Serengeti National Park is in north Tanzania and south of Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya (across the border). It covers an area of approximately 15,000 sq km (6,000 sq mil).

The word "Serengeti" is derived from the Maasai word siringet, which means "Endless Plains". You can see below photo.

The park's diverse landscape includes vast grasslands, open woodlands, riverine forests, and isolated rock formations that rise abruptly from the surrounding flat plains. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here is a short video (virtual tour) taken on safari vans, all are Toyota Land Cruisers, 6 seaters, very rugged and can last up to 1 million KM or 600,000 miles.

The Great Migration (April – October): The most famous spectacle in the Serengeti is the Great Migration, the largest annual animal migration in the world. Over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebra, and smaller herds of gazelle, circular journey in search of fresh grazing lands and water.

Wildlife and Biodiversity:

The Serengeti is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife, including all of the "Big Five" (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Cape Buffalo). The park boasts one of the largest lion populations in Africa and is an excellent place to see these majestic predators in their natural habitat.

Other notable animals include Cheetahs, spotted hyenas, hippos, warthogs, and numerous antelope species like Topi, Eland, and Impala

Birds: More than 500 bird species

Yesterday, Aug 13, our day started with an encounter with a female Chetah and her 3 cubs.

Later we encountered Lions Pride, consisting of few lionesses and their cubs, The cubs were playing, while their mothers were resting, The Lions typically stay little further away, guarding or resting or relax by smoking cigars.

Finally we found their cubs dads, male Lion, 500 yards away, see below,

Next we found a Leopard, resting on a tree. He had hung carcass warthog high up on the tree, to protect from predators and something he could eat later.

The leopards male and female meet only once in 2 years during mating time, after that they live separately, males (like golf buddies) and females (like book/Kitty club). They prefer climbing and resting on a Sausage Tree. See a Sausage Tree below.

We then encountered few giraffes.

We stayed in a luxurious Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. It is on a ridge overlooking the "endless plains" of the Serengeti and its unique architecture inspired by a traditional African village.

Food at the Lodge: Every meal had at least 4 to 5 Indian variaties, such as, various types of Daals, Lobhia, Rice, Chapati/Nana, Aloo-Methi, Aloo-Gobhi, Paneer-Matter, Pau- Bhaji, Chole Bhature. I was very happy to have home style food, not spicy, not oily, just right.

Today, Aug 14, was another spectacular day. Our day started when we saw 2 lions chasing 2 water-buffaloes, but the buffalos out ran them and lions gave up.

Later we saw another pride, where 2 lions had just discovered a warthog. Warthogs hide in a burrow with their backs in and head with horns outside, They are also favorite food for Lions. The lions dug him out in front of us and then our jeep took us near the kill, the warthog was still alive and they were killing him. The Video below is gruesome, but a reality, something we saw just 20 ft way.

After the kill, the big male lions had lion's share, and then cubs joined. The female lion and an older lion were away. Anytime there is a kill/food, the pride has a pecking order.

Our day ended by watching a beautiful sunset from our room.

We saw few more animals and have posted their photos in the album.

If you wish to just see Photos, please click here: