Welcome to the blog of our fabulous trip... For those newcomers, the blog is in reverse order. So go to the end, to read from the beginning. I know it's backwards, but so it goes... Hope you all enjoy reading this and we look forward to hearing any and all feedback, including any questions you may have. Thanks all your support and encouragement in sharing our adventure.
Joey
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year, Hallelujah and Pics!!!
Finally have all the pics posted!! Hope you all enjoy them all.
We celebrated the New Year in the plane at the gate in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania...
Am making this blog entry at the kitchen table at home... We have traveled for about 36 hours, I have slept a total of about 3 hours during that time. Its good to be home safe and sound.
We celebrated the New Year in the plane at the gate in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania...
Am making this blog entry at the kitchen table at home... We have traveled for about 36 hours, I have slept a total of about 3 hours during that time. Its good to be home safe and sound.
Friday, December 31, 2010
FYI
The temp connection in transit was not good enough to load pics. I will do that upon getting home safe and sound...
Joey
Joey
Headed home...
Leaving the Serenora Wildlife Lodge on our last day in Africa. Setting out to find the crocodiles, hippos and whatever else comes our way. Afterwards we are taking a puddle hopper from the Serengeti to Arusha.
BTW we did find the crocs, hippos an lots of other things...
BTW Hippos in the background of this shot...
We are now taxiing, in the single prop plane from the Serengeti Airport. Our pilot is Lulu, our co-pilot is Benji Fischman. Benji is sitting in the co-pilots seat, and is really excited.
I am now in the hotel room blogging, the kids are swimming, Sharon, Joanne and Losarian went to the city to try and figure out how to ship the bows, arrows and instrument back home. At the hotel we can shower and pack before driving to Kiliminjaro Airport for the first of 3 flights back to Minneapolis.
From Kilimanjaro to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, there is a short layover there, then off to Amsterdam, Netherlands. A 2 hour layover, then onward to Minneapolis.
As fantastic a trip this has been, I am excited to be going home. The things I am looking forward to are, nice toilets, hot showers, ready internet, no dust or pollution, and finally my own bed.
Joey
BTW we did find the crocs, hippos an lots of other things...
BTW Hippos in the background of this shot...
We are now taxiing, in the single prop plane from the Serengeti Airport. Our pilot is Lulu, our co-pilot is Benji Fischman. Benji is sitting in the co-pilots seat, and is really excited.
I am now in the hotel room blogging, the kids are swimming, Sharon, Joanne and Losarian went to the city to try and figure out how to ship the bows, arrows and instrument back home. At the hotel we can shower and pack before driving to Kiliminjaro Airport for the first of 3 flights back to Minneapolis.
From Kilimanjaro to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, there is a short layover there, then off to Amsterdam, Netherlands. A 2 hour layover, then onward to Minneapolis.
As fantastic a trip this has been, I am excited to be going home. The things I am looking forward to are, nice toilets, hot showers, ready internet, no dust or pollution, and finally my own bed.
Joey
Heading toward "Pride Rock"...
Left the lodge on the craters rim early this morning at 7:00am. We did this to make a detour, so that we could see the "great migration." The migration of the herds of wildebeast and zebra across the plains.
Before we searched out the herds, we went to the musuem at Olduvai. This is where the oldest carbon dated remains of homo erectus were discovered. This was a really neat side trip.
Then it was off to find the herds. We had some success, were able to see the wildebeast stretch across the horizon, way cool.
Had lunch, and headed to the Serengeti National Park. As I am writing this we are just starting our journey into the park to see lots more wildlife. The variety and amount of animals and things we were able to see was phenemonal!
Headed to the lodge in the Serengeti for the night, tomorrow more wildlife, then start out on our long journey home.
Joey
Before we searched out the herds, we went to the musuem at Olduvai. This is where the oldest carbon dated remains of homo erectus were discovered. This was a really neat side trip.
Then it was off to find the herds. We had some success, were able to see the wildebeast stretch across the horizon, way cool.
Had lunch, and headed to the Serengeti National Park. As I am writing this we are just starting our journey into the park to see lots more wildlife. The variety and amount of animals and things we were able to see was phenemonal!
Headed to the lodge in the Serengeti for the night, tomorrow more wildlife, then start out on our long journey home.
Joey
Hakuna Matata!!
Have left the lodge and are on our way to the Ngorogoro Crater. We will be circling the rim, before descending into the crater to the see all of the wildlife.
Lions, cheetahs, and rhinos, Oh My!! Inside the crater we were blessed with being able to see so much wildlife, up close in it's natural habitat. Our guide Donatus, knows many of the rangers and they guided us to see a cheetah, rhinos and lions. Donatus operates Wilderness Inquiry of Tanazania, www.wildernessinquirytz.com, anyone who is considering going could find no better, at any price! I took over 200 pictures, so I will eventually post a select few.
Another cultural visit to the Masai Tribe. This tribe is located in both Tanzania and Kenya. They are a people who raise livestock. We were warmly welcomed, by having them dress all of us up in ceremonial dress. They chanted and did a welcome dance, brought us into the village and did their "jumping dance." Here Benji got more spear throwing lessons and just had to get a spear and shield. We then were taken as honored guests for a goat slaughter! Yes, they slaughtered a goat in front of us, by suffocating it. Sharon and Shoshi could not watch, Benji and I did and videoed and filmed it all. The reason for suffocating the goat is because they value the blood, and drink it fresh. That was one thing we did not partake of. Donatus's partner Losarian is from this tribe. We were also shown the inside of one of their huts, shown kids in kindergarden, then bought a slew of stuff.
Headed back to the lodge for the night, once again no internet, (so I am posting in the by hour hotel room in Arusha, before we drive for our flights home from Kilimanjaro)
Joey
Lions, cheetahs, and rhinos, Oh My!! Inside the crater we were blessed with being able to see so much wildlife, up close in it's natural habitat. Our guide Donatus, knows many of the rangers and they guided us to see a cheetah, rhinos and lions. Donatus operates Wilderness Inquiry of Tanazania, www.wildernessinquirytz.com, anyone who is considering going could find no better, at any price! I took over 200 pictures, so I will eventually post a select few.
Another cultural visit to the Masai Tribe. This tribe is located in both Tanzania and Kenya. They are a people who raise livestock. We were warmly welcomed, by having them dress all of us up in ceremonial dress. They chanted and did a welcome dance, brought us into the village and did their "jumping dance." Here Benji got more spear throwing lessons and just had to get a spear and shield. We then were taken as honored guests for a goat slaughter! Yes, they slaughtered a goat in front of us, by suffocating it. Sharon and Shoshi could not watch, Benji and I did and videoed and filmed it all. The reason for suffocating the goat is because they value the blood, and drink it fresh. That was one thing we did not partake of. Donatus's partner Losarian is from this tribe. We were also shown the inside of one of their huts, shown kids in kindergarden, then bought a slew of stuff.
Headed back to the lodge for the night, once again no internet, (so I am posting in the by hour hotel room in Arusha, before we drive for our flights home from Kilimanjaro)
Joey
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Day two in Tanzania...
On a borrowed internet connection, I am updating the blog. Yesterday we flew into Tanzania, at Mt. Kilimanjaro Airport, were picked and driven to Karutu, where we spent the night. Because of the no internet this is going to be brief, with no pics till I can log on and post for real...
Woke up today at 5:00am! Needed to meet the bushmen of Hadzabi tribe. Got to hunt with them using bows and arrows, were exposed to their culture. This tribe has been in this area for over 10,000+ years!
Spent time with the Datoga tribe next, they have been in the area for about 350 years. Visited a family of blacksmiths and saw them make jewelery and speartips.
Lastly, we visited with Daniel of the Iraqw tribe, they have been in the area for 200 years. Spent 2 hours with him, he taught us about their history and culture.
So today was a culture day, learned and experienced a tremendous amount. Tomorrow we head to Ngorogoro Crater, we will see lots of wildlife, at the end of day we will visit one more tribe the Masai to learn about their culture, and are scheduled to participate in a "goat feast." Should be another great experience.
Till I get a better connection....
Joey
Woke up today at 5:00am! Needed to meet the bushmen of Hadzabi tribe. Got to hunt with them using bows and arrows, were exposed to their culture. This tribe has been in this area for over 10,000+ years!
Spent time with the Datoga tribe next, they have been in the area for about 350 years. Visited a family of blacksmiths and saw them make jewelery and speartips.
Lastly, we visited with Daniel of the Iraqw tribe, they have been in the area for 200 years. Spent 2 hours with him, he taught us about their history and culture.
So today was a culture day, learned and experienced a tremendous amount. Tomorrow we head to Ngorogoro Crater, we will see lots of wildlife, at the end of day we will visit one more tribe the Masai to learn about their culture, and are scheduled to participate in a "goat feast." Should be another great experience.
Till I get a better connection....
Joey
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