Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch
March 12, 2008 – Tracy Gets a Surprise Visitor
It’s Tracy calling and I’m calling you from the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. We are at over 8300 ft and looking down into Ngorongoro Crater. I am now on the crater rim and it’s an amazing view!
Last night at Tarangire Tree Tops we had our dinner in the beautiful lounge. It was dark so we were escorted by our Maasai escort from our room to the lounge. As we ate dinner, there was a thunderstorm all around us but we were safely eating our dinner under the dinner cabana. We were surprised by the waiting staff as they came out singing a song with a wonderfully delicious chocolate Kilimanjaro Summit cake! That was such a nice surprise! After dinner we were escorted back to our rooms and nestled into our rooms for a good night sleep.
We were told before bed that if we heard any noises throughout the night that it wouldn’t be our Maasai guards as they are always very quiet. I listened carefully all evening at the footsteps that I could hear out in the distance. Sure enough at 4:00 this morning I was awakened by a giraffe eating right outside of my room! It was a fabulous sight and one that I will never forget!
After we left the lodge this morning we made our way to the Ngorongoro Crater. On the way we saw more elephants and we also got a chance to see some zebras and wildebeest. When you are sitting with the truck off around the zebra and wildebeest you will hear a lot of starling birds. The reason they are all around is because they eat the ticks and the flies off the animals.
We stopped for lunch at the Serena Lodge where there was a beautiful view of Lake Manyara and the valley. After lunch we made our way through the crater rim driving past many gazelle families; even little babies clinging to their mothers bellies.
We will have an early start tomorrow and will spend the day in the crater. The young ladies, Julia and her sister Hannah, will be reporting about our day’s adventures tomorrow.
Stay tuned!