Celebrating The Queen's Birthday...

Would you like a little

Birthday Cake for breakfast?

Teleios Team enjoys an ice-cold Coke...aahhh.

On Thursday, we began our day by celebrating Anne’s birthday – the earliest that she has ever received a birthday cake—8:30 a.m. We packed and started out for our celebrating and a day of rest at Ruaha. Floyd and Mpeli road in the seatless back of a Nissan Patrol as Bonnie, Zech and Bill shared the second set of seats. Anne “I’m gonna be sick” Davis retained the front seat for the journey (safari) to Ruaha. We settled in at the Mwangsi Camp for a late lunch.

At 4:30 p.m. we started our safari for animals. We saw elephants, giraffes, baboons, kudus, zebra, impala, gazelle, mongoose (is more than one mongeese?), dig-digs, warthogs, all types of birds, and lions. The great thrill was when we came upon a lion kill of a giraffe. Our thrill also came with sorrow when we discovered the giraffe was giving birth when the lions attacked. The unusual part of this eleven-lion group was the number of male lions—four.

We watched as they feasted on giraffe and rested from their feast. The guide said that the lions could each eat close to 50 kg. (or over 100 lbs.) The smell of fresh meat filled the air. We watched with a strange fascination at the mixture of feasting predator and playful, comical cat. After leaving the lion feast, we were treated to two young elephants in a test of strength—butting heads. The baboons put on a display of grooming and “king of the hill.” The air was filled with loud shrieks, growls, and grunts.

The sunset was absolutely breathtaking. The majesty and beauty of God’s creations filled our eyes, minds and hearts. No picture or painting could do justice to the awesome display of color by Our Creator. We arrived back at the camp in the twilight greeted by torch-carrying hosts who led us to our rooms. The day of rest and celebration ended with an elegant and delicious meal served in a dry river bed lit by torches. The team met a missionary couple and family. We shared our faith and common fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The night was filled with the sounds of wind in the palms and animals roaming the camp and dry river bed. Elephants walked by our tents in the darkness. We saw black-back jackals running down the river bed. The growls of lions and the barks of hyenas filled the very early morning. We woke to the smell of fresh coffee brought to us by one of our hosts.
As the team left Ruaha, we stopped to see hippos and crocodiles. In one area, we saw 16 crocs and 11 hippos. The trip to Ruaha ended in Iringa with a feast of roast goat, fries, and ice-cold Coke (our first ice-cold Coke of the entire trip).

This lion must have enjoyed his latest meal.

A Ruaha Cowboy at work.