December 31, 2014

From: Max Bunce
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 12:50 PM
To: Eric Simonson; Phil Ershler
Subject: Happy New Year From Tanzania!

The elusive Black Rhino

Happy New Year from Tanzania!  The Wildebeasts have arrived.  We saw hundreds of thousands on the short grass plains of the Serengeti before we transferred to the Ngorongoro crater under cool, cloudy skies.

We then bagged the fifth of the big five with our sighting of the elusive black rhino.

Here’s to many more adventures with IMG in 2015!

-Max

December 30, 2014

Masai Giraffes eating the Acacia trees on the east side of Serengeti (Eric Simonson)

IMG guide Max Bunce reports that the team departed the Seronera area in the mid-Serengeti, and moved east to the Ndutu Lake area, the home of some great wildlife viewing. This is in the heart of the shortgrass plains, where the millions of zebra and wildebeest are starting to congregate as part of the annual Migration.  The team will be heading up to Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow.  So far so good!

Eric Simonson

December 29, 2014

From: Max Bunce
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 12:21 PM
To: Eric Simonson; Phil Ershler
Subject: Kili blog update

We flew into the Serengeti today and started off our Safari with a bang!

Some of the highlights was a rare sighting of a Serval cat and a pride of 16 Lions.  All in a couple of hours!  The team is having a great time and looking forward to a full day of game viewing tomorrow!

– Max

December 28, 2014

The view from Stella Point looking across to Uhuru

IMG guide Max Bunce called to report that the entire team reached top! They hit the crater rim at Stella Point, then traversed around to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Weather was excellent. The descent also went well, and they have now descended safely to Mweka Camp. After a well-earned rest, they will be heading for the Mweka Gate where they will say goodbye to their Chagga porters and staff, and climb aboard the vehicles for the drive back to Moshi for a celebration dinner.

Eric Simonson

December 25, 2014

Looking up at the glaciers from the Karanga camp (Eric Simonson)

IMG guide Max Bunce called on the sat phone to say that the team had a beautiful Christmas hike today. They got up early and were rewarded by being among the first on the trail up the Barranco Wall. This is the steepest part of the climb and is very spectacular. The weather was clear and they had great views of the glaciers, before continuing around to the Karanga camp. This will be their third night spent in the 12-13,000 foot range, which is excellent for acclimatization. Tomorrow they will ascend to the 15,000 ft Barafu Camp and prepare to for the summit bid.

Eric Simonson