Tanzania Day Eight: A Morning Nature Walk To The Muddy Shores Of Lake Manyara
I awoke on a mild and overcast Spring day in Tanzania. I left my tent/lodge at the Burunge Tented Camp and made my way to the main lodge to join my group for a nature walk to the shores of Lake Manyara. I was disappointed I didn’t see and zebras or giraffes on the way. 
We were introduced to our local guide, a local tribesman.
After a short introduction to the geography and history of the area, our group set out through the scattered brush and trees of the grassy floodplain of Lake Manyara, about a mile away.
The guide found and introduced us to many of the natural secrets of the area including native natural medicinal plants. animal remains
and droppings. 
We were fortunate to see what I believe was a tawny eagle perched in a tree.
And a warthog was up early too, probably wondering what we were doing in his backyard. 
As we neared the lake the soil became muddy. The flood plain of Lake Manyara expands many miles during the wet season. It had not dried out yet so we could not get any nearer to the shores of the lake. 
However we were able to see the flocks of pink flamingos and yellow-billed storks taking off from the waters of the lake in the distance. 
One of the storks was strayed from the lake and landed near our group . 
We also saw, what I believe to be, a Thomson’s gazelle quickly race from us as we probably disturbed his sleep and woke him or her up.
As our guide decided to return to the camp the rising sun could be seen on the cliffs of the Manyara escarpment of the Great Rift Valley towering above the lake. 
We walked back to camp under the threatening overcast clouds of the skies of northern Tanzania. 
We soon arrived at our camp where I saw a number of colorful birds in the trees,
including this pair of parrots. 
After getting some photographs of the exotic birds,
I returned to my room, packed and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. We soon were off to continue our adventures in Tanzania. Next stop will be the highlands above the Great Rift Valley. Here is a link to a gallery with more photographs from my hike to the shores of Lake Manyara. Tanzania/Zanzibar Day Eight Morning hike. October 5 2019.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
— Rachel Carson
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