Last days on the short grass plains of the Serengeti

On our last afternoon at Ndutu there was a large storm with lots of lightning and heavy rain, but as is usual with these storms once it had passed the weather cleared and we decided to go out on the evening drive. Just around the corner from our camp we came across a lioness with two cubs sitting licking themselves dry.  As we watched them and took photos a large herd of wildebeest came out of the woodland and cantered across the open drainage making for the opposite side.  The lioness immediately turned and started to stalk closer while her cubs took off for some nearby bushes. Sadly for the lioness there was not enough cover to get close enough to make a charge so she lay low in the grass watching her dinner thunder by, perhaps hoping to see an injured animal among the ranks. 

We have been lucky this safari because the migration has been concentrated in our area of the short grass plains and we have had some great viewing.  When people come on safari the prime objective is to see the big game unless of course you are an ardent birdwatcher. Many of the birds here in East Africa are stunningly beautiful and they provide the ‘gravy’ on top of the game to complete a rounded game drive. Often around camp these birds become quite tame and I caught this superb starling trying to steal some breakfast.  

One morning it had become quite hot and we saw this lioness high up an accacia tree at Seronera, for all intents and purposes like some overgrown leopard without her spots!