March 18, 2025

Olakira Migration Camp Ndutu, Serengeti National Park, Sinoni, Tanzania

Got up and went to breakfast at 07:00. We were on the trail by 07:20. This is our last morning game drive here at Olakira Camp. The main object to this morning's drive is to find the leopard.

The derive starts by heading out Northeast following the marsh which runs between Lake Ndutu and Lake Lldapashi. We pass by Lake Ndutu and notice that it has decreased substantially since the last rain. Somehow there are also more flamingos than before. Apparently the feeding is good.

A Marabou Stork stared down on us as we drove past its perch. A pair of male lions were just lying in the roadway sunning themselves.

We turned the corner and a beautiful bull elephant stood just before us having is breakfast.

We stopped and Hansani scanned the marsh area looking for leopard. Excitedly he said there he is!

Both Mary and I looked, even with the binoculars we couldn’t see anything. So driving around the elephant he headed out over the top of the marsh. He pulled onto a slight bluff and said there, see it now. Uh, no.

After a few minutes we saw the white tail of the leopard. Hansani moved the jeep around a little more and finally the leopard as in sight. We stayed with the leopard for about a half hour. Watching him drink, and walk down the road to a nice shady bush where is apparently has decided to camp for the afternoon.  It was very exciting.

After that we headed back towards the camp. When at an intersection we saw a black-backed or silver-backed Jackal. It goes by both names.Hansani said it is difficult and rare to see these. Then the mate presented itself before they ran off.

We headed up the hill towards the airport when we chanced upon Verreaux’s Eagle Owl sitting on a branch of a tree. Week, ok, Hansani saw it. It blended so well with it surroundings it was difficult to locate it. Once we found it it still wasn’t easy to distinguish it from the tree. It is a very large bird known for being able to take down small animals like the DikDik. They are also know for actually attacking other predator birds.

As we continued on we saw, again Hansani saw, a secretary bird hunting the grass. These are beautiful birds, and it was fun to watch her/him looking in the grass for a snake. We have seen one before, but this one wasn’t more than 2 meters from the jeep.

Along the way we saw more Zerba, Gazelle, Impala, giraffe, and other wildlife, probably more in one morning that we have ever seen on a single game drive. No only that but we found the Leopard after three days of looking. The best game drive yet.

Silver-back Jackel. It is apparently rare to see them but we have seen two! This is not my photo, ours was too fast for us.

We headed back to the camp, took off some of the layers of clothing as the sun was now warming things up. Then we headed to the dinning room for lunch. Lunch as lasagna, and a couple different salads. After lunch we headed back to the room where Mary took a nap while I made entries into the blog and packed.

At 16:00 we headed to the dinning room to play cards. It was definitely my day at cards. We played two complete games, and I won them both. Ok, yes, I am a bad winner. We had tea and spent the remainder of the afternoon there.

Dinner was served just after 19:00, thankfully not at 20:00. Beef tenderloin roast, lyonnaise potatoes, green beans and carrots. A very nice lemon parfait for dessert. We were back in the cabin by 20:00. I had an after-dinner cigar while Mary played word on her iPad. Then it was good night.

Buonanotte e caio, Enrico e Maria

Photos will have to follow they won’t upload at new camp