Sex Tour

Our guide explained how most animals timed their mating for the calves to be dropped when the grass was lush and they would have 3 months to grow and gain strength for the migration north.  This all started when a Blacksmith Plover alighted momentarily on the back of a female and someone said, "That was a quickie."  From that we went to lions mating, Impala bucks fighting for dominion over the harem, giraffe "packages", reading baboon butts for signs of estrus:

We noticed some goats in the Masai herds sporting red and yellow plastic "aprons".  Asked about this, our guide explained that the Masai too only wanted their goats to mate at certain times when the grass was plentiful.  We dubbed these "goat condoms."  Like what this elephant is wearing. (Borrowed picture)

But some guys are ready any time.

Five-legged zebras, blue-balled monkeys

 elicited ribald laughter in which our guide joined, although perhaps a bit embarrassed.  "You naughty ladies."

Tanzanian trees and plants

Some  of the very interesting and beautiful trees and plants of Tanzania and Zanzibar

Lillies

Heliconia rostrata

Flower of the Banana tree

Poinsettia bush 

Senna tree ( this is a common laxative)

Quinine tree (used against malaria)

Flower of the aloe vera plant with a Superb Starling 

                                                                        A purple hibiscus

A Beautiful Sunbird on a flower (?)

Baobab tree

Cycas thourasii (Madagascar)

                                                                             

Jack Fruit (or breadfruit)

Kapok tree

In the Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater

Animals can move in and out of the Crater using the same park roads we do.  Some of our findings that day:

Lions digesting last night's kill,

Water Buffalo--some of the most dangerous animals in Africa

And some of the most beautiful

"Tommies" at ease

Zebras

And some of the most disgusting

Hyenas like to wallow in mud

Tanzanian Birds

Gorgeous bird life! With the help of our knowledgeable guide, we identified 78 birds.  Some are represented here.

The White-fronted Bee-eater

Lilac-breasted Roller

Weaver bird nests (sloppy variety)

Taveta Golden Weaver (neat variety)

Ostrich (male)

Crowned Plover

Blacksmith Plover

Kori  Bustard (not displaying)

Marabou storks

Yellow-billed storks roosting

White-headed Buffalo Weaver

Grey Crowned Crane

Sand Grouse

Secretary Bird

Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an island 24 miles off the coast of Tanzania.  It was an early Arab slave depot and also known for its spices.  It is a little steamy even in the "cool" season when we were there.  The buildings are a little dilapidated but it recently was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site which should bring in some much-needed funding for renovation.

Zanzibar is 90% Muslim.

There are many ornately-carved doors which not only show the wealth of the inhabitants but are studded for protection (supposedly against wild animals, but who knows).

We stayed at a hotel at the Mbweni Ruins, which was the former home of a Sultan with an exotic garden.

Cycas thourasii (Madagascar)  

The Zanzibar contingent