East Africa Day 4: A Loooooong Drive!

 On Day 4 we had to drive all the way through Masai Mara National Park, Through Kenya, cross the border into Tanzania, and then drive through Tanzania and MOST of the way across Serengeti National Park. 98% of this drive would be on bumpy dirt roads so it proved to be a long jarring day but fortunately there was lots to see. We started out the day checking out this Mama hippo and her adorable baby in the hippo pool in front of our camp. The baby was SO cute!

On the way out of Masai Mara we spotted a bunch of things, including a Leopard Kill in a tree! Check out my awesome safari crew:

 Cool hyena!

 Then just on the edge of the park we stumbled across a lion pride that was literally hanging out on the road. They were very close to the entrance on the far end of the park. Talk about a welcome party!

 Hmmmm.... those tourists look tasty!

After we drove out of the park we drove up and out of the rift valley:

 And after that we didn't get to see wild animals for a while but we did get to see real life in Kenya and Tanzania which was just as interesting!

The primary mode of transportation seems to be the motorbike and if you think that's an inefficient mode of travel because you can't carry a lot with you, then think again! They can fit an entire family on one of these 2 wheeled marvels!

 along with PLENTY of cargo!

 We passed through MANY different tribal lands. You could tell when you had changed into a new tribe's territory when the huts changed. We went from the square shaped, square roofed huts of the Masai to these round huts with round roofs.

 Then we passed square huts with round roofs:

A little village:

 I can't remember which tribe built which hut or all the names, but there were the Kuria, Luo, Nakuru, Zanaki, Ikizu, and many more. Sam told us the principal characteristics of each tribe. Some were hunters, some were herders, and there was one tribe for which Sam just said: "You know how in the USA Kenyans win all the marathons? Yeah well they're all from the Kalenjin tribe!" Wow! A tribe of natural runners! More huts in the distance:

The border crossing in Isebania was a bit dicey. The kind of place where you glance at your spouse and with no conversation needed, each of you grabs a kid and stays in physical contact with that child for the duration. We had brought 50$ each for the visas to get into Tanzania but the clerk told us that we owed $400 US. WHAT? Check out the fee structure he told us. Sure enough, we went over to the wall and there was a list of every country on earth with the fee $50 per person, with the EXCEPTION of the USA which said $100 per person. How do they get away with this?!? I mean what if the USA turned the tables on Tanzania and charged them and only them, double for all fees into OUR country??? We had enough for what we thought was our visas and enough to tip Sam and we had to give them ALL our USD which left no money for Sam. He was totally cool though and told us how we could wire money to his phone for tip. So we were briefed on how to do that and said good-bye and thanks and told him again how sorry we were not to leave him immediately with the tip he deserved. Then we met our Tanzanian guide Karato. Our new rig:

 Driving through Tanzania was looooooooooong. We ate box lunches in the car and used "natures restrooms" on the side of the road, ALWAYS making sure we stopped in an open area so we could watch for Lions. I seriously was not allowed to go behind a tree. I had to pee on the road behind the truck. Good thing I'm fast.....

 The kids were AMAZING considering we left Masai Mara at 7:30 am and got to our Lodge in the Serengeti around 6pm. They listened to music, read, asked questions, and just were generally GOOD on a VERY long drive!

 Finally we arrived at Serengeti National Park and we still had 1.5 hours to drive! At least it was through parkland!

As soon as we entered the park we were able to pop the top on the rig. It was nice to be able to stand up and stretch our legs after all that sitting!

We drove over a big river filled with hippos and stopped to watch them for a bit:

 Then we hit the herds! There were wildebeest and zebra as far as the eye could see!

Pictures absolutely do not do it justice. You can see some day 4 video by CLICKING HERE!

We stopped to watch the herds for quite a while. Then we turned off the plains into a little gully between hills and stopped to watch a very large baboon troop pass by. Their antics were hysterical!

 We also saw a large herd of Impala:

 Finally we arrived at the Serengeti Sopa Lodge. Not sure what is up with Ted's weird "I'm gonna bite you" face. Too much wild-life viewing apparently...

 We got there just as the sun was setting but we still got a brief view of our home for the next 2 nights.

 We settled in and had a great dinner. Tomorrow we would explore the Serengeti!