The landscape is made up of savannah grassland, tufted grass ridges, river valleys and swamps. A large river serves as the primary source of water for the resident animals. During the dry season, small grooves in the river bed become vital gathering point for large herds of elephants, waterbucks and numerous giraffes.
As we peacefully passed through the Tarangire National Park gate, we were greeted by the sight of a Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), an African bird of prey perched majestically on a bare tree. It gazed below for movement in the grassland below to pounce. Its crest ruffled by wind, the bird looked truly striking. Primarily a rodent-eater, it is called Oltomojoryi lomururan in the Maasai language.
…and when threatened, they can reverse into burrows at high speed – with the acceleration of a race car and instant braking. One tourist watching them remarked, “They don’t even know they’re celebrities.”
A swarm of bees zoomed past, catching the attention of a resting herd of elephants. Bees visit the park to forage from baobab flowers. Under pressure, elephants retreat, flapping their ears and normally philotormely. Not as dangerous as they look, elephants have tear ducts (glands near their eyes) – a rather curious trait.
The air was alive with birdsong. We spotted a beautiful bird known to breed on the ground in monogamous pairs – the Double-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus africanus), which feeds on invertebrates and has a particular fondness for termites. Other birds we observed included the Magpie Shrike, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, African Orange-billed Parrot, various starlings, and the striking White-headed Buffalo-weaver. These birds often trail African buffaloes, feeding on the insects disturbed by their movement – much like cattle egrets do. The green “weaver” refers to the colour of its arm-woven nests for which the female will selectively choose with attention (or a high-pitched tweet announcing their partner) along with high-pitched, squeaky calls.
We then crossed a river and paused near a giant baobab tree, its bark bearing deep scars left by elephants peeling it off in search of food and moisture. These trees rank among the largest in the world; a baobab tree may live up to 3,000 years – a giant of both Swahili and continental heritage. These trees store water – essential for birds in the dry months. Bees transform them into hives, and many birds seek bark for insects and roosts.
Water is also an important food source – for animals like baboons and warthogs. Also, in Tarangire you can see lions resting on trees – in peculiar-looking ancient-seeming animals are fascinating to observe. They seem fearless.
📍 Raphael Mbunda, Leganga Lodge at Usa River. He can be reached at: mbundarb11@gmail.com, +255756606070
