Creative Living

Thursday, November 30, 2017

11-12-17

David, Bob & Emanuel on the lookout for Simba!

10/31: Safari Day 1

Within minutes from the airport we started seeing wild animals! :-) First a baboon!

And then another baboon and her baby. We were so excited!

Zebras crossed the road!

There were zebras everywhere!!!!

And there were wildebeest everywhere...usually being led by the zebras. The wildebeest follow the zebras (the brainy animal) each year as they go on their huge migration through the Serengeti.

Wildebeest hanging out in the grass.

Wildebeest under the shade of this flat top acacia (our favorite African tree)!

And hundreds of wildebeest on the move - all around!! In the height of the migration there are over 2 million wildebeest running & eating their way through the Serengeti. It's truly fascinating and in a later post I will include video of the wildebeest in motion.

The more we drove around the Serengeti the more in awe of the animals & this place. And our Safari had only just begun!

"An elephant!"

It's getting closer!

Really close!!!

Amazing!!!!!!!

Bob likes the elephants! So do I. Doesn't everyone?

More elephants in tomorrow's post & maybe we'll find Simba?!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

11-11-17

10/31: We're off on another adventure!

David, Bob & I boarded this little plane to fly from Arusha to the Serengeti.

Safari here we come!!

It was a neat perspective to see Africa from the air.

Mt. Meru.

And that's Mount Kilimanjaro behind & to the left of Mt. Meru.

Just 48 hours ago Bob was standing on the top of that peak!

The rim of Ngorogoro Crater with a good view of some Masai Villages.

Later in our trip we'll get to tour a Masai Village. They are a semi-nomadic tribe living in these villages with their cattle, goats & large extended families.

As we get ready to land at the Serengeti airport we spot hundreds of Wildebeest. They are running everywhere! The 3 of us got pretty excited because just maybe we'd get in on some of the migration of the wildebeest. Hope so!

Emanuel greeted us with a big smile & a waiting jeep for cruising the open plains. Let's get this Safari started! :-)

PS: We had met Emanuel on day 1 in Arusha. He happened to be our driver that day when we went to visit Kapanya. We were sure excited when we found out Emanuel would be our Safari guide. He's cool. :-)

11-10-17

While Bob & the rest of the hikers were coming down the mountain (on 10/29) I woke feeling somewhat better. I still had a headache (but not severe) and I still had a sore throat (but mild). I was up for something when Rogers stopped by the hotel at 9am to check on me. He wondered if I needed to see a doctor or go to a pharmacy. I didn't so instead Rogers took me to a Sunday church service. It was an amazing service (the sermon in English). Plus I got to meet his brother & 2 nieces. I really enjoyed this Sunday morning & this wonderful family!

Bob & the WHOLE crew made it ALL the way down the mountain (1 LONG day) and out the Mweka gate. Rogers & I rode with the Climb Kili driver to meet them & celebrate at the finish line. Here's Jagadish, Bob & Max celebrating with some of their favorite Tanzanians.

Those who hike mountains together have great stories to tell.

#friends

That night Team 5 reunited for dinner out on the town. Thanks again to Rogers for being our host.

10/30 was a rest day for all of us. Tomorrow Bob, David and I would fly to the Serengeti for a 4 day Safari. Max would go on a 2 day driving safari near Arusha. Jagadish would fly back to Michigan. Sounds exhausting... so here we are at a local coffee shop get caffeinated. LOL. :-)

11-9-17

10/29: Mount Kilimanjaro...SUMMIT DAY!

Raymond, Nestor, Jagadish, Max & Bob started their trek towards the summit at 11:30pm on 10/28.

Just the 5 of them in the dark. Step by step and pole pole (slowly). Not a lot of talking going on.

The higher they got the colder it got.

And as the sun started to light up the sky...glaciers appeared.

Many glaciers.

Striking glaciers!

They kept plodding...the goal was near!

The approaching sunrise started to color the sky.

And then they saw THE SIGN...

That famous sign that so many have posed in front of. And NOW...Bob & this awesome team could pose in front of it too. WOW...what a surreal feeling for Bob to be there, finally!

Congratulations, Raymond, Nestor, Jagadish, Max and Bob!!

3 of our 5 from Team Pole Pole!

David & I were back at the hotel resting but in some strange way we felt like we were standing on top of Kilimanjaro with Jagadish, Max and Bob.

In fact...I had woken up at the hotel around 6:20am to check my phone. I could view Bob's tracker device & see the exact time Bob & crew would make the summit. Nice timing because they reached the top around 6:27am!!!