Another early start as we were moving from the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti Nation Park. We travelled through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where there were opportunities for photographs - Giraffe in a typical environment. They are unable to manage the steep sides of the crater.

and a little group of juvenile Anteater Chats posed nicely.

After a couple of hours, we were approching the vast expanse of the Serengeti, seeing a pair of Cheetahs close enough for a few shots.

Heat haze was a problem and, disappointingly, these were the only Cheetahs that we saw due to the very heavy rainfall of this season. Although this was the rainy season, the rainfall had been the heaviest recorded for many years so the grass was high enough to hide them. More about that later.

We stopped for lunch at an entrance gate to the Serengeti where some interesting birds were looking to get an easy meal. African Morning Dove and Hildebrandt's Starling - very similar to the Superb Starling.

The wide expense of the Serengeti is best shown by this shot of an Eland.

but others were closer. Zebras aften pair like this apparently so that they can both check for predators.

A Greater Kestrel sat and looked  at us.

As did a Coke's Hartebeest

and a Topi (or Kongoni).

and we did get close to the obligatory Lion

Then the rains hit - an absolute deluge. Eggy, our driver tried four different ways to reach the main track but flooding prevented it but eventually we hit it. In the pouring rain, a Serval Cat showed briefly in the very low light (ISO12800) - not the best shot I have ever taken but I think a record shot is allowable in the circumstances.

and then, as we went down a flooded hill, one of the rear wheels sheared off and overtook us as we came to a grinding halt.

No to be deterred, Eggy, the driver replaced it, getting drenched in the process, and after half-an-hour or so, we were on our way again to the Serena Safari Lodge, finally checking in at 8:30pm. We were then warned not to walk in the grounds to dinner without an armed guide as predators are frequent!!!

Here's to three days in the Serengeti>