I wake early, pack my bags and head off for breakfast. The 6 unfriendly Americans are eating breakfast but do not even acknowledge me. How very rude.

I depart at 07.45 for the drive back to Manyara airstrip. I think this is too early to leave and am proved correct with an hour and a half wait at the airport. The drive is again interesting. There are, once more, wonderful views of the crater in our descent and empty roads through lush countryside to the airport. On arrival at Manyara Airport I am delighted to find there is free wi-fi. Hoorah I can post another day’s blog. I chat to another traveller who is an expert blogger and he gave me some useful tips. However, if you cannot access wi-fi it is very limiting. I am doing so much that this is turning into a full time task

The plane arrives on time and we board for the flight to Serenara airstrip. The flight makes 2 stops before my destination; Ndutu and Kusini. Each landing strip becomes narrower and less well maintained and more animals graze by the side just to make landings more edgy. On the 2nd leg we are descending and ready to land when the plane banks very sharply to the left. I am flung against the window and people to my right would certainly have fallen into the aisle had they not been strapped in. Yet again I see my life flash before my eyes, then we are level again. We breathe a sigh of relief. The co-pilot apologises for the sharp manouevre. There were birds directly in our flight path. We are warned that this could happen again on the next leg. Great! We land and wait on the plane while one passenger disembarks. This is a short stop but while we wait I spot a chameleon on the grass and he is rocking forwards and backwards. I have no idea why but he is cute and keeps me amused for the few minutes before we once more take-off. The short flight to Seronera is uneventful and after 20 minutes we land and I am greeted by my driver John.

A quick visit to the washroom and we head for our vehicle. John hands me a most welcome ice cold beer and we set off for Dunia Camp which is about an hour’s drive. The landscape is typical flat savannah with no trees but lush grasses which I think may make game viewing a challenge. Almost immediately we spot a tawny eagle on the road ahead which has caught a small rodent. I attempt a photo before he takes fright and flies off. I need to be quicker but it’s not bad!

The terrain gradually changes with more acacia trees and we spot several herds of elephant and stop to observe before moving on.

I am so excited to be back on safari and take pleasure in everything I see whether large or small.

As I approach our camp John stops by a large acacia. There to my surprise are 7 lions asleep in the branches. On the whole it looks pretty uncomfortable, but they seem contented enough. I look to my right and spot two young lions under a bush which is not big enough for the two of them. They continually fidget to find the best spot. We watch for a while then head off for camp.

John says we shall return to watch them on the afternoon game drive.

We arrive at Dunia Camp and I am greeted warmly by the staff who are smiling broadly and singing me a welcome song. Dunia Camp is 95% staffed by women. This is a great innovation by Asilia, the lodge operator. The manager is Angel. She has a wonderful personality and is a great host. It turns out she can talk more than me!

I am shown to my room which is huge. It is indeed a tent but has polished mahogany floors and a spacious bathroom with full plumbing.

Even better I discover I have WiFi in the room. Perhaps at last I can catch up on my blog….I unpack my bags and head for lunch which is a buffet. Tables are laid out on the verandah overlooking the plains. Lunch is served and is savoury mince with pasta and an avocado and tomato salad. It is tasty and just right in the heat; accompanied by a nicely chilled glass of white wine I relax and soak up the ambience.

I did not arrive at the camp until 14.30 so, no sooner have I eaten, than it is 16.00 and time to set off for the evening game drive. We pass buffalo, impala and baboons on our way to watch the tree lions. When we return all 9 lions are in the tree and the younger ones are becoming restless. It is entertaining to watch and we hope that they will come down but instead they just jostle for position. However, it gives me some nice photo opportunities.

Whilst watching them a large herd of elephant pass by, as does a hesitant wart hog and more baboons. I am served a G&T in the vehicle and as the sun sets we return to camp. We have to drive fast as the sun sets quickly here and it is dangerous to be on the tracks at night.

I freshen up and go to watch bush TV before dinner. For those of you not in the know, bush TV is the campfire. There is only one other couple at the lodge. They turn out to be rather quiet. Fortunately Angel is a great raconteur – we sit by the campfire to eat and it is all very pleasant. It is surprisingly chilly and I think that I must remember to bring my jacket tomorrow night. I am suddenly startled by loud buzzing in my ear and something weighty hitting my shoulder. Not  unsurprisingly I let out a shriek. Angel tells me not to panic it is just a moth. I say it was not but she does not believe me until it lands on the table. It is a huge round beetle getting on for 3″ in diameter. Everybody then proclaims how brave I am that I remained in my seat!!

We finish dinner and head to my room. There is a hot water bottle in my bed and I sleep soundly.