Number 27

We'd flown all over Southern Tanzania in our 5-seater Cessna, spoilt for choice game driving in the Selous, Ruaha, Mufindi and next up Mikumi. This would be the final stop before flying north to Arusha to see and experience the busier safari circuit. As soon as we got off the plane in Mikumi, our driver-guide whisked us on a mini, private safari en route to the lodge. Sightings of wild dog were crackling over the radio and we found the pack after a little while. I don't really remember much of the event other than that I sat and took it all in, appreciating the spectacle. This trip was my introduction to game viewing in Africa (a tiger safari in Sariska, India had whet my appetite the previous year) and I was loving (absolutely loving!!!) every moment of it. I had expected to see lions and some of the other Big 5, but certainly not wild dogs. Those unexpected, unplanned happenings are always the best.