Rik: Tanzania part 1

Mambo

Tanzania part 1: Serengeti to Zanzibar

After our first big and famous game park we were off to Arusha, Tanzania. From Arusha we would be going on safari towards the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater National Park. Same concept as the Maasai Mara, 4x4 would take us from Arusha to the park and drive us through the parks.

It was a long bumpy ride to get to the park which was definitely not done with our own truck, it would cause to much damage to the truck. But finally we made it to the park where would start right away with a afternoon safari where we saw 4 leopards in the drive and that made the total of sightings of leopards this week 5. Which is pretty special. Furthermore we saw lots of grazers on the vast plains of the Serengeti. Finally we arrived after sunset in our campsite where the cooks put up our tents and served us food.

The following morning we left early for our morning game drive. Which gave us a really nice sunset again and a sighting of a lion family feasting on a young buffalo calf. The most worrying sight was the lioness licking the calf as if it was her own cub. Probably it was for other reasons but this is what it looked like to us. After lunch we drove to our campsite at the rim of the Ngorongoro crater. Where were fed and spoiled the same way as the night before.

The next morning we left again at the crack of dawn to see the sun come over the other side of the crater. After which we took the 4x4's down into the crater where we saw lots and lots of wildebeests and zebras.
For most of us the most special was the sight of a few days old baby elephant trotting behind his mom. Most disturbing was the hyena who vomited, rolled in it and ate it before going further on his stroll through the park.

After these two highlights of Tanzania we drove back to Mto am awb, where we did a village walk and had some local food and photo opportunities with the kids to play with our cameras.

Next up were two long days of driving to Dar Es Salam, there we had a relax day to do things for ourselves. Which in theory was an excellent idea, we planned to go to Dar Es Salam have lunch there and take the ferry back. Unfortunately there was a slight change of plans after three of our group went out for a stroll. So far so good. But when a few of us sat together Sara came running towards us telling that the three whom went for a stroll were robbed on the beach.

Vic lost his phone, Andy lost some money and a fake watch to a guy with machetes and Eric lost his beloved Crocs running into the water. Once they were all back again we were greeted by the reception employee, who was sorry for them and was calling the cops, he was being sincere and helpful. Unfortunately this changed when the manager came and asked what happened. It started with the question "who were being robbed?" and "how much did you lose and the what's the value of what you lost? Because if you want to declare something with the insurance, you will have to spend a whole day at the police station, so think if it is worth it." This last sentence was followed by " if you read the sign at the reception (which was about the size of a A6 letter) you should know not to go there!!" These last comments of the manager where for the three guys (who just experienced the African robbery) the most difficult part of the day. And there was a lot of discussion about it throughout the day.

A trip into town was not on the agenda anymore and we all stayed in the hotel grounds and the beaches in front of them.

The next day we set of to Stone Town Zanzibar with the ferry. We got the warning that it might be choppy boat ride but it turned out to be only the harbor where the water was choppy. Once out of the harbor the water was a lot calmer. In Stone Town we were welcomed by Daniel our guide for the days we spend in Zanzibar. Zanzibar is the name for a collection of islands big and small, with the two big islands Pemba and Unguja as the main attractions. On Unguja we arrived on with the ferry. This is where Sarah and Andrew left us for 2 weeks till Vic falls.

We started with a walk to our hotel for the night, a hotel was a nice welcome treat after weeks of camping. Quickly checking in and we were of to see Stone Town, we walked along the water front where we saw the place we would have dinner later, the house of Freddy Mercury and some other old buildings. After the tour we were set free to venture on our own. Which was nice to do after being camping outside of cities for weeks. After a tapas lunch we went to stroll the small streets and shop while making way to our hotel.

We spend the late afternoon at the rooftop of a bar looking over the water and watching the sun set. Here we also met the new people joining us for this leg. Dylan (UK/Wales), Kirsty (IRisch) and Stewart (Scottish), Henly and Mandy (UK) and the Estonian couple Illiana and Othar. We went for dinner to the spot we were earlier that day started our tour. Here we tasted some local cuisine, shoarma, Zanzibar mix, Zanzibar pizza and Zanzibar falafel.

Next day in the morning we were taken to the cathedral which was built on the grounds where centuries ago the slavery market once was. As a memory to this slavery market there was a memorial built and a museum informing about the slave trading.
Zanzibar produces a lot of spices so after Stone Town we went to the spice farms on our way to Nungwi. Here we smelt and tasted a lot of familiar and unfamiliar spices.
In the afternoon we arrived on the white beaches of Nungwi. After dinner we sat at the waterfront and found for some of us the tickle spots, afterwards we went with a few to one of the local bars to have a few drinks there before we set of home again.

The next day we would snorkel and for me and Lotte it was the first time we did anything like this. After getting adjusted to how to relax while breathing through a straw I managed and found it a lot of fun and well recommend for another time. The ride back on the boat was not the most comfortable ride we have had before. And some of us had more trouble with the ride.

Unfortunately we needed to head back to Stone Town the next day so we could get the ferry across. Not before I bought a nice painting and we had some ice cream.

We also said goodbye to Karen and Linda who would stay behind in Zanzibar. Later that evening back in Dar Es Salam we would say goodbye to Louise as well. She would be leaving that next day as would we.
Leaving at 5 for a long truck day. More on our journey southward next time.