Feb. 10, 2018
We had an early morning departure on our game drive this morning – 6:30 with no breakfast. We’d take boxed breakfasts to eat during the drive. Because we were up before dawn, we saw a lovely sunrise.
Vehicle tracks crisscrossing an open area with Lake Ndutu in the distance, as the sun rises.
We were with Livingstone again and only five passengers. Three members of our group had left even earlier to go ballooning over the Serengeti (cost: $616 each!). This morning’s drive was somewhat disappointing. I guess I shouldn’t complain about seeing 2 male lions, …
This lion didn’t seem to mind the dust stirred up by wind and a vehicle driving by.
Although Lake Ndutu wasn’t far off, the injured lion decided to stop for a drink at a muddy waterhole.
…several zebras, …
A group of zebras, consisting of a female with two foals, were standing near the watering hole – they seemed thirsty but didn’t dare approach while the lion was there.
… 4 female lions,
This lioness satisfied her thirst and then walked over to a field to join her sisters.
Three lioness sisters
One of the lionesses rolled over in the grass to scratch her back.
Aaahhh! That feels good!
sisterly love
…a cheetah running away in the distance, wildebeest, and several birds.
Mother zebra (who appears to be pregnant) and her foal
lovebirds
Common drango
Marabou storks
It was quite windy and therefore quite dusty on the roads. David remarked that the weather resembled the dry season. Besides the lions, zebras and wildebeest herds, we saw a gouged out dead zebra (even the vultures had left). 
Then David received over the radio a report that the balloon trip had been cancelled because it was too windy. We turned back toward the lodge to pick up the three who had returned to the lodge. Only one of the three ended up coming with us, and out we went again. The wind continued strong, and we kept the windows closed most of the time, although the top was open.
We rendezvoused with the others and had our breakfast in a field free of predators. 
A few female elephants with young calves crossed our path.
The elephants like to stir up the dust. Sometimes they spray dust on themselves, possibly to get rid of insects.
Foraging elephant calf
This calf tries to catch up with mama.
He found her!
Soon I found myself just wanting to return to the lodge. The wind and the dust were too much. Livingstone was driving rather slowly – probably being cautious due to low visibility because of the dust – and it seemed we’d never get back. Was he even on his way back? It was past 11:00.
We got back around noon (we actually got back before Elias’ group) and met up with those who stayed behind in the lounge area, engaged with their electronics. We had lunch at 1:00 pm, during which we had an interesting conversation about haiku, the end of the trip, and American politics. There is not a single Trump supporter in our group. We are all progressive Democrats! Afterwards, we returned to our cabin.
I took a shower, washing off all the dust from my body and my hair. Tonight I’ll wear clean clothes. I decided not to go on the 4:00 pm drive today!
What I did do was finish the drawing I had started the previous afternoon in my Mindful Travel Journal. I sat on the little veranda of our cabin in my purple bathrobe with my colored pencils spilled out on the chair beside me. Dale was off somewhere or taking a nap.
Wanderlust & Wonderment 
Your trip is amazing. I noticed the picture of three Zebra, head to tail. I have a similar photo on my trip. I wonder if it is a camouflage technique they use?