Tanzania Experience: Week 11 at School

After last weeks trip to Nairobi and seeing the orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage we have decided to sponsor an elephant. It it the little one we saw that was born on my (Peter's) birthday this year. The elephants name is Ajabu, a Swahili word meaning mystery, to reflect the unanswered questions surrounding her first precious days and what happened to her mother and her herd.

You can see details including videos and pictures at http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

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Today I got to run the first part of the referees course I have been trying to do. As expected, there were problems and it was late, but we went ahead anyway. As I say, expect the unexpected and you won't be disappointed.

Next Sunday we head off on safari. Thanks to Mercy and Simon at Eastern Sun Tours and Ray at Back Track we are joining Megan's group for safari. It's for 6 days

Day 1: Tarangire National Park

Drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park. Have a picnic lunch in the park, followed by an afternoon game drive. Drive through the parks varied landscape, which is scattered with huge baobabs trees and home to herds of elephants. Stay overnight at Zion Camp.

Day 2: Serengeti National Park

Drive to the Serengeti National Park visiting Oldupai Gorge enroute. For those with an interest in archaeology, this was the site, in 1959, where fossil fragments of a skull belonging to pre homo-sapien man were discovered. The Serengeti is the largest of all the parks in Tanzania, famous for both its migratory and resident animal population. Stay overnight in the Seronera Campsite in the Serengeti. We spend two days exploring the vast grassy plains, rocky outcrops and sparsely wooded river valleys of this incomparable park where lion, cheetah, leopard, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle, elephant, and Cape Buffalo can be seen. In general, you search for the animals in the early morning and late afternoon, while you follow the animal’s example and rest during the heat of the day. We camp within the Serengeti, listening to the sounds of the nocturnal animals and birds.

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

Full day in the Serengeti. Stay overnight at Seronera Campsite in the Serengeti.

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater

Morning game drive in the Serengeti or an optional balloon flight which includes a champagne breakfast (*this costs extra and must be pre-booked well in advance. Contact the Back Track office for details). In the afternoon drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stay overnight at Simba Camp overlooking the Crater. From the crater rim there are magnificent views down into the caldera.

Day 5: Mto Wa Mbu

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. This 100 square mile natural amphitheatre is host to an astonishing array of wildlife. You may be lucky enough to see rhino, elephant and lion, as well as large herds of zebra and wildebeest. In the crater we travel in smaller four-wheel drive vehicles, accompanied by a local guide. There is excellent game viewing with 30,000 resident animals and the photographic opportunities are unrivalled. This is one of the best places to see the endangered Black Rhino. A picnic lunch will be taken in the crater. After the game drive we exit the crater and drive to Mto Wa Mbu Stay at Jambo Camp overnight.

Day 6 : Arusha

On the return journey to Arusha we stop for a picnic lunch at Lake Manyara National Park, followed by an afternoon game drive. This is an opportunity to see Manyara’s marvellous concentration of game, including 350 species of birds. Afternoon drive back to Arusha.

Now it's back to school/home/work.

A few pics (apologies for the quality)