Arusha National Park

Water Buffalo staring us out
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Wow!!!

Went on a one day safari today to the nearby National Park not far from town.  It's small and doesn't have big cats, elephants etc but it was, nonetheless, absolutely fantastic!!

The morning was grey and drizzly (so no chance of homesickness!) and Mount Meru, which occupies the western side of the Park was shrouded in cloud.  At 6:00 it had been bathed in sunshine as I could see it clearly from the guesthouse.  However, the rain soon stopped and the cloud eventually cleared.  By lunchtime it was really rather hot!!

Zebra and Giraffes at the end of the day
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I saw: Water buffalo (one really close, staring at us from the edge of a lake!), loads of giraffes, zebras, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and some velvet monkeys (v sweet!).  As for birds, I don't know where to begin - hornbills, auger buzzard, countless swallows, greater and lesser flamingoes, various waders (including avocets which I have, as yet, never managed to see in the UK), crested cranes, two types of ibis, herons, egrets, unidentified raptors (silly book doesn't have sillhouette identification!) and countless smaller and very vocal winged friends.

Giraffes!
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As for the scenery - absolutely stunning - grasslands, scrub, swamps, tropical woodland, lakes and of course the unavoidable view of the extinct volcano, Mount Meru.  Sadly the presence of cloud meant that Kilimanjaro was not visible, but no doubt I'll get a peek sometime in the next few months!

*GEEK ALERT* the volcanic history of the area was clearly evident by the large boulder of volcanic rock - presumably volcanic bombs chucked during the last eruption lots of years ago (I don't do numbers!).  One area of the park is also a crater, as in a caldera, although a mere pin prik compared to Ngorongoro which I shall visit at some point! *END OF GEOGRAPHY GEEK SECTION*

Zebras chasing each other
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Anyway, that was just a taster and has certainly whetted my appetite for more in the months to come!

Off to the coast tomorrow.....