Just a lion layin’ on a rock with the migration in the background.

We were lucky enough to see what is know as the “Great Migration”.  It’s the single largest migration of land animals on the planet.  About 4 million wildebeests and 2 million zebras.  All the way to the horizon was peppered with dots and it blew my mind to think they were all animals.  Of course, the lions follow the migration — or should I say traveling buffet. 

The photo does it absolutely no justice.

Sunrise snack on the Serengeti.

Giraffes in the Serengeti.  These guys have huge tongues that they wrap around branches and then pull to remove the Acacia leaves without letting the two inch long thorns injure them.  Giraffes run in such a fluid motion, too.  Feels like slo-mo.

Elephants in the Serengeti.  You can almost feel their intelligence when they stare back at you.

Well, I’m back in Bujumbura.  We drove all day and got into town at 5:30 yesterday evening.  We got on the first ferry from Mwanza at 6:30am and, with the help of the hour time change, drove all the way back in one day.

No one said it could be done.  They don’t know how Glicks can road-trip.

The only casualties were a broken side mirror and a car in desperate need of an oil change.  Not even any flat tires!  Anne and Jan deserve a huge thank-you for their work on this trip.  Thanks for making it happen.

Tanzania was awesome.  Similar to Burundi and Rwanda but noticeably different.  I don’t know if I’d be able to articulate the differences, though.  As for the Serengeti: WOW.  I never thought I’d see so many animals.  Ever.  Our guide, James, did an excellent job both finding and explaining everything and dealing with a carload of seven, two whom were under 5 and in car seats.

It’s 2:00pm now and I’ll be heading to the airport in a few hours to start the long trip home.  I’ll post many more pictures when I get back.  For now, I’m going to nap and spend time with family.

(The photo above was during sunset at the Ndutu Lodge in the Ngorogoro Conservation Area)

Tomorrow morning at 5 am we’re driving to Tanzania for four days in the Serengeti!  It’ll take about 12 hours to drive to Mwanza where we’ll stay for the first night and then head to the park the next day.  All kinds of animals are expected: zebras, giraffes, impalas, baboons, lions, leopards (hopefully), crocodiles, etc, oh my!

The drive back will have to be split into two parts to avoid driving in Burundi after dark.  This means that we’ll get back to Bujumbura and I’ll have to head to the airport in just a few hours.  So, this is about it from here.  I’ll be leaving my computer in Bujumbura so any updates will be sent from my Kindle; no sweet animal pictures until I get back.  Then there will be a flood.  Or, rather, an Ark full of animal photos.  So, the final, week-long leg of this adventure is starting and will end with the return trip to Portland, OR.

Au Revior!