Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch
July 19, 2009 – Giraffes, Ostrich, Flamingos - Oh My!
Saturday July 19 - Culture tour day 4: Well it was time to say goodbye to the tented camp. It was wonderful staying there. After departing the camp we were on our way to visit an Iraq tribe market. As they were just setting up for the day, we took a quick tour of everything from; gold’s; to vegetables, and to sugar cane. After a few pictures we moved on to see our next stop, a huge onion farm. It was a continuous operation with harvesting and planting happening simultaneously. A stack of onions could bring $30.00 dollars in today’s markets. We were given a quick overview of the whole operation including the arrogation systems, this was all very interesting.
Masai in their traditional wear
Moving on we drove towards our next destination along the side of a great route and we arrived at Mto wa Mbu where we spent the night. It had become very hot and the air is dry and dusty. We drove for a while and magically around Lake Manyara everything changed from dry and aired to lush and green vegetation, we saw coffee and banana trees everywhere. It was like crossing an invisible line from one town to another. We stopped in a town to find tea that I had been drinking so that I could bring some back home. It has a really good flavour.
After our purchases we went on our way and we arrived at the Masai camp at around 1:30pm. It was a group of tented huts with standing room and open to the air. I rest; check up on my writing; enjoy scenery; flowers; small lakes and the mountain side. I went down for dinner and enjoyed the acrobatic and flag dancers before retiring for the evening.
Sunday July 19 - Culture tour day 5: Today we were on our way to Lake Natron. After breakfast we left with two Masai guides {one with a spear in case of snakes}. We walked upward over the ridge to a small waterfall. Along the way we saw hundreds of baboons who are experts at escaping the camera. Further along we came down and walked through a banana field being guarded from the baboons. After reaching the falls, which were very beautiful, we return to our vehicles to be on our way.
Although the ride was dusty and bumpy, I enjoyed it because the truck goes up and suddenly we are on safari. We saw giraffe ostrich, storks, gazelle, and wilder beast, how exciting! We reached Lake Natron later than expected because the short drive was very bumpy. After a short visit we crossed the dry lake bottom until we reached the flamingos, there were thousands of them with a pink hue on the horizon. After that we climbed on a big rock to watch another Tanzania sunset. Does it get much better than this? It’s been a long day after dinner it’s off to bed for me.
I’m Marjorie signing off, more later.