Steppes In Africa; One Letter at a Time- G is for: Going Forward; Next Destination: Karatu, Tanzania! (6/14)

[Steppesister]

What an outrageously Glorious sunrise! Stunning view from your patio!

Your accommodations look amazing! You are truly an adventurer! I cannot believe you drove yourself...on the wrong side of the road, no less! Good for you! That park seems cool, what wonderful animals and your pics are amazing!

I think you might enjoy a few of the upcoming photos, if you enjoyed that one.

It was such a cozy guesthouse! I'd definitely stay there again and highly recommend!

I'm sure hoping the next national park I go to nets some better photos.

 

[Steppesister]

F is for: Fourteen Birds and a Fantastic Dinner​

I arrived at Momella Lake at 1:00. The original plan was to stop for lunch in the village of Momella, but time was my enemy in seeing all I’d planned. Instead “lunch” was a half a packet of cashews that I’d grabbed off the overseas flight. Breakfast was huge and pretty much held me til dinner.

The hope in visiting Small Momella Lake was to see the 2 species of African Flamingos- Lesser and Greater. When I arrived, there was one other party with their guide having their boxed lunch on one of the viewing platforms. It is only at these little picnic areas that you are allowed to get out of your car for animal viewing.

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Aside from them, it was quiet, and while there were no flamingos as I’d hoped, I enjoyed many other birds to add to my list. Feel free to scroll if you’re not into birds. They are HORRIBLE photos from WAY too far away with my lens. But at this point, my only goal was to add my Life List. (After the birds, I’ll pick it up with the rest of the story.)

• African Sacred Ibis

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• Black-crowned Night Heron

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• Northern Fiscal

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• Blacksmith Lapwing

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• Moutached Grass Warbler

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• Little Grebe

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• Reed Cormorant

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• Yellow Bishop

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• Ruppell’s Vulture (A blurry image that I cropped out- I had a TON of sightings of new-to-me-birds on this trip but was unable to get photos of all. I did however, add them to my Life List so they get a mention.)

• Great Crowned Crane (I discovered these first at DISNEY!!! If you've eaten at Sanaa, you may have seen them strutting around the window tables.)

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These are added to the from the last chapter:

Red-billed Oxpecker

Cattle Egret

Little Bee-eater

Yellow-breasted Apalis

I was able to get a decent photo of another of the park's butterflies too. If you've ever tried to get pix of butterflies, especially wild ones and not those in a hothouse, you'll know how hard it is!! They are FAST!!!

(The Caper White Butterfly)​

From the lake, it seemed a bit of a slow slog back, retracing the same road that took me to it. There weren’t many animals I spotted; I’m sure many had taken cover as the rain had started up again and kept on until I got back to the airport to drop off the car.

Except for the baboons. They are everywhere. All the time.

At the Arusha Gate (where you enter and exit the park from the south) I did see another cute little antelope species. This was the only one of these I’d see on my trip, so another lucky spotting. This little Bushbuck seemed right at home in the Headquarters parking lot. Boing, boing, boing….

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The car was scheduled to be returned to the airport at 6:00 and I was there right on the dot, or nearly so. By the time I’d left the park, my phone was down to a paltry 20%, and I limped into the airport with it down to about 6%. (Navigation burns a lot of juice!) I was VERY nervous that I’d not be able to communicate with the rental agent to coordinate the pick-up. For some super weird reason, the cords I’d brought and the charging block combination with those cords was simply NOT working to start a charge. UGH!!! I was seriously freaking out that my phone has broken somehow and that, my friends, can be trip-breaking. Or at least throw a MAJOR crimp in things!!

I very quickly made a What’sApp call to the rental guy and he said he is still on his way and would be there shortly. I also called the same driver who’d taken me to the airport that morning and let him know I was ready to be picked up to be taken back to the guesthouse.

As a point of discussion: Beware of the rental car scam across Tanzania. They rent you the car empty and you will have to fill up as you set out for any driving. Of COURSE you are going to fill the tank as you just don’t know distances or that particular car’s fuel needs/efficiency. Any extra you return the car with is money you’ve thrown away...

...like I did when I returned it with ¾ of a tank.

And another odd procedure they practice at the airport: Every car that enters the airport property is inspected with a big mirror on a long handle. Basically, they walk around the perimeter of the car looking at the undercarriage, presumably looking for explosives…? I’ve never seen this before and to be truthful was a bit unnerving. Is there a precedent for need?

Without too much more waiting, both folks showed up; I took care of the last bit of business and was back to Katambuga House before too long. I immediately plugged the phone in to a wall outlet and was gleefully relieved to see it start to charge. Phew! Crisis averted.

By 6:40, I was snuggling up to this little beauty- the first of my many nightly pre-dinner cocktails. I cannot tell you what it was, except that it was delicious and perfect to sit and relax with before being seated on the patio. However, I had only finished about half before the server said that dinner was ready and showed me to the table. It was ok, it was only a few feet away and I could catch up on trip notes there just as well as on the couch just a few feet away.

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I took a photo of the day’s menu and boy it sure did sound fantastic! Let’s take a look at how it turned out!

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It was as delicious as it was beautiful! I’d once had a cauliflower panna cotta at V&A’s at Disney and it was outstanding. This was every bit as so. Just perfect. But it was far too much for lil ol’ me. I ate about half of the main course and most of the dessert.

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It was late, I was still jet-lagging pretty hard and exhausted from the long travel, so I organized some things as best I could and called it a night. I would say my first “real” day in Tanzania was a resounding success. I saw the first of many majestic animals, enjoyed the friendliest hospitality found anywhere, and feasted on some wonderful food.

Up next… New and Exotic Adventures as I move on in my trip to Tanzania.

 

[zanzibar138]

I was super excited about getting up close and personal with some nature and was re-assured that an armed ranger would be with me the whole time- because yes, while there are no lions or leopards in this park, the Cape Buffalo can be extremely volatile and cranky and quite frankly at times deadly.

I was wondering... In Botswana, we were pretty much told to never get out of the vehicle. But there were lions, leopards, crocodiles, hippos and many, many elephants around. And thousands of buffalo lol!

Was the ranger armed with a tranquilizer gun or an actual gun? I'd hate to think of any animals copping a bullet because of the walking tours

My guide, Dilunga, had a smile that would light up a room. He was very friendly and knowledgeable and spent quite a bit of time sharing all kinds of information about the animals, their behavior, the landscape, the people and how they use the plants that we were seeing for medicine and food, and local culture.

All the wildlife guides I've ever had on my travels have been wonderful! They all seem to be very passionate about their jobs. You sure got some great sightings with him!

It wasn’t long before we came to our turnaround point- quite a lovely one at that! Napuru Falls is a lovely cascade and worth the short walk.

Beautiful! The whole landscape looks so lovely.

Just as the hike was nearing its end, the clouds lifted just enough for Mt. Meru’s peak to give us a glimpse.

Perfect timing!

I don’t know if his rifle was loaded but there was more than one occasion that he was rather flippant with its handling.

Oh gosh, I guess that answers my other question

This was my first reminder that on safari, you will see much, but not all.

I kind of like that aspect of it - it's what distinguishes it from a zoo. It makes any animal sightings you do have so much more special. Having said that, I was kind of devastated that I didn't see any lions on my safari. My ex-husband saw one on the very first game drive of our trip, which I missed because I'd come down with a nasty cold and couldn't drag my butt out of bed at 5am.

Distances are deceiving on safari mostly because of the numerous stops for animal viewing and the occasional roadblock.

As far as roadblocks go, I wouldn't complain too much What wonderful photos you got!

The original plan was to stop for lunch in the village of Momella, but time was my enemy in seeing all I’d planned.

Always seems to be the way.

They are HORRIBLE photos from WAY too far away with my lens.

You are very hard on yourself - I think you got some lovely bird photos!

Except for the baboons. They are everywhere. All the time.

If there's any guarantee on a safari, it's that you will see baboons

This little Bushbuck seemed right at home in the Headquarters parking lot.

Ooh, I didn't see any of them! Cute!

By the time I’d left the park, my phone was down to a paltry 20%, and I limped into the airport with it down to about 6%. (Navigation burns a lot of juice!) I was VERY nervous that I’d not be able to communicate with the rental agent to coordinate the pick-up.

Uh oh... it's amazing how much we've come to rely on our phones these days. I remember as recently as 2017 I didn't even bother to take my phone overseas with me! Now it's nearly as essential as your passport.

As a point of discussion: Beware of the rental car scam across Tanzania. They rent you the car empty and you will have to fill up as you set out for any driving.

As far as scams go, that's probably on the lower end of the scale. I'd be far more worried about car jackings or being pulled over by cops!

I immediately plugged the phone in to a wall outlet and was gleefully relieved to see it start to charge. Phew!

Phew indeed!

I would say my first “real” day in Tanzania was a resounding success.

 

[buzzrelly]

For some super weird reason, the cords I’d brought and the charging block combination with those cords was simply NOT working to start a charge. UGH!!! I was seriously freaking out that my phone has broken somehow and that, my friends, can be trip-breaking. Or at least throw a MAJOR crimp in things!!

Yikes!

As a point of discussion: Beware of the rental car scam across Tanzania. They rent you the car empty and you will have to fill up as you set out for any driving. Of COURSE you are going to fill the tank as you just don’t know distances or that particular car’s fuel needs/efficiency. Any extra you return the car with is money you’ve thrown away...

...like I did when I returned it with ¾ of a tank.

Ugh, but I guess that's the price you pay for piece of mind!

It was as delicious as it was beautiful! I

Looks delicious!

 

[pkondz]

F is for: Fourteen Birds and a Very Fine Dinner

For some reason, I want to sing The 12 Days of Christmas...

(Point of order... there are 23 birds mentioned... unless you add up all the days of multiple bird gifts... and I ain't gonna)

“lunch” was a half a packet of cashews that I’d grabbed off the overseas flight.

Fine dining on safari...

Cool truck with the pop top.

there were no flamingos as I’d hoped

Well, shoot. But you did see plenty of other birds.

African Sacred Ibis

I've got "Sacre Bleu!" stuck in my head now... from a cartoon a watched a million years ago.

"Horrible" shots? I think not!

Northern Fiscal

I Googled. Tanzania is in the South... where I presume you should still be fiscally responsible.

• Reed Cormorant

[][/]

Okay... now that one is hard to make out. How did you know what type it was? Or did you see it more clearly?

Great Crowned Crane (I discovered these first at DISNEY!!! If you've eaten at Sanaa, you may have seen them strutting around the window tables.)

But so cool you saw a wild one!

If you've ever tried to get pix of butterflies, especially wild ones and not those in a hothouse, you'll know how hard it is!! They are FAST!!!

"Okay... got my camera... right lens... just focus in here and.... gone."

Except for the baboons. They are everywhere. All the time.

The music cracked me up!

By the time I’d left the park, my phone was down to a paltry 20%, and I limped into the airport with it down to about 6%.

I was seriously freaking out that my phone has broken somehow and that, my friends, can be trip-breaking. Or at least throw a MAJOR crimp in things!!

Oh, man. I can't even imagine! All the info you need for the trip, and possibly all your tickets as well... <poof!>

As a point of discussion: Beware of the rental car scam across Tanzania. They rent you the car empty and you will have to fill up as you set out for any driving. Of COURSE you are going to fill the tank as you just don’t know distances or that particular car’s fuel needs/efficiency. Any extra you return the car with is money you’ve thrown away...

...like I did when I returned it with ¾ of a tank.

Wow. I've never heard of renting a car without a full tank of gas.

Basically, they walk around the perimeter of the car looking at the undercarriage, presumably looking for explosives…?

I've never seen that in person that I can recall, but have seen it on the news or on TV/movies.

I immediately plugged the phone in to a wall outlet and was gleefully relieved to see it start to charge. Phew! Crisis averted.

The relief!

What is that? It looks fascinating.

I took a photo of the day’s menu and boy it sure did sound fantastic!

Sure sounds good!

And looks good too!

I would say my first “real” day in Tanzania was a resounding success. I saw the first of many majestic animals, enjoyed the friendliest hospitality found anywhere, and feasted on some wonderful food.

Really incredible what you've seen and done so far... I hope the rest of the trip will be at least half as good!

 

[Wood Nymph]

My guide, Dilunga, had a smile that would light up a room. He was very friendly and knowledgeable and spent quite a bit of time sharing all kinds of information about the animals, their behavior, the landscape, the people and how they use the plants that we were seeing for medicine and food, and local culture. It was all so fascinating, and it was wonderful being so intimately immersed in it all.

That was really great to have a guide on this hike. You must have learned a lot from him.

This couple appeared to be courting for a mating encounter with a lot of physical touch and snuggles. They kept me entertained for quite some time before I moved on.

This is something you'll never see on a Disney safari. I would have watched it, too.

It was late, I was still jet-lagging pretty hard and exhausted from the long travel, so I organized some things as best I could and called it a night. I would say my first “real” day in Tanzania was a resounding success. I saw the first of many majestic animals, enjoyed the friendliest hospitality found anywhere, and feasted on some wonderful food.

Wow, you really had a busy day. You got a lot done. It sounds like you had a perfect ending to the day.

 

[Steppesister]

G is for: Going Forward; Next Destination: Karatu, Tanzania!
May 6, 2025
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Two long and arduous days of travel, 2 nights of luxurious lodging, and 1 day of heavy adventuring were behind me; it was time to transition to the next phase my African Wanderings.

The morning started with another incredibly delicious breakfast of fresh Tanzanian fruits and locally-made cheeses followed by breads, eggs, and bacon. And no day is perfect without fresh coffee with warm milk and sugar. *The eggs and bacon looked like eggs and bacon.

(The avocado at the top was perfect with a little lime and salt and pepper on some of the yummy bread!)​

I’d packed up what few things I’d gotten out over the last couple of days the evening before so had a bit of time to wander the lovely grounds of Katambuga House before my scheduled pick-up time of 9:00. Let’s explore, shall we?

The weather was showery, and the snails came out to enjoy the morning:

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All morning, from the time I woke up, I kept hearing a very distinctive bird call; it was loud and perfectly consistent in an odd way. There were a couple of other guests at tables for breakfast and one happened to be one of the owners of the guesthouse or an owner of one of the local safari companies (memory is fuzzy on that, but seemingly very knowledgeable of the local nature). I asked if they happened to know if they knew what bird was making that call and sure enough! “That’s the Tropical Boubou bird! You think you are hearing one bird making both tones of the call, but it’s actually a nesting pair calling to each other.”
If you have time, it might be worth Googling the call of the Boubou.

SO COOL!! Now I was on a mission! I had to find the Tropical Boubou! My journey led me to the lovely pool. Even if I had time to relax by it, it was sadly too rainy for some sun and cocktails with my feet up. Rainy season has some serious advantages, but the cost is, of course, less sun and pool time enjoyment. It’d only have mattered at this lodging for me, so no great loss.

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The Boubous were still at their incessant calling and my short trek back to the house brought me closer. With some tenacious hunting and very quiet stepping, I found them! A female tucked safely in her perfect little nest, presumably sitting on a clutch of little eggs. I snapped a few photos and moved on quickly so as not to spook her off the nest and as soon as I put a few feet between us, the pair picked up right where they left off.

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The Tropical Boubou (“boo-boo”) was not the only bird I picked up that morning. I also spotted a female Scarlet- chested Sunbird enjoying his morning breakfast of flower nectar in the tree just aside my little patio as I gathered my bags to take to the truck that was just arriving.

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The evening that Delvina and Kelvyn drove me from Kilimanjaro to Arusha we’d made arrangements for them to pick me up a bit early before my flight so I could do a little souvenir shopping before heading out on safari in the very remote places. They knew better than I did that this might well be my only opportunity to do that. They suggested “The Tanzanite Experience” but I was really reluctant about that thinking it sounded extremely tourist-y and I really try to avoid those like the plague.

Saying goodbye to our lovely and gracious hosts at Katambuga House, we headed off to the Cultural Heritage Center and Gift Shops. Just at the entrance a trio of Masai gentlemen were playing some music. Sadly, I only caught a few short seconds on video before they ended their set. My time was limited to only about and hour at MOST, so didn’t have time to tarry as it was.

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Inside, my senses were blown away by the variety of textures and colors and mediums of the thousands of pieces of art: Jewelry, paintings, carvings, weavings, baskets, metalwork and sculptures. How would I ever choose?!

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I knew for SURE I wanted a small piece of Tanzanite jewelry. I honestly had no idea going in the costs I'd be facing or really anything about Tanzanite in general. I headed directly to that area and the salesman wasted no time getting straight to the “presentation”. In about 10 minutes he had taken the few tourists who had gathered, including myself, through the mining process, the refinement process, the cutting and various grades, styles, colors, etc… Shockingly, when Tanzanite comes out of the ground raw, it looks like the dull, gray piece at the top of this photo.

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It is then heated to about 500 degrees C to bring out the violet and magenta hues. Should you want a deep dive here is what Google AI pulls up: (**Skip if this is too tedious!)

The process of refining tanzanite involves several key steps to transform the rough, naturally mined stone into the brilliant blue-violet gemstone:

• Extraction: Tanzanite is first extracted from the earth in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania.
• Cobbing: Non-gemstone material is removed from the rough tanzanite, often using small hammers.

Initial Grading and Planning: The cobbed tanzanite is weighed and sorted by color and size to determine its potential value. Skilled craftspeople examine the stone and plan the cut and shape, considering factors like clarity, brilliance potential, and optimal use of the rough stone.

• Heat Treatment: This is a crucial step for most tanzanite.
• Purpose: Tanzanite in its natural form often has brown or greenish hues. Heat treatment, typically between 500-600°C, alters the crystal structure, bringing out the desirable blue-violet colors.
• Process: The stones are slowly heated in controlled ovens or furnaces, gradually increasing the temperature and then allowing them to cool slowly to avoid damage.
• Result: The heat treatment is considered permanent and stable, ensuring the gem's color remains vibrant over time.

Cutting and Polishing:

Pre-form: The tanzanite is divided into desired marked pieces for cutting.

• Bruting: The stone's girdle (the widest part) is shaped by rounding the corners.
• Faceting and Polishing: The gemstone is then carefully cut into the desired shape and facets are polished to maximize its brilliance and shine.
• Final Grading: After polishing, the tanzanite is sent to a grading facility to assess its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight based on established standards.

Important Notes:

• Reputable jewelers should disclose any treatments, including heat treatment, to ensure transparency.
• Heat treatment doesn't significantly affect tanzanite's durability, but it often enhances its value by bringing out its most desirable colors.
• Natural blue or violet tanzanite without heat treatment is extremely rare and highly valued.

He basically, gave us all of that information listed above showing us the various stages with samples. It was highly informative and interesting.

(Blue is not the only color of Tanzanite!)​

Obviously, he then proceeded to show us the wares for sale by size and sorted by type of jewelry. The prices for a cut and polished piece were a bit out of my price range but what did catch my eye was a piece of “rough cut” in a very simple setting of silver. It’s unique as most folks wouldn’t buy a piece unpolished or cut on its cleavage; now I have a piece straight from the ONLY source of it in the world- the Merelani Hills, only an hour and a half away from where I was standing.

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When I do my “big trips” I have gotten into the little tradition of finding a painting that represents the local culture best in my eyes and a carved mask. I found both. Here are the pieces I ended up with for this adventure: Be still my heart!

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I was super pushing the time limit with my browsing, and it took a fair bit of time for the staff to carefully wrap my pieces to travel with. I could tell Delvina was getting a bit antsy, but we buzzed off to the airport and arrived in plenty of time for the 11:15 flight. I loved having them shepherd me to the various places I needed to go and was grateful for the tips, hints, information, stories, and extra miles they gave me during my stay in Arusha. Having such private concierge is another perfect reason to go on the shoulder season!

Coastal Air would be my carrier from Arusha to Lake Manyara Airstrip. While I’ve flown (and flown on ) many small aircraft this would be my first time on a Cessna 208, and certainly my first “bush flight”. I will however admit to landing on a grass strip in the Oregon Coast with my grandfather as a small kid in his Cessna. Fun times!

(The Safety Briefing!)


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This is a 12-passenger aircraft, and it was a full flight. In fact, all the flights I took “in the bush” were full despite it being low season. I was a bit giddy at the thought of seeing rural Tanzania from above and watching the landscape change from the lush environment of Arusha to the something different. Although, honestly, my knowledge of what it might truly look like was limited, making the mystery of it all even more exciting.

Because most of these commuter bush flights operate as basically “buses”, it didn’t surprise me to learn once onboard that we’d be hopping to Kilimanjaro first, then turning around and back-tracking past Arusha then onto Lake Manyara. Some got off, others got on there.

Here's the taxi and takeoff from Arusha and a few shots from the air so you can see how the landscape morphs:

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What you might notice are the absolutely fascinating bomas of the rural dwellers, mostly Masai. I had a hard time keeping my photos to a reasonable amount.

I was intent on videoing the landing, which turned into a hilarious fiasco. I’d taken my phone out of its case with the pop socket and didn’t put it into the gimble as it was just too much to handle with the boarding process. So, I was doing pretty well as we approached, but just as the wheels touched, my phone literally popped out of my hand and went shooting to the floor into the abyss. I burst out laughing, a little nervous that I’d broken my screen, but more amused at my inept attempt to maintain control of my grip and the inevitable video of utter blackness instead of some cool footage of the landing. The gal in front of me searched under her feet to no avail so it had obviously shot as far as 2 rows in front of me or more. As soon as we landed and came to a stop, she asked the folks in front of her to see if they could find it and to please be careful not to step on it. It was found within seconds and still happily filming the floor under them. I about died laughing as I stopped it with 3 ½ minutes of blackness.

I present to you, a few seconds of approach followed by… nothing but engine drone:

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This seems like a great place to “land” for the day. I think you will SERIOUSLY LOVE what is in the next chapter. The afternoon’s activities were truly one of my very favorite parts of the entire trip. Just….magical!

 

[Steppesister]

I realize I'm a chapter of replies behind, but need to make an airport run with my eldest. I honestly just do NOT want to be away from my house today at ALL, but family duty calls.

I'll get back to replies later tonight if I can stay awake past 8:00. With my new job, I seem to be roasted by then these days. More soon, Friends!

 

[Steppesister]

I was wondering... In Botswana, we were pretty much told to never get out of the vehicle. But there were lions, leopards, crocodiles, hippos and many, many elephants around. And thousands of buffalo lol!

Was the ranger armed with a tranquilizer gun or an actual gun? I'd hate to think of any animals copping a bullet because of the walking tours

Definitely rifles with standard ammunition. Only used in extreme situations, and I'm sure it's a rare event for sure. The animals are pretty used to visitors now.

All the wildlife guides I've ever had on my travels have been wonderful! They all seem to be very passionate about their jobs. You sure got some great sightings with him!

They really are. They train for YEARS to get into a guide position, many starting out as cooks or tent stewards. If they show promise they are sent to guide school and go through a pretty rigorous program and then apprentice as a spotter after that. I'll give more info on my next guides but their spotting and guiding skills are beyond uncanny!

Oh gosh, I guess that answers my other question

Real rifles.

I kind of like that aspect of it - it's what distinguishes it from a zoo. It makes any animal sightings you do have so much more special. Having said that, I was kind of devastated that I didn't see any lions on my safari. My ex-husband saw one on the very first game drive of our trip, which I missed because I'd come down with a nasty cold and couldn't drag my butt out of bed at 5am.

This is so true. There were long stretches at times between sightings, but the ones I did get were mind-blowing.

I'd heard over and over that if you can at all help it do NOT miss a game drive. Every one is so different and you're almost guaranteed to see something new on each successive one.

As far as roadblocks go, I wouldn't complain too much What wonderful photos you got!

I'd never complain over some giraffe snuggles.

If there's any guarantee on a safari, it's that you will see baboons

Hundreds.

Yes.

Uh oh... it's amazing how much we've come to rely on our phones these days. I remember as recently as 2017 I didn't even bother to take my phone overseas with me! Now it's nearly as essential as your passport.

For sure! Air ticket receipts, communication with contacts/staff, banking, trip notes.... It would be very, VERY tough to lose it. A lot, of course, is backed-up on the cloud, or should be! But even just to find a new phone to replace it overseas would be very hard, if not impossible!

As far as scams go, that's probably on the lower end of the scale. I'd be far more worried about car jackings or being pulled over by cops!

True enough, but.... well, I'll share my temptation on the next episode of, "The Scams of African Car Rentals"...

 

[Steppesister]

Ugh, but I guess that's the price you pay for piece of mind!

This is most definitely true!

 

[Steppesister]

For some reason, I want to sing The 12 Days of Christmas...

(Point of order... there are 23 birds mentioned... unless you add up all the days of multiple bird gifts... and I ain't gonna)

Now that might take a bit of time!

Fine dining on safari...

I was being fed... hmmm, almost overly well. I was MORE than happy to skip a lunch now and then.

Cool truck with the pop top.

There are thousands of these all over the savannahs of several iterations.

Well, shoot. But you did see plenty of other birds.

Indeed! Anxious to add them all up as I go.

I've got "Sacre Bleu!" stuck in my head now... from a cartoon a watched a million years ago.

Loony toons, methinks.

"Horrible" shots? I think not!

Okay, 1 in 10 ain't bad.

I Googled. Tanzania is in the South... where I presume you should still be fiscally responsible.

har har

Okay... now that one is hard to make out. How did you know what type it was? Or did you see it more clearly?

Well, according to the Tanzanian bird app that I downloaded there are only 3 species of cormorant in the whole country and all quite different. I did know from setting and shape (and color) that it was a cormorant and narrowing it from there wasn't too hard with only 3 to choose from.

But so cool you saw a wild one!

The first of a few

"Okay... got my camera... right lens... just focus in here and.... gone."

Hey you just summed up bird photography in one scenario. They are all identical 99.99999% of t he time.

The music cracked me up!

I've been tinkering with YouTube and having some fun!

Oh, man. I can't even imagine! All the info you need for the trip, and possibly all your tickets as well... <poof!>

Not to mention communication with contacts you need along the way for logistics, banking, note taking, alarm clock....

Wow. I've never heard of renting a car without a full tank of gas.

Nor had I!! That was a new one for me. l

've never seen that in person that I can recall, but have seen it on the news or on TV/movies.

Another new thing I'd never seen or heard of.

What is that? It looks fascinating.

I have NO idea, but, like you, I found it fascinating. I am very curious as well.

Really incredible what you've seen and done so far... I hope the rest of the trip will be at least half as good!

I think you'll be pleased!

 

[Steppesister]

That was really great to have a guide on this hike. You must have learned a lot from him.

It was really amazing to have gotten to do this and Dilunga was the first of many amazing guides I had on this trip. I learned a TON from each place and person along the way!

This is something you'll never see on a Disney safari. I would have watched it, too.

No, I'd think probably not. A very wild sort of encounter and so wonderful!

Wow, you really had a busy day. You got a lot done. It sounds like you had a perfect ending to the day.

It was very full and long, but sooooo worth it. The trip was already, just on Day 1 of touring, so much more than I even imagined.

 

[pkondz]

Two long and arduous days of travel, 2 nights of luxurious lodging, and 1 day of heavy adventuring were behind me;

Not sure how you kept going!

*The eggs and bacon looked like eggs and bacon.

(The avocado at the top was perfect with a little lime and salt and pepper on some of the yummy bread!)

Glad you posted that... I was wondering what that thing at the top of the plate was!

Wow! Great shot!

memory is fuzzy on that

After two long and arduous days of travel, 2 nights of luxurious lodging, and 1 day of heavy adventuring, I'm shocked you remember anything at all!

“That’s the Tropical Boubou bird! You think you are hearing one bird making both tones of the call, but it’s actually a nesting pair calling to each other.”

Cool! And yes, I did Google the call. Pretty.

Even if I had time to relax by it, it was sadly too rainy for some sun and cocktails with my feet up.

Well, shoot. You went all the way to Africa to not chill by the pool.

With some tenacious hunting and very quiet stepping, I found them! A female tucked safely in her perfect little nest, presumably sitting on a clutch of little eggs.

Aww.

we’d made arrangements for them to pick me up a bit early before my flight so I could do a little souvenir shopping before heading out on safari in the very remote places. They knew better than I did that this might well be my only opportunity to do that.

You weren't going to be able to shop after this?

Sadly, I only caught a few short seconds on video before they ended their set.

They sounded good.

How would I ever choose?!

In about 10 minutes he had taken the few tourists who had gathered, including myself, through the mining process, the refinement process, the cutting and various grades, styles, colors, etc…

Whoa! That doesn't even look real! Huge!

now I have a piece straight from the ONLY source of it in the world- the Merelani Hills, only an hour and a half away from where I was standing.

How cool is that! If anyone ever asks about your ring, you'll have a tale to tell.

Here are the pieces I ended up with for this adventure: Be still my heart!

I like them, especially the carving.

I loved having them shepherd me to the various places I needed to go and was grateful for the tips, hints, information, stories, and extra miles they gave me during my stay in Arusha. Having such private concierge is another perfect reason to go on the shoulder season!

VIP treatment!

this would be my first time on a Cessna 208, and certainly my first “bush flight”.

Good plane. Terrible in ice, but otherwise... (And you're in Africa, and I assume icing wouldn't be an issue very much there!)

"I am so sick of giving this passenger safety briefing... and TBH, I'm a little sick of the passengers too!"

Here's the taxi and takeoff from Arusha

I watched it... fun!
And... so green! Don't know what I expected, but not that green!

What you might notice are the absolutely fascinating bomas of the rural dwellers, mostly Masai.

Oh! So that's why it's called Boma! (the restaurant at AKL)

It was found within seconds and still happily filming the floor under them. I about died laughing as I stopped it with 3 ½ minutes of blackness.

I present to you, a few seconds of approach followed by… nothing but engine drone:

Okay, that was really funny. (Since there was no harm done to the phone.)

I think you will SERIOUSLY LOVE what is in the next chapter. The afternoon’s activities were truly one of my very favorite parts of the entire trip. Just….magical!

Can't wait!

 

[pkondz]

There are thousands of these all over the savannahs of several iterations.

Thousands?!?!

Loony toons, methinks.

I thought so too. Probably is, then.

Well, according to the Tanzanian bird app that I downloaded there are only 3 species of cormorant in the whole country and all quite different. I did know from setting and shape (and color) that it was a cormorant and narrowing it from there wasn't too hard with only 3 to choose from.

Well, there ya go.

Not to mention communication with contacts you need along the way for logistics, banking, note taking, alarm clock....

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

This seems like a great place to “land” for the day. I think you will SERIOUSLY LOVE what is in the next chapter. The afternoon’s activities were truly one of my very favorite parts of the entire trip. Just….magical!

Here’s me thinking It’s pretty magical already! I can’t wait for what comes next.
Hope your trip to the airport for your eldest went smoothly.
I love your souvenirs.

 

[buzzrelly]

The weather was showery, and the snails came out to enjoy the morning:

I need some perspective because that thing looks like a monster! I hope you are seriously zoomed in!

a piece of “rough cut” in a very simple setting of silver.

Beautiful!

Here are the pieces I ended up with for this adventure: Be still my heart!

Wow, gorgeous!

It was found within seconds and still happily filming the floor under them. I about died laughing as I stopped it with 3 ½ minutes of blackness.

Oh my gosh! That's too funny...and something I would do!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Obviously, he then proceeded to show us the wares for sale by size and sorted by type of jewelry. The prices for a cut and polished piece were a bit out of my price range but what did catch my eye was a piece of “rough cut” in a very simple setting of silver. It’s unique as most folks wouldn’t buy a piece unpolished or cut on its cleavage; now I have a piece straight from the ONLY source of it in the world- the Merelani Hills, only an hour and a half away from where I was standing.

That is interesting about Tanzaniz having to be heated. I like your rough cut ring more than the blue ones. It has more character.

When I do my “big trips” I have gotten into the little tradition of finding a painting that represents the local culture best in my eyes and a carved mask. I found both. Here are the pieces I ended up with for this adventure: Be still my heart!

This painting is perfect. I love it.

 

[Steppesister]

Not sure how you kept going!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming....

Glad you posted that... I was wondering what that thing at the top of the plate was!

Bigger and more flavorful than what I'm used to here.

Wow! Great shot!

Thanks! He posed very nicely.

After two long and arduous days of travel, 2 nights of luxurious lodging, and 1 day of heavy adventuring, I'm shocked you remember anything at all!

Skilz.

Well, shoot. You went all the way to Africa to not chill by the pool.

Well, not mostly, anyway....

You weren't going to be able to shop after this?

There were fewer opportunities where the prices were as good, the selection as extensive, or as conveniently located. There was at least one place I regret a little bit not at least looking.

It reminded me somewhat of a typical spiel in any cruise port anywhere else in the world. Except with a little bit more information.

Whoa! That doesn't even look real! Huge!

The gems were absolutely beautiful.

How cool is that! If anyone ever asks about your ring, you'll have a tale to tell.

Absolutely!

Good plane. Terrible in ice, but otherwise... (And you're in Africa, and I assume icing wouldn't be an issue very much there!)

Yeah, ice is probably the least of their worries. I think most (not all) fly VFR under the clouds where it's pretty unlikely to encounter that issue.

"I am so sick of giving this passenger safety briefing... and TBH, I'm a little sick of the passengers too!"

LOL! TBH she was quite a pretty woman with a big smile. I think I just caught a bad moment.

I watched it... fun!
And... so green! Don't know what I expected, but not that green!

VERY green. It was rainy season, and I'm sure that makes a big difference, but the landscape in Arusha was VERY different than further east where I was headed.

Oh! So that's why it's called Boma! (the restaurant at AKL)

BINGO!!!! "Boma" In Swahili, "boma" primarily means an enclosure or fence, often made of thorny branches. It can also refer to an open space used for social gatherings, especially in a game reserve or safari lodge. Additionally, "boma" can be used more broadly to describe a homestead, a fortified village, or a government office.

Okay, that was really funny. (Since there was no harm done to the phone.)

I still literally laugh out loud when I watch it.

Thousands?!?!

These trucks are EVERYWHERE!!! Yes, I'd say thousands are in northern Tanzania; when I went into the next safari area, I'd say there were easily dozens there alone. I don't know the statistic, but I would imagine that SAFARI and tourism is easily well over 50% of the GDP.

 

[Steppesister]

Here’s me thinking It’s pretty magical already! I can’t wait for what comes next.
Hope your trip to the airport for your eldest went smoothly.
I love your souvenirs.

The whole trip just kept getting better and better with each passing day. The unbelievable variety of natural beauty, the friendliness of the people, the cultural lessons..... it was a breath-taking experience.

He's back in the PNW for starting his first day on his first Civilian job since mustering out of the army last week. He makes a momma proud!

 

[Steppesister]

I need some perspective because that thing looks like a monster! I hope you are seriously zoomed in

Yes, it was only about 2 or so inches long (just the shell) but I was down very low super close to it.

Oh my gosh! That's too funny...and something I would do!

OH geez, it was just too funny!!! "Look at my great Vloggers skills I practiced for you guys!".