I really had a good sleep last night although it was a wee bit hot earlier in the evening. I got up in a good mood and ready for the safari which we needed to find out about. But before that Alison wanted to take Adrian to the snake park down the road from Tan- Swiss. So off we went after breakfast with me waiting outside the park while Alison took Adrian in. When they came out the guide had a snake round his neck and Adrian was persuaded to do likewse. But when the snake started moving he nearly jumped out of his skin. After that he would touch it but strictly a no no as far as putting it round his neck!

We then went to the Mikumi National Park and after finding out that the charge for taking Tuah in was only USD40 and not USD150 we decided to go into the park. Alison was keen on seeing the Hippos and we went to the pool where they are normally found. Most of the time they are submerged and on the odd occasion when one of them stuck its head out of the water there was barely time enough to take the camera out. I was busy watching a baboon that was sneaking round my back .....just in case!

We ventured further into the park until we got to a ranger's camp and was told that we had to go back the way we came as the other paths were water logged....as though the way we came was not. We had to cross a stream and the path was water logged in two places. The thought of going back didn't offer any comfort to me but I knew that since we got to the ranger's camp and we should be able to go back out.

Our path was blocked by a herd of elephants as we were nearing the entrance to the park. At first it was fascinating to watch the mother protecting her baby. She looked drectly at Tuah and backed away slowly. When they were safely across the road we moved forward slowly until one of the bulls, not fully grown, decided to prepare to charge at us. I put my foot down on the accelarator and got out of there pretty quick.

We drove round another part of the circuit believing that we may be lucky enough to spot a lion but to no avail. It was then time to go and we got lucky to see a giraffe crossing the main road. While we stopped to take photos, the herd was waiting to cross but didn't dare to do so. They probably got across after we left.

At Tan-Swiss we decided to give them some business by having our food at the restaurant. Alison was satisfied with her fried calamari but I was dissapointed with the pepper stake which was as tough as old boots. We turned in thinking that we could go back to the National Park if we got up early enough as our ticket were valid until 1200hrs the next day.