Whereas the safari began as a by-product to the climb; it developed into a significant add-on well worth the additional cost and time. Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are all contained within Tanzanian borders. With the exception of the Serengeti these other two parks are positioned within a half days distance of Moshi. While the Serengeti is the most recognizable of the three by many, the Ngorongoro Crater is well renowned for its high concentration of wildlife.
A day after returning from the climb I traveled to Lake Manyara with a Dutch couple and our Zara guide, Issa; continuing on to the Ngorongoro Crater the following day before heading to the airport that night. Because of the longer time needed for the Serengeti, I decided to omit that portion of the trip. All three parks have no restrictions on the wildlife that leave or enter the parks, presenting an accurate perspective of the animals' natural environment; of course, apart from the numerous Land Rovers that pass-by each day.
Knowing very little regarding Lake Manyara prior to arriving, I was very impressed with this segment of the safari. Along with the many birds, impalas, hippopotamuses and baboons that live within the foothills of the Great Rift Valley we were able to closely observe many elephants and giraffes. Issa seemed genuinely surprised that the giraffes were as close as they were. The majority of my snapshots came from a film-based 35mm camera while occasionally using a digital camera for the essential backup. The photos of the wildlife on the website are restricted due to my limited use of the digital camera.
After dropping off my partners at an impressive lodge overlooking Lake Manyara, Issa and I backtracked to a small town that harbored a quaint little campground. To save a few bucks I settled on the economical safari package opting to spend yet another night in a tent. The campground was secure and clean, the food was
very good and the entertainment offered later that night secured my decision for not choosing more elaborate accommodations.
Ever since that day Charles and I enjoyed an ice cold Coke-Cola halfway down Kilimanjaro I cannot seem to get enough Coke in me. I don't know if it was my hunger for anything American or it was the continuous bombardment of Coke-Cola advertising throughout Tanzania; but whatever the case, it tastes damn good.
Knowing that this was my last night in Tanzania I placed my Thermarest outside my tent, laid down and spent two hours gazing at the southern night sky prior to calling it a night.
After picking up my Dutch cohorts in the morning we arrived at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater within two hours. Our drive presented us with an opportunity to see the expansive Tanzanian countryside, including passing by the many Maasai people and their hut styled homes.
Prior to entering the crater, Issa stopped at small shack containing a park ranger and an ambitious looking gentleman carrying a rifle. To this day, I'm still not convinced if the gun-toting man was there for the protection of the humans from the animals or for the protection of the animals from the humans. The first things noticeable when entering the caldera's bottom are the vast number of zebras, wildebeests and gazelles covering the landscape. We were only able to steal a distant glance of two lions and the endangered black rhino but had many close range views of the hyenas, jackals, warthogs, elephants, hippopnamuses, water buffalos and cheetahs.
Wrapping up the day was bittersweet. After fourteen days I was ready to go home but the thought of leaving weighed heavily on me. Feeling the desperation of not learning all that I could prior to leaving this country, I took advantage of the three hour drive to the airport by absorbing everything passing by my truck window like a sponge. From the chaotic atmosphere of rush hour in Arusha to the fading sunset silhouetting Mount Meru it was a wonderful end to a magnificent two weeks in Africa.
