We arose at 7 am, got ready and went to breakfast at 7:30. The complex is beautiful - all inside a walled compound protected by guards around the clock. We felt very safe.
The Lodge at Lake Duluti Serena outside Arusha
Our "cabin" - second from the right - very spacious
Beautiful gardens throughout the complex
There were beautiful jacaranda trees in bloom - bright purple
We had breakfast in a beautiful dining room. Delicious juices - pineapple, passion fruit and hibiscus juice. Tim had eggs and I had an omelet. Both really good.
There were monkeys running around outside. One of the women in the restaurant "freaked" when she saw them and insisted that the waiter close the window and even had him put a napkin on the latch so the monkeys couldn't open the window and get in. We laughed. I took pictures!
The monkeys outside one of the breakfast room windows! Fun.
We had the porters come for our luggage. We are leaving our large bags at the Lodge since we'll be staying here for 2 days at the end of our trip. So our large bags so to reception and our newly packed duffel bags so with us in the LandCruiser. Tips of $1 each to the porters again.
The purple jacaranda trees are in full bloom and magnificent. Absolutely stunning.
Godson met us a little before 9 and we headed off in the LandCruiser for a 3 hour trip to Tarangire National Park.
Our safari vehicle for the next 10 days - driven by Godson
The roads were very bumpy and the traffic a mess, especially as we went through Arusha City. We passed lots of coffee plantations and lots of banana trees. Many women carrying parcels - some huge - on their heads.
Desolate brown countryside - yet the cattle and goats were grazing on something!
The huts where the Maasai live - made with sticks, dung, and thatch
We passed through an area where the Maasai people live - they are tribal and nomads. The area was desolate. We mostly saw small villages and many boys or women herding their animals - mostly goats and cows. They all carried a single small stick.
We frequently had to stop to let the herds - usually cows and goats - cross the dirt roads
The Maasai women all have short hair and Godson explained that this was due to sanitation. They only bathe once every 2 months due to the lack of water so they keep their hair short which is easier to keep clean that way.
After a 3 hour drive on very bumpy roads, we entered the Tarangire National Park which is an area of over 1,100 square miles and used as a game reserve. There is no hunting and no poaching allowed. No human activities at all except for viewing the animals in the park. It was amazing.
Tarangire National Park in Tanzania
The entrance to Tarangire National Park in Tanzania
There was a huge baobab tree at the front entrance. It took 35 paces (not steps - paces) for me to walk around it. These are only found along some of the coast of Africa and in Madagascar.
The huge baobab tree at the entrance to Tarangire National Park
The roads got bumpier but we were fascinated with all of the animals we started seeing including: impala, giraffe, elephant, warthog, ostrich, lionesses, baboons, zebra, dik-dik, waterbuck, red-billed hornbill, superb starling, bandit mongoose, wildebeast, elan, mongoose and the cape buffalo.
The warthog - an ominous looking creature!
We loved watching the many elephants - this family was seeking shade under a tree
These elephants were digging in the river bed to get mud and water. The mud is to spray on them to keep the sun from burning their skin or hide
We saw lots of giraffe - we didn't seem to mind them at all!
All of the animals were "in motion" for the most part. They are constantly searching for food and water. A few are nocturnal and hunt at night so they rest during the day (like the lions).
The elephants were digging in the riverbed to get mud for their body and some water
The elephants strip the bark from trees - they knock them down at times - very destructive!
Beautiful vistas everywhere we look - but all brown - the rains haven't come here yet!
We drove on dirt roads the entire time - with beautiful scenery on both sides
We travelled all day and this small stream was the only flowing water we saw
Our first impala - a male since he has horns (no horns for the females!)
Our first dik-dik - they travel only in pairs
A troop of baboons making their way to the river to try to get a drink - the elephants were not happy!
The giraffes eat day and night - stripping the tops of the trees
This giraffe walked over a small tree and rubbed back and forth to scratch its underbelly! Funny!
Beautiful zebra everywhere trying to find grass to eat
Two lionesses resting by the river - this one had a collar on for tracking her moves
Off to the river to get a drink
A female ostrich - brown feathers - the males are very colorful
Ostriches grazing in front of a huge baobab tree
Huge termite mounds through the Tarangire National Park - huge structures
We drove by Pumpkin Rock where the baboons seek shelter at night away from the predators. We are scheduled to go back here tomorrow evening to see them climbing the huge rock (hopefully).
Pumpkin Rock - looks like a pumpkin, doesn't it?
We arrived at the Kikoti Safari Camp and we are the only guests tonight. We have our own cabin that is "open air" with a beautiful view of the valley to the west. We will visit the valley tomorrow.
Our "cabin" for the night - mesh walls open to the elements - hmmmm!
Toilet on the left and shower on the right - behind the hide curtains - open air!
Our bedroom complete with mosquito netting that they drew around the bed at night
The view of the valley from our front porch
We had some local beers in the "lounge area" and then dinner with Godson. The food was good but not exceptional - BBQ chicken with rice and vegetables. We are not eating any of the fresh vegetables like lettuce or tomatoes. We finished dinner about 8 and headed to our cabin and went to bed. It is pitch black out and they tell us that wild animals visit the camp. So we had a Maasai guide take us to our cabin with a flashlight. He was listening and flashing the light all around to hopefully warn any animals not to come near.
We locked ourselves in the cabin, showered as we were filthy from all of the dust and open-air vehicle, and then went to bed. We slept (most of) the night. I "heard" things only a couple of times but went back to sleep.
A fun and fascinating first day on safari.
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