13th November 2014

Fabulously close views of two Cheetah were a great start to what was perhaps our best ‘mammal day’ of the entire trip. As we left the cats a mission started with Prosper speeding along the tracks and showing no interest in stopping for anything. We soon discovered why – a pack of 13 African Wild Dogs had been reported. Extremely rare and seldom seen in the Serengeti (Zul hadn’t seen any here for 20 years) we got excellent views as the pack, looking slightly unsettled, rested under a line of trees.

                                African Wild Dog

 Two of the dogs wore radio collars and one of the females was hugely pregnant. We watched them for about an hour by which time they were beginning to move off. Indeed, the dogs could not be found the following day. Everything else was bound to be an anti-climax but we had great views of a Cheetah on a kill and several Lions. We had lunch at the Serengeti Visitor Centre surrounded by both Rock and Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax. As usual water attracted birds: Black-necked Weaver, Chestnut Sparrow, Grey-headed Social-weaver and Black-faced Waxbill all added here.

                                Rock Hyrax

On the way back to the lodge a stop by a small Hippo pool produced Striated Heron and numerous waders very familiar to a birder from Northern Europe: Ruff, Little Stint, Avocet and various Sandpipers.

                                Striated Heron