Ms. Terry's Blog: Tanzania- Safari and Zanzibar

Hello everyone! We are almost done with August, how crazy is that?

Anyway, I'm currently at site and we just started term three. Not a ton of students have shown up this week, but hopefully that changes. And as far as my grant project, I am waiting on the funds to be transferred from my personal living allowance account into a separate bank account I set up. Hopefully that will happen soon and we can really get the ball rolling.

However, I've only been back at site for about a week. Up until then, I spent eleven days in Tanzania! I met my mom and we spent six days on safari and four days in Zanzibar.

For our safari portion, we started in Tarangire National Park before going to the Ngorongero Crater, and then spent three days in the Northern Serengeti. These parks are huge, and we had a fabulous driver, Amani, who took us around in our 4x4 truck with a top that opened up. We stayed in one lodge, and two "tented camps" that still had hot running water. All the places we stayed had great staff, amazing food, and beautiful views, either of the landscape or our animal friends. And we had lots of animal friends. Tons of wildebeest since it was migration season, as well as zebras, lions, buffalo, antelope, gazelle, impala, giraffes, elephants, flamingos, hippos, crocodiles, and even one cheetah and three black rhinos. The only major animal we didn't see was a leopard. But, you know, cats are known to hide.

I think my favorite park was the Crater. I think just the crater itself was amazing, as it's basically the top of a mountain that was blasted away millions of years ago. And the crater had what I think was the greatest variety of animals. It was the only place we saw flamingos and we got a glimpse of the elusive black rhino, including a baby.

After the safari, we spent four days at a resort in Zanzibar. And it was paradise. Right on the beach, with a pool and amazing food and staff. We spent one day touring Stone Town (which is this really interesting mix of European, African, and Arabic), one day touring the Jozani Forest (home of the red colobus monkey) and Turtle and Tortoise Land, and one day having breakfast on the beach and spending time at the spa. And, of course, we laid in the sun with copious amounts of sunscreen on. I really didn't want to leave.

And though our trip was amazing, the sheer contrast between the tourist facilities and the local villages and towns was mind-blowing. I get a sense of the differences every time I go to Kigali, and I know my house is super nice compared to the average Rwandan house, but this an exaggerated difference. Everywhere we stayed, even the "tents," was great, with electricity, hot running water, and staff who are waiting on you hand and foot. And then you visit the Maasai hut, with it's barely there sleeping area. Or drive five minutes outside of the resort on Zanzibar. It's staggering and eye-opening, and honestly one of my biggest take aways from the trip.

And on that happy note, here are some pictures!