The kingdom of elephants. Tarangire National Park

• The kingdom of elephants. Tarangire National Park

To mother-elephant trampled us, we had to drive a few meters forward: we were right at the intersection of elephant trails with a dirt road near the river bend. Elephant stared me in the eye, raised her trunk, short roared, and then took her cub across the street. Dad was following ... This was my first encounter with the elephants in the wild. On that day, we met a lot of them. Particularly impressed with the herd "people" 30, which went to the watering. And we again had to give way to pedestrians. After all, the elephants still on some machines it can and turn if they stand in their way ...

On that day, in addition to elephants, we met dozens of giraffes, ostriches, mongooses, gazelles and even the present Pumbaa. No luck only with leopards, for which, in addition to elephants, go here and safari lovers from around the world.

This Tarangire Park in Tanzania ...

To get to the park can be either in an organized group or on their own, but only in a specially rented SUV. At the entrance to the park issued a special permit, and then you can ride throughout. However, not sliding down a dirt road in savannah.

On the territory of all the Tanzanian national parks movement permitted only in special off-road with an open top. Out of the cars are not allowed in any case. Watch and you can shoot any of the interior, or from the side windows.

Tarangire Park is located in the northeast of Tanzania, on the eastern shore of Lake Manyara, 120 km from the town of Arusha. It is a picturesque region of savannas with baobabs and acacias, which is named after flowing from north to south of the river Tarangire (Taa-raa-nghee-reh). Landscape and vegetation Tarangire - unique to Tanzania: it grow tall grasses, shrubs and trees tamarind.

But the most important thing here is not dates, acacias and baobabs and fauna.

The first we saw zebra mongooses. This is a real stroke of luck, because these animals are very small and secretive.

In Tarangire very many birds. Including migrating from Europe

Gazelle Impala, one of the most graceful and African gazelle

And, of course, the giraffes! I came up with the nature of these beauties

African ostrich

Famous tarangirskie baobabs. Many of the trees are seriously damaged trunks at the bottom. It's about them itched elephants ... We're going to look for their flock ...

When the guide said "seyas find a herd of elephants", I thought he was joking. Not kidding!

This is the same family of elephants from which this post began. Mother, baby and father.

But the most stunning picture had this when we saw several dozen elephants, slowly wandering through the savanna direct to us ...

Closer ...

... 15 minutes later they stopped a few meters from our car and started to drink water from any puddles.

I love this photo elephant with elephant calf, which stares at me as if hinting that it was time to clean the car off the road and pass it

I had to move off

Another impala, a female ...

Birds-cleaners skins giraffes

out of the car park can only be in one place, in the dining area. And here on the trees tusyat dozens of monkeys, looking to steal from inattentive tourists

Windows jeeps in any case can not be left open, otherwise the monkey necessarily profit would climb all that is bad

We even managed to capture the tree squirrels. Well, when there is a telephoto, close these chips are not allowed ...

So in the end of the post selfie on the background of the elephants. Along with the elephant was not allowed to ...