Another early start. This time we were heading down from the Ngorongoro highlands towards the Serengeti National Park. On route we stopped off at Olduvai Gorge, a famous archaeological site where the earliest remains of our ancestors was found along with some footprints showing that early humans were up on two feet 1.8 million years ago. The site also attracted interest as it contained fossils and artefacts from then almost to date, detailing evolution and our developing use of tools, pots and eventually musical instruments.
After a quick informal lecture and a good look round the small museum we started the long drive to the Serengeti. Our driver was keen to tell us that he knew a short cut so we would be there in no time! Now, anyone who knows anything knows short cuts often aren’t a good idea, after all, If the route was sensible it would just simply be ‘the way’. In Africa the rules are the same. About an hour after leaving Olduvai we found ourselves stuck. At first it didn’t seem like too much of an issue but the car thought otherwise and firmly stayed put digging deeper and deeper holes into the sand. After some time in the midday sun trying to dig / push / pull the land cruiser out our driver decided that he best go for help. Suise – who thought the whole thing rather funny and I were left with the car whilst Ali headed off over the horizon towards where he though the nearest road should be. After a long hour sat waiting in the car with no driver, no phone signal and only able to locate ourselves on the map, give or take a 100km Ali returned with a Land Rover. Fortunately he had managed to flag down a French couple and their guide and convinced them to try and drag us out. To cut a long story short (ish) several different attempts were made to free our car, ranging from towing, winching and straight old fashioned ramming. At one point the rescue vehicle also got stuck and the poor French woman started to panic that she would also be stuck. Neither of us speak good French but just as they were formulating a plan to persuade their driver to abandon his attempts and us in the sand our car became free. Needless to say everyone was relived.
The Serengeti, Maassai for endless plain, was indeed that. We had arrived slightly later than anticipated but the late afternoon sun was perfect for game viewing. We checked in to another of the old government lodges, this time constructed around some rocks and rested. We had elected for a dawn game drive the next day and wanted to make the most of our last day full day on safari.
After a quick informal lecture and a good look round the small museum we started the long drive to the Serengeti. Our driver was keen to tell us that he knew a short cut so we would be there in no time! Now, anyone who knows anything knows short cuts often aren’t a good idea, after all, If the route was sensible it would just simply be ‘the way’. In Africa the rules are the same. About an hour after leaving Olduvai we found ourselves stuck. At first it didn’t seem like too much of an issue but the car thought otherwise and firmly stayed put digging deeper and deeper holes into the sand. After some time in the midday sun trying to dig / push / pull the land cruiser out our driver decided that he best go for help. Suise – who thought the whole thing rather funny and I were left with the car whilst Ali headed off over the horizon towards where he though the nearest road should be. After a long hour sat waiting in the car with no driver, no phone signal and only able to locate ourselves on the map, give or take a 100km Ali returned with a Land Rover. Fortunately he had managed to flag down a French couple and their guide and convinced them to try and drag us out. To cut a long story short (ish) several different attempts were made to free our car, ranging from towing, winching and straight old fashioned ramming. At one point the rescue vehicle also got stuck and the poor French woman started to panic that she would also be stuck. Neither of us speak good French but just as they were formulating a plan to persuade their driver to abandon his attempts and us in the sand our car became free. Needless to say everyone was relived.
The Serengeti, Maassai for endless plain, was indeed that. We had arrived slightly later than anticipated but the late afternoon sun was perfect for game viewing. We checked in to another of the old government lodges, this time constructed around some rocks and rested. We had elected for a dawn game drive the next day and wanted to make the most of our last day full day on safari.
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