After dropping in and seeing some old friends and colleagues, we headed out to the bush and the northern safari circuit. But where others go straight to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, we headed to Tarangire NP. It is part of the biggest annual migration of animals outside of the Serengeti Ecosystem and has a dry savannah vegetation unquie to this part of the world.

Where the high points like Meru, Kili, the Ngoro Highlands and Great Rift Valley catch all the rain when it comes, Tarangire's climate is drier. Much drier and you notice this the closer you get to the park. The baobabs are the very first thing you notice when you get into the area. How could you not notice these massive trees and their sheer number. Known inAfrica as the "upside down tree", they are truly distinctive and hold a very special place in the spiritual context of the locals and within the ecosystem.

But it is Tarangire Sarafi Lodge - www.tarangiresafarilodge.com that takes your breathe away. The wide open verandah overlooking the Tarangire River with the horizon stretching into the distance dominates this lodge with good cause. What a better way, other than on a game drive of course, to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea and watch the elephants and all the other animals come down to drink and play?

But our tent wasn't too bad either. Under the baobabs high above the bend on the river, right at the end of the row with front door facing Africa. Not bad. Especially as you watch the moon rise, and again when tea and rusks are brought at first light before the early morning game drive and the sun is greeted in a very civilised way!

Lions hunting - tick. Warthog escaping - tick

Elephants mating - tick. Sheepish that they had been caught - tick.