Steppes In Africa; One Letter at a Time- C is for: Cozy Casita and Coffee on the Sunporch (5/31)

[pkondz]

It probably took me about 15 minutes, likely less, to doze off after nearly 38 hours of little to no sleep.

I'm surprised you weren't asleep before your head hit the pillow!

Nice view from your patio.

Against the ridiculous advice of my concierge,

Hmmm... foreshadowing?

I'll sleep when I'm 90.

How I feel too, when traveling.

(Fresh flowers in my room! And another water bottle. )

Can't have too many water bottles if the water isn't safe to drink, I think.

Really pretty. Although I presume the netting is really supposed to be more practical than pretty.

Every accommodation that I stayed at during this trip outfitted the beds with mosquito netting and was tied back during morning service and re-spread during the evening turndown service.

Were the skeeters really bad in the rooms?

Towels are not washed every day

So this seems to be a worldwide thing...

Of all of the places I stayed on this trip, this one was the most basic

Most basic??? This place looks wonderful!

Here are a few photos to show you the common areas of Katambuga House:

See??? Basic????

(A very common game I found at most of the places I stayed; but never learned what it is or how it is played.)

I've seen that played somewhere. A movie or TV show, I think. No clue how, though.

(Worn by many, many locals, especially the Masai; made from old tires.)

Recycling at its finest.

For a cool $20 I found an on-time driver to get me there at 7:45.

Reasonable enough... but probably far more than what a local would pay.

A wonderful buffet of fruits, local cheeses, granola, locally made yogurt, tomatoes and cucumber was available to help myself from

Yum!

One of Tanzania’s main export crops is coffee, and they stand at 14th in world production. Kenya, by comparison, is 17th.

Really! I would've thought Kenya was higher. Huh.

After taking enough food from the buffet to completely fill me up and more, the server came to the table asked how I’d like my eggs cooked. Ummm, what?

The tomato was left on my plate crying.

Poor little 'mato.

cash (for small “appreciation gifts” for the cops who might find me an easy target),

I'm somewhat familiar with like the Euphorbias. (There are several varieties at the The Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ.)

Are they native to AZ as well? Or just planted there at the museum. Like "Cacti of the world"...

(Not my taxi, but gazillions of these Land Cruisers all over Tanzania. For my Disney-loving Friends: Now you see why there is a one of these Safari-jeeps at the exit of Kilimanjaro Safaris! These are indeed one of the very most basic elements of a safari!!)

Cool!

And getting rid of their free bags model. Booooo!!!!!

Yeah... that'd go over really well... NOT.

Rainy mostly, and when not rainy, for sure cloudy.

Ah!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Breakfast looks delicious. I can see why you could have skipped the eggs. It was a good breakfast without eggs.

Were there a lot of insects in the open-air dining area? There is a reason there is mosquito netting around the beds.

 

[Steppesister]

I'm surprised you weren't asleep before your head hit the pillow!

I was too, but I guess the excitement of actually being there kept my thoughts racing?

Nice view from your patio.

I thought so. As an added bonus there were tons of new bird sounds I'd never heard before too.

Hmmm... foreshadowing?

Mebbe....

How I feel too, when traveling.

Too much to see and do and it's likely I'll never pass that way again.

Can't have too many water bottles if the water isn't safe to drink, I think.

Correct. These were the first of many.

Really pretty. Although I presume the netting is really supposed to be more practical than pretty.

It is pretty, but yes, practical too. However....

Were the skeeters really bad in the rooms?

I didn't notice them to be despite there being no screens on windows to my recollection. Maybe I was tucked inside my net cocoon before they came out in force although there were times I'd get chewed up sitting outside after dark, even in the jeeps.

So this seems to be a worldwide thing...

Yep.

Most basic??? This place looks wonderful!

OH!! Don't get me wrong!!! However..

See??? Basic????

... I didn't mean to imply it was basic, but rather IN COMPARISON alongside the several other places I stayed this was less fancy, less ornate, a bit less luxurious. Having said that, it was a nice mix of charm and hospitality. Each had its own character and was special in its own way.

I've seen that played somewhere. A movie or TV show, I think. No clue how, though.

I'd never seen it although I'm familiar with Mancala and this looks very similar albeit more complicated.

Recycling at its finest.

I thought it really neat! Perhaps not the most comfortable but a good way to use what's available.

Reasonable enough... but probably far more than what a local would pay.

Most assuredly!

Really! I would've thought Kenya was higher. Huh.

For sure! You always hear about world famous Kenyan coffee; who knew the buzz should be about Tanzanian coffee!!

Poor little 'mato.

Boo hoo.

Are they native to AZ as well? Or just planted there at the museum. Like "Cacti of the world"...

No definitely not. The Desert Museum has a fairly large section of non-native succulents and other cactus-looking plants from all over the world. The Euphorbia that they have there says Moroccan Euphorbia so it must be a Family native there with several sub-species. Not inclined to do a deeper dive on this one, but was fun to recognize it anyway. By the way, I'd HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend The Desert Museum and it's nearby cousin The Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson. Both are amazing if you're ever that way.

Yeah... that'd go over really well... NOT.

They suck.

Although I won't be so dogmatic that I'll not ever fly them- depends on price overall.

 

[Steppesister]

Breakfast looks delicious. I can see why you could have skipped the eggs. It was a good breakfast without eggs.

Were there a lot of insects in the open-air dining area? There is a reason there is mosquito netting around the beds.

For sure! No need to add the extras with all of that, especially the locally grown, delicious tropical fruits!!

No, none at all. The mosquitos only come out at dusk really and even in the rooms I never really noticed any except Zanzibar. Then again, I might have been all tucked in under it before I could notice them too.

 

[pkondz]

I was too, but I guess the excitement of actually being there kept my thoughts racing?

I get that.
You're in Africa!!!

I thought so. As an added bonus there were tons of new bird sounds I'd never heard before too.

I wonder if I'd even notice that.

Too much to see and do and it's likely I'll never pass that way again.

Exactly!

Correct. These were the first of many.

More water bottles??? Just how dangerous is the local water??

I didn't notice them to be despite there being no screens on windows to my recollection. Maybe I was tucked inside my net cocoon before they came out in force

You'd think you'd hear them droning just outside the curtains?

although there were times I'd get chewed up sitting outside after dark, even in the jeeps.

I'd be worried about malaria!

.. I didn't mean to imply it was basic, but rather IN COMPARISON alongside the several other places I stayed this was less fancy, less ornate, a bit less luxurious.

Ohh... But... Now I can't wait to see the other places!

I'd never seen it although I'm familiar with Mancala and this looks very similar albeit more complicated.

Never heard of Mancala.

For sure! You always hear about world famous Kenyan coffee; who knew the buzz should be about Tanzanian coffee!!

Right?

No definitely not. The Desert Museum has a fairly large section of non-native succulents and other cactus-looking plants from all over the world. The Euphorbia that they have there says Moroccan Euphorbia so it must be a Family native there with several sub-species. Not inclined to do a deeper dive on this one, but was fun to recognize it anyway.

Now I know.

By the way, I'd HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend The Desert Museum and it's nearby cousin The Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson. Both are amazing if you're ever that way.

I'll keep it in mind.

 

[zanzibar138]

I had decided to book a car for a self-drive day trip to Arusha National Park, just a short couple of hours north of Arusha.

Oh gosh, you're brave, particularly on your own! Interested to see how that turned out - I'll assume since you're now home writing this you didn't get carjacked or thrown in jail.

Early on in my trip planning I decided that rather than spend the day resting quietly at the guest house, I would dive right into my adventuring.

Absolutely.

The guest house itself was comfortable and adequate.

It all looks lovely!

A few minutes before my scheduled taxi pick up I headed back to the room to gather the things I’d need for my day trip- camera, maps, cash (for small “appreciation gifts” for the cops who might find me an easy target)

See above!

When I see fauna like this, I always think the setting should be a desert-type landscape.

Lots of people in Perth plant cacti/succulents, thinking that they will be easy to manage plants in Perth's dry-ish (but definitely NOT desert) climate. What they end up with is spiky, difficult to remove plants that completely take over! We have particular issues with prickly pears and yuccas. I wonder if the same thing happens in Africa?

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Breakfast looks both delicious and bountiful. I love how your room and the common areas are decorated and I'm looking forward to hearing more. Sounds like your hosts were very attentive and kind.

Oh gosh, you're brave, particularly on your own! Interested to see how that turned out - I'll assume since you're now home writing this you didn't get carjacked or thrown in jail.

I'm with @zanzibar138 - you are so much more adventurous than me but I'm so glad you are as I love following along and enjoy both the photos and the stories behind them so thank-you

 

[disneyAndi14]

Amazing first morning pictures. The accommodations look lovely. I’m excited to see and hear more! We could use mosquito nets here in Minnesota,
It looks like the concierge service you are working with is making the first day a good one!
Is it the same service the whole trip?

 

[irene_dsc]

Looks very promising so far! Your "basic" accommodations are way fancier than some of the places I remember you posting about in some of your other trip reports! I'm looking forward to hearing more!