Weekend at West Kili

We all headed off Friday afternoon to Simba Farm on the western slopes of Kilimanjaro, where we've enjoyed a number of fun weekends in the past. This time we'd invited a bunch of friends to come too, and ended up with a total of 14, which was pretty impressive. It's was a bit damp, but that didn't stop us all having lots of fun (and seeing some nice birds too!). Here's the evidence:

The first evening saw the sun fighting through the clouds at times...

Somehow Mama escaped an attempted drowning...

and was able to assist Gollom in his fishing exploits...

Having mastered the bicycle last week the Mancub decided driving was next.

Whilst Kitty decided to help Grandma with her cryptic crosswords

Failing to find suitable fish, the mancub managed to catch a vole

But he couldn't catch the golden-winged sunbird...

He still insists on being the leader of any expedition...

And common quail in Africa look odd - erlangeri, for those in the know...

Today's excitement!

The mancub learnt to ride a bike! Much excitement and a few scrapes too...

Grandma survived the snakes...

and the camel too!

Travellers return...

Mama B and Grandma arrived safely back from Rwanda this evening - much excitement and bouncing by two little ones. Mama is too tired to blog tonight, but has got the pictures on to prove that they had fun, so I've selected a few now. I'll leave the text for her to add some time...

And where has Mr B been all this time?!

All over! From northern Serengeti to Cape Town. And lots of busy things in between, getting ready for my next big thing which will give me plenty of excuses to keep returning to Tanzania forever - the big bonfire in Serengeti! I've not got plans approved and am in the detailed 'on-the-ground' stage of planning, whilst simultaneously launching a crowd-funding push to get us started if you don't know what that means, check the project web page over here - if nothing else you can watch a very painful 3 minute video of me explaining the project!). And if you want more information about the actual project and why I want to burn Serengeti, just check the other blog.I don't need to repeat it here, but I will post some pics from some of my travels over the last few weeks!

A few days training at Manyara saw some lovely evening light by the lake

Some nice mornings too...

And some serious rain too... They weren't stuck, just keeping to the side so we could carry a dormobile through!

Then it was up to Loliondo, NE of Serengeti, via Lake Natron

Loliondo was also beautiful, and extremely wet! More training...

Sunrise at Natron on the way back was very pretty.

This is a desert rose on the lake Natron Escarpment

Spot the gazelles under Ol Doinyo Lengai!

After meeting Mama and children in Karatu, we headed on for a few days safati at Ndutu, where almost the first sighting was this pair of honeymooning lions!

But is was cheetas that kept us captivated over the days we were there - this was one of 5 cubs that came and played under my car...

Ndutu too, was looking great after the rain!

Giraffe fight in slow motion...

Rather nice to see nesting chestnut-banded plovers by lake Masek

Kids enoyed the cap fire and their glowing bands!

Still just kitties really...

This was a family of two cheetah, very close to the family of five!

We enjoyed seeing mama cheetah hunt and catch a hare

I love the Ndutu woodlands...

Sunrise was pretty good too...

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse are always good to see on the plains

Then it was on to Cape Town, I'd hoped to go on a oat trip to see some albatrosses, but heavy waves stopped play...

Instead I watched mice...

and angulate tortoises at West Coast NP

But Blue Cranes were one I'd wanted to see for ages. Plus Black Harriers and I was happy!

Cape Point looks very like Portugal...

But more sunbirds! The orange-breasted were looking lovely.

And it was great to see seabirds again!

A few white-chinned petrels and a subantarctic skua flew by Cape Point, but sadly no albatrosses. Next time...

Had tp pay my respects to the penguins again, of course

I think he legs are too short...