Ok, so I'm finally writing about the safari! I haven't been too motivated for a few reasons. This trip was about the volunteering and working with the kids and teachers, spending time with people in the community. That's where my passion lies. That's what I'm excited to talk about. As a matter of fact, I can't stop talking about it and am finding that I will go on and on to just about anyone that will listen!
The other reason I probably put off this post is that my pictures stink. I take lousy pictures anyway (something Owen recently teased me about during the 5 hour drive back from the crater) and it was frustrating not being able to capture the wonder that I was seeing. AJ, on the other hand, had a camera worthy of a National Geographic photographer, so I'm looking forward to seeing her pictures.
Here is the link to an IMovie compilation of my pictures. ihttp://youtu.be/0YR-t8L2HiY. I will include a few below with my descriptions as well.
That being said, the safari experience was COOL! Really it was just 2 days since we went to the Ngorongoro Maasai Pre-school in between.
The first day we arrived at Lake Manyara National Park mid afternoon. The sign says "home of the tree climbing lion, but we didn't see any.
Once we were in the park, Emanuel popped the roof of the Land Rover. Justin could fully stand inside, and if I stood on my seat I was at his height. Emanuel allowed this even though I'm pretty sure we weren't supposed to. It was pretty cool seeing all the range rovers driving around with people's heads popping up like Prarie dogs!
Owen and I had been joking that we had been in Africa two full weeks and hadn't seen any monkeys. Well we certainly got our fair share, and it never got old!
Next up were zebras. I was so excited. I wasn't the only one, as we passed the other vehicle Jessica was grinning ear to ear saying, "Look! Zebras" just in case we hadn't noticed.
At the Hippo pond we took a great group selfie, but didn't see any hippos. Beyond the hippo pond was a stripe of pink -- made from thousands of flamingos.
We also saw a few giraffes in the woods that had us all amazed. And then AJ yelled "Elephants!"! Right on our way out. There were 4 in the woods that we were straining to see. Then they started moving toward the road. We were all whispering when another vehicle pulled up behind us. They spoke loudly and we all shushed them! Then the elephants came out one by one. It was awesome! Justin took great video! (Click here on mobile).
We stayed at the Endoro Lodge that night. They greeted us with warm white cloths to wipe our faces etc. Needless to say after a day riding on dirt roads peering out the top of a Land Rover we were pretty filthy! Haha
The accommodations were gorgeous! And modern! With toiletries in the bathroom! I think most of us showered at night and in the morning to take advantage!
Day 2 was spent at the Ngorongoro Pre-school. You can read about that wonderful day in a separate post.
Our accommodations kept changing but we ended up getting to stay at the Ngorongoro Wildcamp, which we were all really excited about. On the drive we saw more monkeys then came to a halt to admire giraffes in the woods!
See video (not included in the iMovie) here: http://youtu.be/IySmnKtd-a0. Don't mind the occasional fingers in the screen...
Then we drive, oh I don't know, another 200 feet and Emanuel said we were at the hotel! Wait, what? Down the road from the giraffes? WOW!
This place was wild (pun intended). We were greeted by the staff. It was explained that after dark a Massai would escort us around camp as animals came in at night! Cabins slept 4 so Owen and I bunked with AJ and Kelly. We stayed in "tents". Now this is glamping!!
Owen hadn't been feeling well the past few days. He had a sore throat and coughing probably from breaking in so much dirt over the past few weeks. A few of us were popping Mucinex regularly!
We took it easy until dinner. Walked around and played cards on the deck.
When it was dinner time it was dark. The 4 of us peered out the tent. No Maasai. Owen even called out "Massai!?" Which had us all giggling. We took my camping lantern and made a run for the dining tent!
After dinner a Maasai was waiting to escort us back. We stopped to watch a small kitten play with a scorpion. Really, the same way our cats might bat at a beetle on the ground. Finally the Maasai stomped on the scorpion and the kitten proceeded to pull it onto the grass an eat it!
When we got back to our tent AJ asked the Maasai if he could take us for a walk around to see if any animals we in the camp. We walked down the path, led by his flashlight, and paused at another tent nearby. There in the darkness stood a giraffe illuminated by the flashlight beam (I didn't have my camera with me, otherwise I would show you a picture that would in no way compare to the image in my head right now). The Maasai informed us he was sleeping. We went to take a step closer, but then the giraffe took a step (sleepwalking?) so we stayed put. We stayed several minutes in the darkness gazing at the sleeping giraffe. He was standing up, by the way, as he would be in too vulnerable position if he tried to sit or lie down to sleep.
The next day we got up super early, ate breakfast at 6 and left at 6:30 for the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic caldera recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa (Mt Kilimanjaro is on that list too). It was formed when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself 2-3 million years ago and is home to the black rhino, Cape buffalo, hippos, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, hyenas, elephants and lions, and various birds including flamingos, ostridge and crested cranes.
The view going down into the crater was breathtaking. Take my word for it. Oh wait- here is Cathy's picture!
Inside the crater was breathtaking as well.
We came to expansive plains with dirt roads winding throughout. Right away we saw tons of wildebeest. Then Emanuel yelled, "running rhino!" We were all standing on our seats as he took off among dozens of safari vehicles in what felt like a safari edition of the Indy 500! It was so much fun!
There are only 13 rhinos in the entire crater so we were psyched! We drive down the road watching the rhino run then cross the road running until it couldn't be seen anymore. Here's my best pic.
I know, it's lame. Hopefully AJ got some great shots!
Plenty of hippos in this pool. Owen thought they were rocks until one moved!
On our way out we stopped at a lookout point. Beautiful!
Then we began the 5 hour rideback to springlands and our last day in Tanzania. But first Kelly noticed this rediculouusly colorful bug on the way to the car.
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