Getting Behind

I am getting very far behind in my post. I am just going to post photos with titles until I have more time to write more. Just know we are having the time of our life and I have taken at least 4000 photos. You will have to scroll down to see them.

Finishing Day 4

Day 4 We got up early to head toward the Serengeti National Park. Our first stop was a Maasia village. Where we visited their huts, saw them dance, and learned about their lifestyle. They allowed us to take photos. We also purchased some of the items they had made. They are a people that. Utile their huts out of sticks and cow dung. Their huts are very small. When you are 7 you are old enough to heard the goats, sheep, or cows alone. They live a very primitive lifestyle and move accordingly to where the land is the richest and water is easily accessible. I even joined in their dance. From there we headed to the Oldupia Gorge where the bones from the oldest homo sap-eon was discovered. We could see in the gorge soil dating back over 2 million years. We then headed toward the Serengeti National Park. As we entered we stopped at a sand dune that is made of magnetic material and due to the wind moves 17 meters a year. We then entered the Serengeti where we had lunch. Any we did not finish our lunch we were sure to give it to any of the people that worked in the parks. We never, never threw food away! Then next three days were to be spent in the Serengeti National Park.

Days 2, 3, 4

Day 2 We left Arusha and headed for the Banana Plantation of the Chagga Tribe. The showed us their craftsmanship, houses, lifestyle, and fed us lunch. Most of what they harvest and sell are bananas and avocados. The child were very friendly and were excited to have me take their photo. They then wanted to see the back of the camera. One grandmother told me it was because they do not have any mirrors and don't know what they look like. We then made our way toward The Ngorongoro Crater to spend two nights on the rim. On our way we stopped at a school that is being built and was started by our tour leader David Clap. When it began it at 27 children, now it feeds and educates over 720 from the Iraq Tribe. They have a wonderful facility (by Tanzania standards). The children were really glad to see us! Once we got into the Ngorongoro Crater Reserve we saw many Maasai Tribe communities. We really began to see quite a few animals. We got to our hotel and from our room had a beautiful view if the crater! Day 3 We were up very early so we could be in the crater by 7a.m. We were sure glad we were. One of the first things we saw was a pride if lions with cubs. The cubs were getting themselves into trouble with a small group of African Buffalo. One of the females was very near by, but was watching. She looked as though we was waiting for the cubs to get themselves out of a situation they had gotten themselves into, with her staying very close by! Just around the corner we encounter a couple of Hyenas who had just killed a Gazelle. They were swarmed with vultures and a few other small animals waiting their turn to clean up. Before long a lioness came and stole the kill from them. The Hyenas were very unhappy and as if from nowhere came 20-30 Hyenas. They were trying to taken on the lioness and get back their kill. The other lionesses would not allow this and ran off the Hyenas. We then wandered on some Wildebeest fighting,many,many birds, Ostrich, Warthog, Elephant,Zebra, Hippos, and many Lions. You could always tell when there was an animal near by as there were many vehicles stopped. Once there was a male lion sleeping beside a vehicle as he liked the shade. He then walked right by my window! We also saw the cutest baby sleeping with her mama. It was a long day but boy did I see tons of birds and animals. Day 4 We got up early to head toward the Serengeti National Park. Our first stop was a Maasia village. Where we visited their huts, saw them dance, and learned about their lifestyle. They allowed us to take photos. We also purchased some of the items they had made. They are a people that. Utile their huts out of sticks and cow dung. Their huts are very small. When you are 7 you are old enough to heard the goats, sheep, or cows alone. They live a very primitive lifestyle and move accordingly to where the land is the richest and water is easily accessible. I even joined in their dance. From there we

We Arrived and Our First Adventure

We arrive in Tanzania on Friday at 2 a.m. We had to go through customs (they checked our visa and fingerprinted us), got our luggage, got to the hotel and into bed it was 3:30. We got up for breakfast and a 10 a.m. meeting. We then had a quick lunch and were off to Arusha National Park for our first safari adventure. It was awesome. I am posting a few photos. We get to ride in a safari vehicle everyday with the same people. Our tour director is wonderful and so is our guide! For it being the first day we sure saw tons of animals! Until tomorrow! Candy

Getting Ready to Go!

We leave for Tanzania on Wed. the 16th of June. We are only allowed to each take 33 pounds of luggage each (in a non-wheeled duffle bag) and a small carry-on. A lot of my luggage is photo gear. Our plane leaves Indy at 5 pm and goes to Chicago. We have a 5 hour layover in Chicago - ugh! Then we have a 10 hour flight to Istanbul, Turkey. We have a 2 hour layover and then a 6 hour flight to Mt. Kilimanjaro,Tanzania. We arrive at 1:30 a.m. their time Friday. Then our adventure begins. It will take us about 55 minutes to get to our first hotel in Arusha. We are staying at The African Tulip Hotel for the first 2 nights. Our first adventure will be Friday afternoon. More then! Candy