Biggest Surprises: Hippos and Flamingos

I expected elephants, giraffes and lions, and yes even hippos but I never expected to receive so much joy from the hippos!  The moves, the grunts, the fighting and playing.  You can't imagine my smiles.

Never read about pelicans or flamingos or storks in the guides and was totally surprised not only to see them, but the sheer number of them. Thousands in Manyara Lake which is a huge salt lake.  Their soaring moves, large wingspans, pink tones, gnawing calls:  the enormity of it all was amazing.

We had breakfast at Manyara Lake, Hippo Pool.  Listen to the hippos grunting.

 If you can’t see the above video, here is the link.  Hippos Playing, click here

Now, for the next video, our guide said the below is a hippo pooing.  He (or she) is spreading it around to mark out his territory, keep the others away.  ok............

If you can’t see the above video, here is the link. Hippo Pooing, click here

 As we drove up to Mañyara Lake, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The flamingos from left to right filling up the whole lake! A billion of them!

Next we drove to a smaller lake where pelicans abounded. 

Then the magic began.  Watch these flamingos soar.  They look like they are floating in the air.  Big round circles, how do they know who to follow, where to go, how long to fly for?  I wished I was up there with them, breathing in the cool air, hanging around with my fellow bird friends.  How I felt one with nature:  How lucky am I?  Not only to see this, experience this, love this but to appreciate this.  MAGIC!  I want to SOAR, I want to soar forever, feel like I'm floating and happily looking down on a peaceful world.  Oh how I wish this were true--Oh how I am determined to fight for this forever.

If you can't click through to the below video try this link:  SOAR!

If you can't access the above video, click here: Pelicans

Prior to this we saw many hippos in the hippo pool.  We hadn't seen any hippos on land until we got here.

If you can't access the above video, click HERE for Hippos!  Unfortunately, the noise you hear in the background is another jeep driving by--otherwise, literally we were the only ones here.  So lovely.

Amazing morning!  Biggest surprise!