Tanzania March 2022 Part 1

Arusha Serena Hotel

Baboon eating a sausage fruit

This trip started three years ago when Amazonia Expeditions offered a 7-day safari in Tanzania to see the Great Migration. We signed up immediately. Not wanting to fly half way around the world for just a week, the trip expanded to 25 days to include Portugal. COVID caused the postponement of the Mar 2020 trip about a week before departure.  After being assured by the President that COVID was under control and soon to be gone, we added an 8-day yacht cruise around the Seychelles Island to the itinerary for the rescheduled 2021 trip. Of course, that trip was also postponed. And finally, due to COVID travel restrictions, the whole plan came crashing down last December, leaving unpaid Travel Agents, lost deposits, non-refundable tickets, and two very unhappy travelers in its wake. The lone survivor of this disaster was The Great Migration trip. Fortunately, a pre-trip was added and we were happy to add to our time in Africa.

Impala

Approaching Bull

Even though the 2022 trip was a go, COVID still had a hand to play. We got our PCR test done before we left, then we had to fill out another COVID/health screening form on line within 24 hours of arrival and pay $10 for the privilege. The problem was we had to do this in the airport between flights in Amsterdam, and the app was difficult to use and would not accept the payment. By the time the payment went through, we were the last ones to board. We were not warmly welcomed. 

 

Yellow necked Spurfoul

The farce continued when we landed at the Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. We were handed a paper form to complete, which basically asked the same questions we answered on the app. Our temperature was taken, a rapid COVID test was taken, and then we could go through Immigration. The strangest thing was NO ONE asked to see the results of our PCR test! You could not help but think, that this was just a make work/make the tourist pay ploy. After we collected our bags, we met our two fellow safari mates, Rhonda and Rosemary and our driver, Iddy. 

Baby Baboon

It was time to put all that COVID stuff behind us and enjoy our trip. We arrived at our first hotel at 11PM and we were offered dinner. Our bodies were so confused by the 7 hr time difference, we thought it maybe it was dinner time. We were in bed by 1:30 am and up by 6 am. 

Maasai Giraffes

Nyikani Tent Camp

Still being tired, we were late with our departure but we got our Toyota Land Cruiser loaded and eventually left the city of Arusha for Tarangire National Park. This park is more wooded that most of the other parks we would visit and is well known for its elephants and 300 species of bird life. We spent the afternoon in the park before settling in at our Nyikani Camp Tarangire. This was a tent camp inside the park. We were warned not to walk around after dark without one of their employees. There were no fences to keep the elephants and lions out. The next morning, we found out a leopard had been in the camp and a highly venomous Black Momba was seen in front of one of the tents. Somehow COVID did not seem like much of a threat after that.

Woodland Kingfisher

Infant baboon

Large bull

Southern Ground Hornbill

                                                                    Gray Crowned Crane

Here's looking at you kid

One of the keys to a good safari is having a good guide. We were blessed in having a great guide. In addition to being fluent in five languages, he knew where the animal would hide and could spot them as he drove down the road. He could judge the temperament of the elephants and cats and knew when to approach and when to back off. We had many close encounters, none more chilling than a bull elephant right outside my car window. So close I could touch its tusk, which I didn’t.

Warthogs

Baby Elephant

Since we were a little past the birthing season for most of the animals, there was no lack of cute little critters running around. The baby elephants were my favorite.

White Crowned Strike

 After two exciting days in the park, we headed back to Arusha to meet up with the main group that was landing that night. On the way back we stopped at a Maasai market and watched them trade their goats for beans, corn and other necessities.

Maasai Market