PhilHydePhotos: The Bogs, Part Two: Day 20 of our Awesome African Adventure.

Fear not, we were rescued last night as the sun seemed to disappear with our hopes. We got to camp just in time for food (and the long lost wine) then crashed out...

Forget the shower...

This morning we set off when there was enough light to avoid bogs.

Well, that didn’t work did it?

There was enough light however to avoid three hungry adult male lions just outside the camp. I had heard these guys during the night, not far from the confines of our lion-resistant canvas tent.

Thank goodness the lions were there to protect us...

The sun rises on our last full day in Tanzania. This day we hunt rhino.

Hunting black rhino is far from easy. They are exceedingly rare, thanks to the magical effects of their compacted nasal hair (horns). Imagine being someone skilled enough to sell the idea that rhino horn has viagran like abilities. Very few have that skill just using lies and misinformation. Brexit anyone?

Anyway, another reason that they are difficult to find is that, despite their enormous size, they can appear to disappear into their preferred daytime environment; the jungle. They tend to only graze in the open at night. They, for some strange reason, are averse to getting blasted by an elephant gun.

Added to these difficulties is the boggy terrain, something that would come back to haunt us.

Thus we spent much of our day being disappointed and stuck in bogs. Thankfully there are plenty of other things to see, if only the long grass and bogs would allow it.

The long grass also made personal hygiene a little difficult. How desperate do you have to be to respond to a call of nature when the grass that surrounds you could contain snakes or safari ants? Safari ants are definitely best avoided. Snakes too.

Then there is the problem of cleaning yourself if you successfully achieve your goal. Most Tanzanians don't use toilet paper, a product rare and too expensive. Instead they use water jets. I admire their aim. Wildlife, on the other hand, achieve hygiene by other methods.

Here is an ostrich to explain...

Other birds are available...

We then tried to go east and cross a sand river. Forget it, all approach roads to the one bridge were totally bogged down. There was a second bridge. ‘Was’ being the operative word.

We turned back, and as doing so a leopard ran at speed below us. There was no way we could get near it.

Instead we managed to find a route down to the edge of the sand river, where some elephants were crossing to meet with another herd. This sand river is clearly inappropriately named.

The banks of this river were however made of sand. This made getting down the bank a mite on the tricky side...

Having an exhausting effect on some of the more overweight family members.

Getting back up appeared easier, involving making you own staircase.

Leaving here we of course got stuck again. Totally stuck. Help was required but rescue was nearby so it didn't take long to be freed.

We then followed some local lions out of this area. This pride was on the hunt...

Although, as usual, the male held back, being reluctantly dragged along in the hope of getting his oats. (I look forward to seeing how this translates into French.)

We then went down to the Mara and stayed a while watching the hippos,
These guys were plagued by giant fleas.

We headed off.

About five meters.

Grounded again.

This time no help was at hand, and communication poor to non-existant. We were on our own (appart from the hippos, who seemed quite amused).

After much struggle and teaching of Swahili swear words, Ian jacked the car up and got rocks to put under the tire. After several attempts, we were on our way. This time we were much better equipped. Both red and white wine were available.