Friends that I made on my trip to Botswana joined me on a new trip to Rwanda and then Tanzania. Note that traveling there requires the following additional immunizations that most Americans don’t have: Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever. Luckily I was still immunized from my trip to Botswana. Malaria pills are also highly recommended so I brought my trusty Malarone.
It was Spring when I traveled to Tanzania, which means it is cold overnight but can get HOT during the day. We arrived in Arusha and stayed at Moivaro Lodge the first night. It’s located on a beautiful coffee plantation.
Our safari began the next morning. We drove two hours to Lake Manyara National Park, a small park between the Rift Valley escarpment and the lake with the same name. This park is home to the rare tree climbing lion. Some say they climb trees to avoid the flies.
Staying at Gibbs Farm and visiting the Ngorogoro Crater are highlights of Tanzania. The farm itself is spectacular and the food is all farm to table. During dinner the cute resident bush babies come out to eat.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies between the rift escarpment and the Serengeti. The volcanic Ngorongoro Crater is the worlds largest unflooded, intact caldera and is one of the natural wonders of the world. It was created two million years ago by the collapse of an enormous volcano, likely larger than Kilimanjaro. The Masaii are not allowed to live here, but they do bring their cattle in to graze.
Most East African animals can be found in the crater except for the giraffe. The slope of the crater is too steep for them to climb. There are literally animals everywhere.
Continuing to the Serengeti you will pass the Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai is known as the saddle of mankind, since this is where evidence of the first humans have been found.
It is here that you will find shifting sands. This magnetic, volcanic sand migrates around the area with the wind. I was told this fine sand moves about 50 meters a year, although some reports say 10 meters. Either way, it is quite the mystery..
We had the honor of visiting the Masaii in their home and learning about their culture.
A Masai warrior walked us to where we would be staying, Olduvai Camp.
Further into the Serengeti, we stayed at the Serena Lodge. It was comfortable and nice, but also felt very commercialized. It is great for the more nervous traveler who isn’t as interested in immersive culture.
We had the privilege of being in Tanzania at the very beginning of the Great Migration. It is the time when wildebeest and zebra begin to gather and move toward Kenya. At times there are just large congregations of animals and at other times they are walking in a line as far as you can see. There are also no shortage of predators during this time, waiting for their next meal.
If you get bored of the big game, or just aren’t seeing any, (yes, that does happen) there are plenty of small animals and birds.
A hot air balloon ride above the Serengeti is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Before you leave Tanzania, hopefully you will get a clear shot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
