The next morning we were up before dusk to go on our first self-drive game drive. I had asked our driver to the boat safari the evening before, where it’s best to go and with a map and corresponding numbers on all crossroads in the park it wasn’t difficult to find our way. We were surprisingly good at spotting the animals as well and I managed to juggle between steering wheel and photo camera. I absolutely loved it, we were the only car around, so we had the park all to ourselves. We didn’t spot any lions, but it was much [View Full Entry]

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After one day back in the office for me (the vols from outside Dar got the Friday off for travelling back), it was weekend and Kevin and Sandra stayed in town, so it was perfect opportunity for a weekend trip. Rita was up for going as well, so with four people we had a perfect sized group. Our choice fell on Saadani National Park, as it was one of the closest places around - some 3 - 4 hours North of Dar. It’s one of the smallest parks, but it’s the only one bordering the sea, so it has got a [View Full Entry]

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Last weekend I finally went on my first official safari in Africa! I joined up with my coworker Abdallah for a four-day visit to Saadani National Park and Saadani Safari Lodge, which is known for its unique location right on the shore of the Indian Ocean (aptly summarized in its slogan … beach, river, bush) As you can imagine, it was breathtaking and beautiful, but before I get on with the story, just a reminder that only a few photos are [View Full Entry]

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OK - I'm back. I accidentally hit publish instead of save on that last post - so I'm sorry about the errors. I couldn't figure out how to go back and edit. Anyway, I want to share some pictures with you of our mini 24-hour safari just outside Dar es Salaam at the Saadani Safari Lodge which is located inside the newly designated national park. We had a wonderful time with Coenrad our host, Mary our hostess and John our Safari driver. Our tents were located right on the beach of the Indian Ocean and the atmosphere of the lodge is [View Full Entry]

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went to bagamoyo again this past thursday for another art festival. saw some energy dancing and a man playing one of those pipes that put snakes into trances. asked all around town for ways to get to the mysterious saadani park that seems impossible to get to unless you are rich enough to hire the private car from bagamoyo which is more than 200 dollars us. and its the semi-rainy season now so the road that goes straight north from bagamoyo to saadani park (famous for being the only coastal national park, so animals are often sighted on the beach and [View Full Entry]

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ended up negotiating a tent to sleep in, which was lovely. camp fires, beach sounds, village sounds, and even animal sounds (including lion roaring yesterday morning) rocked me to sleep. went on safari the next day. got ripped off by the park ranger. hired a local vehicle. took a local amazing guide who knows so much---for any travellers coming across this---andrew starting a new "warthog camp". was going to be great budget trip. five minutes into the drive we have to forge a newly-formed river. made it. see some giraffe, antelopes, lots of warthogs, beautiful birds, some kind of rare [View Full Entry]

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