Tanzania Safari: Part One

Day 1 Highlights -

We arrived in Arusha safely the night before and met our lead guide, Ishmail. We woke at 5am to loud chants and blaring music from the church next door. After breakfast and introductions to the rest of the group, we had to check out what was going on. The church (which looked like a large, cement, high school gymnasium) was packed with people from all walks of life, many dressed in beautiful colors, and singing together. Ishmail told us that this church is relatively new and has been growing rapidly. People of all religions/beliefs and even those with no beliefs come to this church because the owner has them believing he has healing powers. It was fascinating to just stand and watch.

Next, we took a drive to Shanga Workshop where the physically disabled work using recycled glass to make jewelry and glass decorations. They also do painting, weaving and make clothing.

Here, we also had a language lesson in Kiswahili and sign language with the director of the workshop, Emmanuel, and one of the workers who was deaf, Upendo. We learned only 10 words or so and let me tell you, Swahili is hard!! I did much better signing the words than speaking them.

While I enjoyed the workshop, my favorite part of this excursion was lunch at the River House Restaurant with chef Babu. He was a crack up! Such a fun-loving, friendly man that loved his job, loved his heritage, but most of all loved making us all laugh. He had plenty of entertaining stories to share. His crew prepared an array of traditional Tanzanian foods for us, picking dishes from many different areas of the country for us to try. I thought it was all tasty.

Day 2 Highlights -

This morning we added two more guides/drivers to our trip, Nathaniel and Jeremiah. We started the day at the Cultural Heritage Center where we saw thousands of handmade African crafts, some beautiful Tanzanite gems, and explored an art gallery.

Most of the afternoon was spent at Tarangire National Park. We were told not to expect too much. It was only our first day and we would have plenty of other game drives ahead where we could see more. Even with that being said, expectations were high. The day did not disappoint.

Elephants and giraffes, two of the animals that most people go on safari to see... the afternoon was filled with them! We saw so many that sometimes we weren't even stopping when we saw them. I had hundreds of pictures of just those two animals. But I had to pace myself and leave room for the velvet monkeys, impala, zebra, and about a dozen exotic east African birds. The scenery was also spectacular with the Acacia and Baobab trees scattered across the grassy plains. What an amazing day!

We would stay this night and the next at the Lake Burunge tented camp. Fabulous! For me, staying in a tent has never been so luxurious.

Day 3 Highlights -

An early morning game drive to catch more wildlife in Tarangire National Park. Additional animals seen today... African wild dog, warthog, monitor lizard, baboon, water buck, ostrich, LION, dik dik, hyrax, leopard tortoise, and dozens more exotic east African birds.

In the afternoon, we took a nature walk down to Lake Burunge and learned about some of the plant life and their medicinal uses.

Day 4 Highlights -

This day was devoted to "a day in the life" of the Masai people. We visited a village where we were able to see and experience the lives of these tribal people. The women taught us basket weaving and jewelry-making (mainly beading). We were dressed in their traditional robes and neck jewelry. We sang, danced, carried logs on our heads. We went inside their huts and learned about the way they live. We played with the kids. Some of us even plastered a hut with a cow dung and mud mixture... BAREHANDED (when in Tanzania, do as the Masai do)!

We drove up into the mountains for this night's accommodations to the brand new Farm House Valley Lodge. Spectacular accommodations with a spectacular view!

Pictures to come... I haven't had an opportunity to upload them yet.