We're Not "Lion"...Elephants, zebras, wildebeest — oh my! Tarangire has it all!

Lunch at Tarangire Safari Lodge!

 November 2, Sunday

Today was a transit day, we were moving from one lodging to another. We weren’t just changing lodges, it was our first “game drive.” We would be going to Tarangire National Park and then onward to Neptune Lodge Ngorongoro for 2 nights.

After another incredible breakfast, we packed up and headed out. First, we had to say goodbye to all of our new friends, crazy it was only 2 nights and they felt like family.

We then were on our way to Tarangire National Park. To get there, we had to drive through Arusha and we again, got to witness the impact of the political unrest on that city. The city and the villages on either side were still being managed by the Tanzania Military. Gas stations were also still closed. We almost made it all the way out of the city and its “suburbs” and we got pulled into another military checkpoint. This time we had all of our luggage in the back because we were heading out.

This checkpoint was a little more nervewracking than yesterday. Francis had to stop the jeep and get out and talk with the guards. They asked him to open the back of the vehicle and empty it. All of our luggage and carryons were on the street in Arusha. He also had to open the wheel well. We weren’t sure what was going on. They repacked all of the luggage, and Francis came back and we were on our way.

After we cleared the area, he said the guards told him to tell us that there was no reason to be worried. We were fine. We asked what they were looking for, and he explained that they were mking sure he didn’t have any kind of explosives in the vehicle.

Though we were always safe, and really had no reason to be worried. I will admit that I was glad to leave the “city” area behind and head out into the wild.

We are now on our way to Tarangire.

About two hours into our trip we stopped at a cute little shop for a bathroom stop. 

We went through some more villages on our way and arrived at Tarangire National Park.

real road on the way to Tarangire, out of Arusha.

Some of my research about Tarangire National Park:

• Tarangire National Park is located in northern Tanzania, in the Manyara Region. 

• The park covers around 2,600 to 2,850 km² depending on sources.

• It is named for the Tarangire River, which flows through the park and serves as a vital water source for wildlife, especially in the dry season. 

• Elephants & Large Herds: Tarangire is famous for having very large elephant herds. During the dry season, many animals concentrate around the river. 

• Baobab Trees & Unique Landscape: The park has striking baobab trees and varied terrain—grasslands, woodlands, riverine areas. 

• Birdlife & Wildlife Diversity: Over 500 bird species have been recorded. The mix of habitats supports many mammals and predators. 

• Less Crowded Than Some Famous Parks: Although part of Tanzania’s “Northern Circuit”, it’s often less busy than parks like Serengeti National Park, making for a more relaxed experience. 

After Francis did the processing and paid the fees to enter the park, we popped the top of the jeep for the first time. So fun!! And then we drove in.

We found wild baboons, wild zebras and giraffes right away.

We then saw some wildebeests.

We found a mama cheetah and two cubs taking shelter from the heat under the tree.

Sooo many zebras!

Then one of the highlights of the day, elephants on parade! It was still hard to believe that we are in Africa and these animals are in the wild in their natural habitat!!

We found some giraffes.

More wildebeest.

 We would soon find out that zebras and wildebeest are in abundance in Tanzania and they are even more abundant because the great migration that is happening with both animals.

We found a warthog shading himself.

We then watched the common Eland for a bit.

Francis had books in front and anytime we spotted an unfamiliar animal, he was able to open the book to the page so we could learn about it,.

We had a surprise lunch at the Tarangire Safari Lodge. This was a beautiful building with incredible views.

More elephants after lunch, including some very cute babies!!

We continued on after lunch and found some hyenas and more giraffes and made our way to exit the park and continue on our way to Neptune Lodge.

Francis promised us a stop to do some “souvenir shopping.” We stopped at what you might call a roadside indoor marketplace. They also had real tanzanite jewelry available for purchase. We did some shopping including some handmade wooden bowls.

From my research about Tanzanite:

• Tanzanite is mined only in one location in the entire world: the Mererani Hills (sometimes spelled Merelani), which lie about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Arusha and roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Mount Kilimanjaro.

I asked the guy, Ezekial, that was following us around and “helping” us if I could see where the woodworking was done. Again, I am blown away by the way of life in Africa and the tenacity and industriousness of the African people. The three ladies got some Tanzanite jewelry and Don and I got some treats for ourself and our girls!

We continued on our way and got to Neptune Lodge as the sun was setting. We were staying at this luxury lodge at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater for two nights. It was beautiful!!

We were greeted in true African style, with music and dancing, and then shown to our rooms after a welcome briefing.

We each had our own “cabin.” Again, so beautiful!!

We had the all inclusive package and enjoyed cocktails in the lobby lounge until dinner. We enjoyed our dinner and then returned our rooms for for the night.

Good night from the rim of Ngorongoro Crater! 

Stay tuned for our adventure down into Ngorongoro Crater! Will we see the elusive black rhino, what bout pink flamingos?

It's always Seldom A Dull Moment with the #RetiredRahns!