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Title image - BAI takes you to: Tanzania Wildlife Safari

Tanzania Wildlife Safari and Chimpanzee Trekking Dispatch

January 9, 2017 – Habari (‘Hello”) Mahale!!

Nancy Souza

Nancy Souza

Dispatch by Nancy Souza

We departed the Arusha Coffee Lodge promptly at 6:30 AM for our scheduled three-and-a-half hour flight to, the very remote, Mahale at 8:00 AM. The 12-seater prop plane would make two scheduled stops - one at Lake Manyara to pick up an additional passenger, and then on to Tabora for a pit stop for both us and the plane!

The flight provided a thrilling opportunity, once again, for a bird's eye view of this magnificent country.

We landed around 12:30 PM local time after a very smooth flight and then were transported to the lake front where we boarded our boat (think "African Queen"), ate a quick lunch, and then pushed off for our 1.5 hour ride fantastic boat ride down Lake Tanganyika, the largest lake in the world (by volume, which also holds 17% of all the fresh water in the world)! The fun-filled boat ride introduced us to some of the most breathtaking scenery we have ever experienced (think Kauai, Hawaii!)

Our arrival at Greystoke was surreal...The staff and manager, Julian (from Brussels), were on the shore clapping and waving to us – and we couldn't believe our eyes… One of the most gorgeous, remote lodges imaginable!! We all thought – how WILL we explain this to our family and friends???!!!

We stepped off the boat ladder and into paradise! The pictures here of the main area and our homes - as well as the sunset - will tell the whole story!

We got settled and while my mom rested we went with our new Australian friend, Phil, back out on the boat for a swim some 200 hundred yards from shore to avoid the crocodiles and hippos that live in the more shallow water!

After swimming we did some fishing and Allie was successful in a catch of a yellow Cichlid that yielded us some delicious sushi at cocktail hour! We returned to shower and enjoy an astounding sunset! Dinner followed and then bed with the sounds of baboons and vervet monkeys playing all around us!

Stay tuned for our first day of chimpanzee trekking....breakfast will be at 8 am and we'll await word from our guides before we head into the bush!!!

We found ourselves winging over beautiful Tanzania once again

We found ourselves winging over beautiful Tanzania once again

From our prop plane we could see Lake Tanganyka!

From our prop plane we could see Lake Tanganyka!

A pit stop in Tabro

A pit stop in Tabro

Our destination is the remote Mahale Camp

Our destination is the remote Mahale Camp

Allie with our prop plane

Allie with our prop plane

Bibi boarding another flight

Bibi boarding another flight

On the plane

On the plane

Donna and Bibi excited about the scenery ahead.

Donna and Bibi excited about the scenery ahead.

Our “African Queen” – time for a boat ride.

Our “African Queen” – time for a boat ride.

On the boat and ready to rid

On the boat and ready to rid

Mahale Lodge

Mahale Lodge

Wow, look where we have arrived

Wow, look where we have arrived

Exquisite accommodation along the lake

Exquisite accommodation along the lake

The rooms were great!

The rooms were great!

Nancy caught a yellow Cichlid!

Nancy caught a yellow Cichlid!

Dining Room

Dining Room

Time to swim!

Time to swim!

More fishing

More fishing

Donna enjoying boat ride

Donna enjoying boat ride

Sushi, anyone?

Sushi, anyone?

Time for a dive back in

Time for a dive back in

Nancy Loving it

Nancy Loving it

Allie caught a real fish!

Allie caught a real fish!

Bibi and Nancy

Marjorie and Allie

Alli and Bibi

Marjorie and Nancy

Jessica, Nancy and Allie

Jessica, Nancy and Allie

Our accommodation

Our accommodation

Donna in her Room

Donna in her Room

Peaceful Mahle sunset

Peaceful Mahle sunset