House Sparrow - Most common bird in Tanzania

Common Name: House Sparrow

Scientific Name: Passer domesticus

Identification: Large rounded head, a short tail, and a stout bill. The plumage of the House Sparrow is mostly different shades of grey and brown

Habitat: House Sparrows have lived around humans for centuries. Look for them on city streets, taking handouts in parks and zoos, or cheeping from a perch on your roof or trees in your yard. House Sparrows are absent from undisturbed forests and grasslands, but they’re common in countryside around farmsteads.

Feeding: Mostly feeds on the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is opportunistic and adaptable, and eats whatever foods are available.

Location: Oyster Bay, Tanzania

Reference: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_sparrow/id

S A A D A N I "A place where The Beach meets The Bush and blend with People & Culture”

Date 07th August 2011.

It was another lovely three days long holiday in the land of Kilimanjaro. This time our journey was to Romantic Saadani. After about 4 hours drive we reached to Saadani National Park entrance. After getting a permit to enter the park we spent some time photographing butterflies near by park entrance office.

We reached to our lodge, passing Saadani village and enrouted game drive. Our accommodation was Saadanni Safari lodge. It was a lovely place facing the Indian Ocean. After the warm welcome from staff we were given a lovely suite. Since it was around noon we went to the main restaurant for lunch. Food was not so nice but not bad too. After the lunch everyone else went to get some rest. I was busy with photographing birds on the shore. During that time I was lucky to capture several birds including storks, yellow billed kites and herons. Also I got a chance to capture a series of shots were a yellow bill kite stole a prey from a woolly necked stork. Pictures are posted in another post in this blog. Click here to redirect.

After having evening tea we went out for a game drive. During our drive we were able to see Giraffe, Kudu, Reedbucks and different bird species. Of cause Sadaani is not a very big place to see many animals like other national parks in Tanzania. When the evening sun fell on the horizon we returned to the lodge after having nice time in the bush.

Our experience at Saadani Safari lodge was not a very good one, because after we arrived at the lodge there was no water in our rooms. Even though it’s a beautiful place I don’t think we got a good service according to the price we paid. That was my experience, may be your experience will be different.

On Monday morning we got up early and started photographing rising sun above horizon.

After having our breakfast we left from our lodge for a river safari. It was about 20 minutes drive to wami rive from the lodge. Before reaching there, we passed sadaani village and a Salt factory near by the ocean.

Around 8:30am we have started our journey in the Wami River. During this river safari we saw many crocodiles very closely, different bird species and several hippopotamus families.

“Saadani is a place where the beach meets the bush and blend with people & culture”

Spending after two and half hours in the Waami river, we returned to our lodge to check out. There after we rushed to the gate to exit from the park, because our permit was valid only for 24hours.

We reach to Dar es Salaam in the evening, having a wonderful time in Romantic Satanic.

Our Group:

Yellow-billed Kite steeling a prey from a Woolly-Necked Stork.

Butterflies at Saadani

Colotis danae

Woolly-necked Stork

Common Name: Woolly-necked Stork or White necked stork

Scientific Name: Ciconia episcopus

Identification: Glistening black with black 'skull cap' ,white neck and white lower belly. The upper parts are glossed dark green, and the breast and belly have a purple hue.It has long red legs and heavy blackish bill. About 85 cm tall.

Habitat: Resident breeder in wetlands with trees.

Feeding: eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants

Location: Saadani National Park Tanznai

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly-necked_Stork

http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/ciconiaepiscopus.htm

Saadani Safari Lodge

Saadani Safari Lodge Entrance View...

Rock Hyrax

Common Name: Rock hyrax

Scientific Name: Procavia capensis

Size: 12 inches at the shoulder

Weight: 5 to 9 pounds

Lifespan: 12 years

Habitat: Dry savanna to dense rain forest

Feeding: Herbivorous

Gestation: 7 months

Location : Serengeti National Park

Reference: http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/enghyrax.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=4&bestemming_id=1

The Great Serengeti - Official Musiical Viddeo

This not my work. I found it in YouTube. Its interesting... have a look at it.



The Serengeti needs our help. Please listen and read about why it's important to lend support to help animals and people find a way to coexist peacefully at www.savetheserengeti.org