Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Well, here we are in the Serengeti, seeing all the animals we watch on TV- giraffes, elephants,zebras, cheetahs, leopards, lions etc. it's fabulous, and we are staying in a luxury ensuited tent too which isn't half bad.
I've learnt all sorts of facts, most of which I will promptly forget, but the stuff about elephants having a 25 kg penis and producing 5L sperm were breathtaking.
It's not too warm but not freezing.
We had a long exhausting trip to get to Tanzania, 4 flights, endless waits in airports, then our transfer didn't arrive! Not happy , as I'd already been stressing about whether our tour company was dodgy- this seemed to confirm it. Anyway the hotel sent a taxi , we got to our destination nearly 40 hrs after leaving home. I still don't know what happened to our transfer but the boss guy arrived shortly after and all has gone smoothly.
It is very busy with dozens of Toyota Troopcarriers carting tourists around the parks.
Tomorrow we go into Nrongoruru crater to see rhinos ( last of the Big 5) and wildebeests .
The Big 5 refers to the animals hunters had the most difficulty hunting, not the size of the animal.
Then Friday we start to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. It's going to be COLD!!
Courtney and I are coping so far tho no doubt will drive each other crazy.
More later.
Ok, it poured last night, so slid thru the mud in the land cruiser down the 600 m into the crater which luckily was under the cloud level.
We promptly saw 2 of the resident endangered 34 rhinos . Thru binoculars admittedly as they are very shy.
Also saw some Wildebeests who hadn't gone on the migration.
So had a good look at more animals, not as many as I'd expected but plenty.
Then it was a long drive back to Arusha and the same hotel.
Along the way from here, which is a big town, possibly a city , all the way to Serengeti, there are Massi living in enclosures with round houses and thatched roofs, with stakes around to contain the cattle at night.
In the day they walk their animals along the road, down into the crater if they live near. Often the baby sitters are young boys under 10 who spend all day all alone watching the goats, or donkeys, or cows are kept together.
The males all wear a cloak type throw over the shoulder in either red or purple.
The kids do not go to school whereas the kids of the other 119 tribes do.
There's barely a female to be seen except occasionally carrying a heavy load of firewood or water. Typical!!!
Ok time to get organised for our climb which starts tomorrow.
Back in 7 days with the news of whether we made it or not.
Carol and Courtney.
- comments
Beverly Perala Sounds like you are having a great time. The trip of a lifetime. Ours was the trip to the South Pacific.
Barbara McNulty Had to check your blog after hearing about the Intrepid tour bus crash in Kenya - was relieved to hear you would be more than half way through your trek on Mt Kilimanjaro - enjoy & stay safe ⭐️ Barb
Deb Hopkins couldn't do what you guys do, but good on you for getting out there....had to laugh about the Toyota Troopcarriers carting tourists, is like that everywhere now days, Europe too :( photo bombing every photo you take...they don't go the island resorts I believe, next holiday me thinks :) Congrats on your massive climb...well done