Blogs from Lake Manyara, North, Tanzania, Africa
November 4th 2011
Well, the jacarandas are in bloom and the rain is here- everything has gone green and I find myself feeling less homesick for the 'green green grass of home' aka 'the green and pleasant land' (I frequently sing 'Jerusalem' to Benjamin and other equally patriotic songs which seem to jump from my schooldays and in to my head now that I am a Mother and in those desperate hours trying to sing my son to sleep!). Since my last blog we have ventured to Lake Manyara National Park. Famous for its' tree climbing lions apparently and yes we did (from a distance) see a lioness sunbathing at height. We did however, also see a lion in a tree in Tarangire National Park so it would appear that the marketing needs to catch up with the lions ... read more
July 9th 2011
Mit einem ziemlich klapprigen, gemieteten Fahrzeug fahren wir in den Lake Manyara-Nationalpark. Der verhältnismäßig kleine Park ist sehr schön zwischen dem Soda-See und den Hängen des Riftvalley gelegen, und teilweise gibt es dichte Vegetation. Berühmt ist der Park für die Löwen, die auf Bäume klettern, und wir bekommen auch tatsächlich einige Löwinnen zu sehen, die richtig faul in den Ästen hängen. Natürlich sehen wir auch Zebras, Antilopen, Gnus, Warzenschweine, Nilpferde, Giraffen, Elefanten, Horden von Paviannen und andere Affen. Auch Marabus gibt es hier viele. Auf der Fahrt aus dem Park hinaus treffen wir dann sogar auf einen weiteren Löwen, diesmal ein faules, anscheinend richtig vollgefressenes Männchen, das auch als wir mit dem Jeep sehr nahe kommen, keine Anstalten macht, aufzustehen.... read more
February 28th 2011
Affordable Rustic Tent Safari--Ask for Details Inside!! Normally, these ads plastered everywhere in the major tourist hubs would speak to the adventurers in us but having just gotten our fill of tents on Kilimanjaro just days earlier, we set out find more comfortable accommodations. The tourism industry in these countries are well aware they have the market cornered when it comes to wildlife safaris and it’s a “must do” so the prices can be shocking. However, we felt the cost of having our own driver/tour was worth it. We had embarked on past safaris where it only took one annoying member in a group tour to grate your nerves to the point of attempted murder. The 5-star treatment allowed us to take in the animals at our leisure and give very specific instructions to the driver. ... read more
9th Day-Manyara National Park and Maasai
Published: October 22nd 2010Africa » Tanzania » North » Lake Manyara
October 21st 2010
We had reached what we call "cathedral overload", which means we had seen so many wonderful things, that we were numb to more. Instead of spending the whole morning at Lake Manyara Park, we slept until 7:45, ate breakfast, and spent a leisurely morning on the veranda of our tent/hut. It was overlooking the Mosquito River which was dry since we were there at the end of the dry season. We watched several Maasai tending large herds of cattle, goats, and donkeys. They had dug some ditches in the river bed in order to find water for their animals. When the Maasai have to take their animals a long distance from their bomas in order to find water, they stay in that area, sleeping under the stars. Keep in mind that there are dangerous animals all ... read more
August 16th 2010
Hi everyone We just spent the last two nights in ngorongoro. We visited the bushman. It was similar to the movie the gods must be crazy. It was so interesting. After that we went to another local village 'TOGA' tribe where they made copper and brass items, such as jewellery and arrow heads. We finally seen the rhino, which completes the Big 5. Went shopping today, Jenny helped us haggle them down to everything 50% off. Went for our final game drive this morning. Time is going too quickly. Hopefully you will be able to see the pictures Keep the comments coming. Jerry & Carol... read more
Kwaheri Serengeti (Goodbye Endless Plain)
Published: June 17th 2010Africa » Tanzania » North » Lake Manyara
June 3rd 2010
Today we’re off to Lake Manyara, on checkout the same guy who checked us in was there. But he was really chatty, friendly and even smiled! So perhaps he was just having a bad day when he checked us in… We’ve decided it’s time to introduce Roman to the world of the iPod, I have some country music on it that he will like and anything would be a change from Don Williams, and it’s probably my only chance of listening to Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson in the same car as Tim! OF ALL THE THINGS WE COULD GIVE TO AFRICA…. Yay, the radio tuner works on the stereo, so while Roman is arranging our permits to drive through Ngorongoro National Park (yes you need as permit just to drive on the road around the ... read more
And now let's go over to SW19 ...
Published: August 14th 2009Africa » Tanzania » North » Lake Manyara
July 5th 2009
I have a dismal night's sleep that's only partly alleviated by the egg and sausage that appears at breakfast, and the rest of the day sees me coughing and snivelling. The other three bear the presence of the contagious Englishman with admirable fortitude. Lake Manyara NP is close to the camp and is famous for its hippos, tree-climbing lions, and (at certain times of the year but not now) quantities of flamingos. However we strike out on much that's new and the six hours we spend there seem to last for twelve and the visit begins to drag - yes, just two days in and we're already getting fussy. The highlight is definitely the hippo pool. Here, we are allowed to leave the car and watch from behind barriers at an appropriate remove from the pool. ... read more
Wednesday, March 25/Thursday, March 26
Published: April 13th 2009Africa » Tanzania » North » Lake Manyara
April 10th 2009
Wednesday, March 25-Thursday, March 26, 2009: Safari!!! Debra, Pam, Brad, Lauren, Mom and I went on a 2 day Safari. First we went to Manyara on Wednesday and then to Ngoragora Crater on Thursday. Rod stayed and studied with more people at Maji Ya Chai (35 on Wednesday!). The safari (it means journey in Swahili) was incredible! We saw such a different variety of animals. It's a lot different than seeing them in a zoo, too! Thursday we went to a Masai village. It was a little freaky...but very interesting! I have to steal Lauren's sentence when she told me, " I think God spent more time on Africa." When you see all the animals....the giraffe (my favorite), wildebeest, rhinoceros, and all the others, you can't help but think that God must have had a sense ... read more
December 6th 2008
Well, we have finally set off! We left home at 06:30, not the anticipated 06:00 as the boys were investigating facebook! I was amazed that Glen's stuff fitted into the small hole left in the back of the truck, perfectly! Having said a last goodbye to the dog, and fed her the last Vienna Sausage, we set off through the Nairobi early morning traffic. Thankfully much quieter than last night when we braved it before rush hour was finished to pick Glen up from the airport! The road to Namanga (border crossing to Tanzania for those not in the know) has more or less disappeared! The last time we headed down this way it was extremely potholey but at least mainly tarred! Not these days. The Chinese are in the middle of building new ones so ... read more
October 30th 2008
Tag #19 Heute bin ich mit zwei deutschen Ladies zusammen. Mit der Erwartung, Tiere am Lake Manyara zu sehen, starten wir diese Pirschfahrt. Es ist ein kleiner National Park und zu Beginn ein Urwald. Wir begegnen Elefanten, Zebras, Loewen, usw. jedoch immer in kleiner Anzahl. Den See, sehen wir nur von weitem. Seit ein paar Jahren sind die Pirschfahrten bis zum See nicht mehr gestattet. Am naechsten an den See kommen wir beim Hippo Pool und geniessen da die Sicht ins Weite... Am Abend werde ich zur Lodge in Mto Wa Mbu gebracht um dort zu Uebernachten.... read more
