Ngorongoro National Park to Kilamanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Trip from Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge to Kia Lodge at Kilamanjaro

“Na-ku-pendo sona”  is swahili meaning  “I love you very much!” I wish I knew how to say, I love the sun rise over Ngorongoro Crater.

What a superb sunrise! The reflections in the lake below were amazing.

                    Early morning Massia  firewood gathers carried loads up the hill back to their village.

After a breakfast buffet, we got in the vehicle and headed down the backside of the mountain on the rugged dirt road passing through the Ngorongoro National Park gate where the baboons were thick as thieves. Nixson reminded us to keep the windows up and the doors shut because the baboons would enter without an invitation. We did notice that they climbed all over the other cars that were entering who had their windows down causing some excitement.

We were happy to see the asphalt pavement on the other side of the gate. Smooth roads were a wonderful welcome. We enjoyed passing by many more Massia Villages and their herds of sheep, goats, and cows. I especially enjoyed spotting another elephant….with huge tusks and zebras and giraffes… along the paved road...still delightful sights to everyone. Nixson said that I had become a good spotter and that I could take over his job.

We traveled over some drier, rocky, rugged land….it began to get less green. We saw so many small homes that were only partially built of brick or block. Nixson said that the families only built as much as they could afford for the time and would do a little here and a little there until it was finished. Some were being lived in without windows or doors….a flap of fabric was hung over the doorway. All of could think of was mosquitos, mosquitos, mosquitos…..cause malaria.

We stopped at one of the many local shops along the road.

 

Ebony wood in the center.

 

The Tanzanian was carving the wood to make a product like...

 

this fine rhino figure.

                               This shop was packed with so many hand made African items.

 

Larry and Nixson had a chat with some of the locals sitting around while we shopped.

We found the shoes that the Massia's wore....made from recycled tires.

Nixson told  us that G W Bush visited Tanzania during his presidency and provided the funding for a mosquito net factory to help control malaria. I wondered how many Tanzanians really used the mosquito netting in these tiny window, screenless homes… they hardly looked big enough for a full bed and a table and chairs. Nixson was impressed that Bush choose to come to Tanszania…instead of the other Eastern Africa Countries…Kenya, Uganda, Rowanda…etc.

Nixson also told us that Obama came as well. Obama contributed more electricity to the out lying villages. He pointed out the Obama electrical poles and the Tanzania electrical poles. He was so proud that  some of the romote village schools now had electricity.

We were also shown the parts of the roads that France and China built. You could see the difference. I wondered if they had contracted to have them built and who financed them, but didn’t think it was a kosher question to ask.  Nixson said that his president has been elected here for ten years and that he was serving his final term. An election will be held in October for a new one. He said his president didn’t keep all of his promises (to increase jobs), but that he did get a lot of roads built to major cities…oh, how we had experienced the need. The road we traveled today was a new one.

While all this discussion was going on in the car, we passed by corn and wheat fields. Tanzanians were out hoeing the corn fields; no farm equipment here. We passed by  many school children dressed in uniforms walking from school on busy roads. The acasia trees were in full yellow bloom along with the Jac-o-randa and African Tulip trees.

We stopped at the Arusha Coffee Lodge a little after 12 for another delicious lunch under the big umbrellas. We enjoyed fish and chips….Larry indulged in apple crumble with vanilla ice cream. It was our last relaxing meal with James, our co-safari traveler.

 

 

 

We passed through several small towns that were so busy. Wednesday was market day and the markets were buzzing with people…so colorful….all the fashions, fruits, products, and wares….all laying about on the ground. What a sight!

We enjoyed the women’s bright outfits while they carried things on their heads as motorbikes buzzed by with multiple riders and men pushed old wooden carts full of products.

   Water being transported to homes...most homes do  not have the convenience of running water.
   
Larry and I enjoy seeing the culture and the ways of the people. We were told that it was best to stay in the car and not move about the market. Nixson was so kind to drive us through Tengera market, a suburb of Arusha.

More colorful fashion

 

 

                                              They have to have very strong necks!

 

We arrived at Kilamanjaro around 3:30pm to drop James at the airport for this 6:00pm flight. Nixson took us to the Kia Lodge next to the airport for a short overnight stay. We gave Nixson a big hug saying   “Asonta sona”…Thank you very much.

 Kia Lodge, home for the night...

                   Mt. Kilamanjaro (19,000 ft.), the clouds cleared away for us to see the snow on top.

In the evening the Takim Adventure attendant who met us at the airport to speed us through getting our visa came by to send us off. He insisted on taking us to his home to meet his family. We jumped into his car and he drove us off to meet his wife, eighteen month old baby and his seven year old son.

                                                                Kilamanjaro in the background.
In fact we met his sisters, their kids, his step mother, and numerous other folks….including the animal caretaker and the Maasia guard who watched over their home at night. He took us on a tour of his home….so proud! What a happy family!

                                                                   Such good folks!

 

Such a sweet baby!

 

They were very hospitable offering us some local cusine.

 

 

 We requested a 3:30am wake up call for our 6:00am flight to Niarobi, Kenya and went to dinner upon returning. After a battle with a few mosquitos, we turned on the air conditioner and dove under the mosquito netted bed for a short night snooze.

We were off on another adventure to a new country…. South Africa. 

 “Qwa he ra, Tanzania”….Goodbye, Tanzania.