Aging is the extraordinary process whereby you become the the person you always should have been.

Dave Bowie

Ok short as Wi-Fi only in lodge here. We are in a very glorified tent with running water shower etc. requires escort at night to walk to tent as lions, jaguars, and hyena about.

More later but todays highlight was elephant crossing road. But we were in path. Apparently they cannot see well.

I have had lots of bears come up to car and sniff around, but an elephant much bigger than the car doing it is another thing. Had to change cameras to phone camera as too close. The guide was totally cool and did not seem concerned but since I know nothing about elephants made me think.

Not what we have but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance.

Jean Pierre Petit-Senn

It seems we are staying at a different lodge tonite also near the town of Arusha (population approximately 650,000+), and the Wi-Fi is good so best write. Tomorrow we start heading west towards different national parks, staying varying lodges and “camps”.

Tanzania is a great country from what I have seen. One lady (not on our trip) said safest in Africa. it has outlawed plastic bags. It has created a system of national parks which they realize preserves what we are seeing. Some were created before they got independence from Britain in 1960. (I have not fact checked this, but what I heard our guides say.). Tourism is nearly 100% of the economy here and they have not made it cheap. A visa costs a $100, a day entry (not overnight) costs a $100, and overnight costs again. And on and on. Camping as we know it in alaska is not done or permitted. Several places to hike requires hiring a park ranger to escort you through the area. It is their economy.

The safari has us moving every day to a new location and wonders with a mix of animals, plants, birds, people, culture. We not only have Cindy our tour leader, but two local guides – Simon and Daudee. They have university degrees in wildlife management and conservation. Their wealth of information is incredible. We seem to constantly be asking questions not only about animals but their country (health care, eduction, solar panels, etc). The food served us is amazing. Happy hour on arrival (about 5) dinner at time specified by Cindy, seems 7 – 7:30. We gather about 8 although some days will be earlier as sun up about 6:30.

And thus today we began meeting guides after breakfast and putting gear in vehicles. We have two Toyota Land Cruiser which can seat 8 people including driver. Top opens and we can stand up with Bimini cover for shade. The vehicles are heavy duty as obviously designed for off road use (as well as highway ). And road today was rough putting the vehicle to the test. Stories abound of vehicles getting stuck.

And within 15 minutes we were at the urban wilderness divide. Arusha national park. After doing paperwork to get into park off we went. Within 5 minutes we had seen numerous giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra, wart hogs, and in numbers. Absolutely nothing like a zoo. Like seeing a penguin in the wild where they can be what they are, wild animals roaming in wilderness. At the end of day we counted having seen 11 species of mammals dozens of bird species, each more glorious than the last. We drive about the lower slopes of mount Meru, an old volcano, approximately 4600 meters high. Kilimanjaro at about 6700 meters is visible on a clear day.

And so it goes, excited about next days, tomorrow is culture and begin heading west. Day after tomorrow is animals, mostly elephants. We shall see. As is said in Swahili “Makuna mataada” no worries.

M

Risk something or forever sit with your dreams

Herb brooks

Arrived, wow in Africa. not sure what to think yet. Jet lag has taken place. Flights were ok without major hiccups but still sitting in a seat for 15 hours is a long time then 6 hours this morning.

It was great having the hotel. Doha has a transit section so do not have to go through customs officially entering Qatar or go out of security. Something that is not available in the United States. Arrived about 6 pm and were checked in by 7 and it is a big airport. Our friends Doug and Jill had arrived about a half hour earlier. A great shower sleep until about 11 pm and then walk to gate. Had set alarm for midnight but all woke earlier????? Guess we had slept on earlier flight. Then the six hour flight to Kilimanjaro airport arriving about 7:30 am. The sunrise was amazing from 40000 feet. With imagination one might see the curvature of earth on the flat horizon with broadening red until the sun blasted itself onto a new day. I had seen pictures of sunrises in Africa but always just thought that’s pretty but not really seen it’s glory. No mountains to break up the horizon. Then Mount Kilimanjaro came into view rising solo above the plains. I definitely missed having a window on flight from Seattle to Doha.

Texted our friends zak and Natasha on our arrival and realized we were exactly 12 hours apart in time So 8 am we were just beginning the day and journey. And they were ending their day. They had picked us up Monday morning at 8 am for ride to airport, and we arrived Wednesday at 8 am. Whew.

But met our driver who brought us to the river lodge near Arusha, where are spending the day unsuccessfully trying to be busy. A luxury accommodation. Being waited on and pampered. As Jill said “when did we become those people”? But our cabin very nice. Tonight before we retire they come in and let out the mosquito net and spray it.

And trying to go a bit of Swahili but failing. People are very nice though and appreciate our efforts. Even did a little Arabic in Qatar.

But the excitement is the 10 acre grounds here at lodge have their own monkey bands, here. So here are the tourists out going Gaga and trying to get pictures of these animals flittering about the trees. Fascinating to those of us whose only , not even close animal is a squirrel. The locals look on in bewilderment at people trying to get pictures of their capers about the trees.

For those of us jet lagged,seeing new exciting things and being pampered it is wonderful

So we begin tomorrow bright and early breakfast then car drives and animal viewing. But for now time for sleep and I apologize for unreadability or mistakes. Until the next Wi-Fi.

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will lead you there. George Harrison

Well here we go again. Have never been to Africa. Thus off we go. But as a friend from South Africa once told me – OK where in Africa, there are 53 countries in Africa, all of them very different from each other. If you are just going to check off the box, well ok but there is a lot there to check off. Sounds like one of those lists where as the list gets checked off several items are added. The list gets longer, not shorter. But I admit I have never been to Africa as a continent. This will be the seventh of seven. So in preparation I watched “The Lion King” movie.

This trip came about through a friend of a friend who taught botany at Gustavas. Apparently when she retired she wanted to be in anchorage because of the recreational opportunities. During her professor tenure she had done several trips teaching to Tanzania, and loved that place. She has continued doing trips there with friends. We were signed up to go a few years back but COVID out a damper on things for a bit. So there are 12 of us including Cindy. We shall see.

Currently sitting on a Boeing 737-900 enroute Anchorage to Seattle – 3 hours- then an hour and half before departure. Then a Boeing 777-300 ER for 14 1/2 hours to Doha Qatar arriving tomorrow at 5 pm. 8 hour layover departing 1 am. Jeanne has arranged a hotel for those 8 hours at the airport. Whew! Then on to 7 hour flight again a 777 to Kilimanjaro airport, arriving 7:30 am, where someone will meet us and transport us to Arusha (hopefully acquainted with severely jet lagged zombies).