We were up by 5am as we had to leave for the airport at 6.30, even though our flight wasn't until 9.00am. The early departure meant the trip only took 30 minutes - thankfully all the nightmare traffic was going the other way! We arrived at the domestic terminal 2 hours before our flight so were able to have a coffee in the cafe.....the weather was already hot and steamy but we found a spot by the air conditioning so after our coffee we cooled off nicely.
The flight was long and circuitous - first stop Zanzibar, followed by Tanga, on the coast, then Arusha where we had a short break, security check and loo stop before getting on an unexpectedly short flight to Ndutu. We arrived at 1400, our itinerary had said 1530 so we were very grateful, and met our companions for the next 10 days....Benedict our driver guide, Jacob his assistant and trainee guide and Paul Joynson Hicks our photographic guide - Paul was our late, albeit fantastic replacement,for Warren Samuels who was filming in India.
We headed off towards the Lodge game driving as we went as it was impossible to do anything else through the herds of wildebeest! We watched
a wildebeest trying to give birth and realising the calves feet were not out and that she was unlikely to succeed as it was the breach birth equivalent we moved on.(today's photo) Very sad but I am sure she joined the circle of life shortly afterwards - as the 10 days progressed we also found other carcasses which had probably suffered the same fate.
Exhausted from hoping we would see a birth then subdued by the realisation that it wasn't normal we found a shady tree and stopped for a late lunch.
After watching the wattled starlings who follow the herds and counting the most kestrels, about 7, that we have ever seen hovering and hunting in eyesight we headed off towards camp.
We saw other vehicles watching a female cheetah so joined them - she left a young zebra she had been eating and lay by a low bush, when she felt safe she squeaked and two young fluffy cubs hidden in the grass bounded out and joined her - a lovely sight.
As we got closer to camp we heard that wild dogs had been seen - as one of the camp cars, with guests was watching them we joined them. The dogs lazed in the last of the sun, they then greeted each other and
seemingly prepared themselves for an evening hunt. The pack was 6 adults and 4 teenagers - two of the adults had collars - and we would get to know them very well over the next 4 days.
With large herds of wildebeest in the area they had plenty of prey.
We watched as they tracked down and clinically, if a tad gruesomely, killed and consumed a young wildebeest. It was now getting quite dark so we headed back to camp amazed at being lucky enough to see wild dog actually track and kill their prey.
Our late lunch made our 8 pm late arrival at camp easily tolerable. We did however skip the pre dinner shower and had it afterwards allowing us, refreshed,to sink into the sheets and sleep well before our 5.30am call to ensure we were up and away before sunrise - and to get the best photographic light!