Tanzania, Africa!

At the top of our travel bucket list was a Safari within Africa!  Taking that a step further we wanted to see the annual Great Migration of 1.7 million wildebeest, +200K zebras, +500K gazelles and other animals across the Serengeti Plains to see one of nature's most remarkable events. Chosen as a World Heritage Site the Serengeti is one of the most famous National Parks in the world known for all the great animals you can see but know best for the migration (often billed as The Greatest Show on Earth).  Once you witness the migration you see why it is one of the travel wonders of the world.  All of this cannot however overshadow all the other animals that we had the availability which included all of the Big Five; the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros.  

The journey started with our late afternoon arrival at the African Tulip.  This hotel is located in the city of Arusha, and provided us with a wonderful atmosphere of Tanzania.  Arusha is understandably known for it location close to the National Parks and it the starting point for most safaris.  Not be be ignored the city has a beautiful view of Kilimanjaro and many coffee plantations on the edge of the city.

Our second day we took our first game drive at the Tarangire National Park. Its name originates from the Tarangire river that crosses through the park and provides a source of water for the animals in the dry season.  The park is widely known for its elephants, lions, zebra, wildebeest, waterbucks, giraffes and baboons.

After an amazing day we arrived at the Tarangire Safari Lodge which is located inside the National Park!  The lodge is situated on a ridge which gives you amazing views of the woodlands and down to the river.  Much of our time was spent at the heart of the thatch roofed lodge and open design allowing us to sit on the patio and watching nature pass in front of our eyes.  We stayed the night in a comfortable tent and could hear the animals in the distance as we slept through the night.

On day three we began our journey to the Serengeti.  The main road to the Serengeti...  Wait let me stop here and explain.  By road I mean a gravel trail with many bumps along the way as we traveled at a fast pace in our 4x4 vehicle, bouncing all the way!  This road passes through the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and continues for approximately 6 hours until reaching the gate of the Serengeti.  Now is a good time to explain the Maasai Culture as we passed many villages along the way.  The Maasai are considered one of the last warrior tribes in the world.  They have been grazing their livestock in the open plains for 200 years.  The tribes dwell with their livestock that provide milk, meat and currency to sustain everyday life.  They construct their villages which consist of a ring fence made from natural elements to enclose groups of families and herds.  The homes are made from a collection of mud and the people dress very distinctively in red.  We stopped at a village along the way and were greeted with traditional dances, welcoming smile and offered insight into their lives.  Another fun element of our trip was eating pre-packed picnic lunches wherever we found ourselves at lunchtime each day, an amazing experience.

In the heart of the Serengeti we stayed at the Serengeti Sopa Lodge.  Having arrived at the Serengeti later in the day we had the opportunity to see some animals prior to arrival at our Lodge for the night.  We were immediately treated to a mom lion and her cubs, of course among many other animals we saw.  We were even slowly escorted up the drive to the lodge by a very slow giraffe who wanted to take his time snacking along the way!

The Lodge was situated on a ridge over looking the seemingly endless south-western Serengeti plains.  We found comfort in the great meals served and the wonderful views off our balcony, even visited in the morning by monkeys.

Based on what we had seen up until this point in our Safari we could not wait to start Day Four in the Serengeti.  As we began to explore in our 4x4 vehicle we came upon hundreds of wildebeest in the distance, we sat patiently hoping they would cross our path as they follow the migration seeking grass plains.  Luckily they passed in droves right in front of our vehicle running on an endless path into the plains.  It was an amazing sight to see as we also had zebras and giraffes in the distance as well. The sheer size of the Serengeti is hard to comprehend, spanning 15K sq km.  The population of animals in this region and what we were able to see was truly amazing;  lions, buffalo, zebras, giraffe, leopard, rhinoceros, elephants, warthog, waterbuck, hyenas, hippos, and so much more.  Watching the migration was amazing and other unforgettable moments occurred throughout of day ranging from watch a pride of 21 lions and cubs to finding a leopard resting in a tree not bothered by our presence.

Day 5 started by leaving the Serengeti however not without one last surprise for us.  As we drove over the rough trail we spot some male lions resting in their native territory.  We were hoping to get a close look at the king of the jungle and were fortunate to get the opportunity.  Our day was spent visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Sometimes called "Africa's Garden of Eden" some 25,000 animals live in the area, stretching 3.2K sq miles adjacent to the Serengeti.  The 12 mile wide Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest unbroken caldera in the world, formed some 2.5 million years ago after an active volcano collapsed.  The wildebeest pass through this area during the Great Migration as well.

After another amazing game drive we arrived at Eileen's Trees Lodge for the night.  The main lodge for dining and relaxing had the feel of a large tree house. Instead of the local gift shops, there were women basket makers displaying their hand crafted items that we could not resist purchasing.  Our room was rustic but yet provided all the comforts necessary; we always felt close to the heartbeat of Africa.

Day 6 began with our drive to Lake Manyara National Park for our last game viewing.  However on the way we planned a stop at a local store to purchase a part of Tanzania.  It is here we bought a Tanzanite ring that is extremely rare and is only mined in Tanzania, a great memento for Natalie to remember her time in Africa.  As soon as we entered the gate of Lake Manyara we encountered a lush jungle like forest.  Then as we moved on we saw in contrast the grassy plains.  We viewed the normal animals we had come to expect but we also hoped to see the rhinoceros to complete our Big Five.  Luckily enough we came upon some rhinos in the distance and were thrilled to get a good but distant look at this powerful animal.  We also got some great views of some hippos that we not lounging in the water as found in the other parks.

Next we visited Mto Wa Mbu School and Village.  This was located approximately 120km from Arusha, with a population of 33K.  The name of the Village means "River of the Mosquitoes".  We had the opportunity to tour the school grounds.  The children in their school uniforms were adorable and love seeing us Americans, taking the opportunity to crowd around us to get a glimpse of our clothes and practice their English upon us.  We then walked through the village to see the typical stick  and mud homes and learned how to brew banana beer.  As we departed the village we took the opportunity to drive quickly through a traditional Maasai Market.  Viewing the availability of meats (right off the animals butchered on-site), clothing, and the ability to purchase livestock.

Day 7 began with a visit to the Mkuru Camel Safari offering us the opportunity to ride camel back across the African plains.  We rode to a ridge over looking the plains at a location they call Baboon Cave which is home to some 300 Baboons at night..  It is here we got some great pictures.  It was a fun diversion to the many game drives we had experienced.

Next on our agenda for Day 8 was something that we would not forget; a visit to Monduli Ju and Maasai Village.  This was a cluster of small Maasai Villages where we took a walking tour.  We met our local Maasai guide and began a walk of about 2 to 3 miles to a local Maasai village.  Our hike took us to a home of a local Maasai midwife who utilizes different natural remedies and herbs to cure ailments.  The Maasai family members of this small village were very welcoming and showed us their handmade crafts for purchase.  It really gave us all insight to the simple and challenging life that the Maasi people experience.  They live in homes made from sticks and mud; children (as young as 4 years old) tend to cattle for food; homes have no electricity or running water; and people walk miles to the local market.  On our way back from the Village we stopped at the weekly local market and walked around.  In the market, food is sold, cattle is purchased, beads for handcrafts are bought and shoes made from car tires are found.  It is how life is sustained for the Maasi people and every person greeted us with "hello", pronounced as "Jambo" in Swahili.  It was a great experience we will not forget.

Lastly, Day 9 was upon us and our afternoon flight awaited us.  But first, in the morning we visited the Monduli School and Green Project.  Our visit to the school was to understand how students are working to improve the environment.  Through the planting on the school grounds the students learn to plant and care for tress with the expectation they will be ambassadors in their communities.  What was readily apparent through the tour of the school is how desperate the educational system is in Africa.  The classrooms with vintage wood desks and chalkboards struggling to stand the test of time provided a glimpse of the struggles of children in the country.  It reminded us how truly blessed we are for the education our children receive.

Our trip to Africa lived up to every expectation we had, in fact we are hoping now it is more than "once in a lifetime"....