On the fifth day of our Rockjumper tour to Tanzania (November 9th), we left Tarangire NP and started making our way west. We spent a few hours in Manyara NP, and stayed one night in Karatu. Next day we drove along the Ngorongoro crater rim, and visited Olduvai Gorge before reaching Serengeti NP. We visited such amazing places and saw so much, that only this transit is worthy of a blogpost.
Driving out of Tarangire wasn't easy because there were still so many birds to see, but we had a longish trip ahead of us and had to keep pushing on. Still, several stops before we left the national park produced some cool birds.
Lesser Honeyguide
Brubru
After saying goodbye and thank you to Tarangire, we continued towards Lake Manyara NP. It's a beautiful and scenic route and we enjoyed the beautiful landscape. We stopped at Esilalei, a Maasai village where we did the 'Maasai Experience'. Even for a hardcore birder like me it was a fascinating and enriching visit, and our Maasai hosts were very hospitable and friendly.
Of course, my attention was constantly drawn to the birds inside the Maasai village, that included a surprising Little Sparrowhawk, Kenya Sparrow and Rufous-tailed Weaver. Nearby there was a pair of Rosy-patched Bushshrikes.
Little Sparrowhawk
Kenya Sparrow
Rufous-tailed Weaver
Poor photo of a great bird - Rosy-patched Bushshrike
When we reached Manyara it was already pretty hot. The water level of the lake was very high, and there weren't too many birds on the lake itself. However, the forest did produce the goods, with African Pygmy Kingfisher, both Crowned and Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, and good views of Hildebrandt's Francolin among the many birds we saw there.
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Crowned Hornbill
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
Hildebrandt's Francolin showing interest in elephant poo
Blue Monkey - nice views of this scarce monkey
We stayed overnight in the excellent Bougainvilla Lodge in Karatu, where hybrid Yellow-collared X Fishcer's Lovebirds were plentiful.
On our sixth day of the tour (November 10th) we left Karatu early and entered the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We had an excellent time driving along the Ngorongoro crater rim, but I will leave this section to a dedicated blogpost about Ngorongoro, that I will post in a few days. Driving down from the crater rim, we chanced upon a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk sitting by the road:
Before reaching Serengeti we stopped at Olduvai Gorge. we couldn't resist the birds in the scrub and woodland there before entering the museum itself - it was fantastic there, with our first Purple Roller of the trip, Rufous Chatterer, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Spotted Thick-Knee and lots more.
Purple Roller
Purple Grenadier - I advocate that the female plumage is even more beautiful than the male
Red-fronted Tinkerbirduo
Rufous Chatterers
Spotted Morning-Thrush
Spotted Thick-knee
White-browed Scrub-Robin
The museum - recommended
Olduvai Gorge
Before leaving Ngorongoro Conservation Area and entering Serengeti Conservation Area we checked some desert tracks off the main road that produced Temminck's Courser among many other desert birds.
Next up - Serengeti! Stay tuned.
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