Hello Friends and Family! After traveling for around 21 hours, we have arrived! We have settled into the Springlands Hotel, had a fabulous breakfast, and are ready to explore Moshi. Today is a day to relax because tomorrow we will begin our trip up Mt. Kilimanjaro! :-) Our hike will last 7 days, so don't be alarmed if you don't hear from us for a while. :-) Everyone is super-friendly and I can tell we are going to have a great time here! Hugs to everyone, and I'll keep you posted on our adventures!!! Love from: Jen, Paul, Vaughn, and Laura [View Full Entry]

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In addition to all of the other amazing things I've had the chance to do on this trip, yesterday I was lucky enough to go on Safari!!! We went to the Ngorongoro Crater, which is right next to the Serenghetti and about a 5 hour drive from where we're staying in Moshi. 9 people from our group went, and we woke up at 5 to get on the road early. Once in the park, we were struck by the diversity of the land - sometimes seeming like a rainforest, and other times a grassland. The crater itself is the caldera of [View Full Entry]

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This will be short since this computer's moving slowly and I've got to get out of the internet cafe soon! First, thanks to everyone for the messages. It's been good to hear from you all! I just returned from two days in the Marangu region of Tanzania, on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our group stayed in a swank resort thing (which was a bit awkward: pedicured lawns, hot showers, tv, etc.) where we each had small huts to share with another person. There are more banana trees than I know what to do with in the area! And also, lots [View Full Entry]

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I'm shocked to find out that... life around the equator is not even close to as hot as I expected. I am currently a bit south of the equator, near the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It has been rainy today, and quite chilly. I've been wearing a sweatshirt all day and it hasn't been warm enough. I'm surprised about this part of Africa! Otherwise, everything has gone well so far. Traveling to Nairboi, Kenya was a breeze. Although I was worried about being bored on the flight, I watched 3 movies and read a book, so I was ok. [View Full Entry]

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GOOD LUCK I know there are many of you out there doing your CIMA/ACCA exms or just exams for degrees etc. (actually you've probbly already started). My best wishes go out to all of you. And please remeber that if some one as 'fik' as me can get through it I'm sure all of you will have absolutely no problems... Sehail [View Full Entry]

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I had asked to be dropped off at the YMCA in Moshi as I had heard that the view of Kilimanjaro was spectacular. I also needed too… Get myself clean Have good meal And just do what I feel… I hadn’t booked ahead, again, after all why ruin the adventure with the certianty of knowing where you’re going to sleep tonight? So come the drop off I slinked to reception ask asked them, nervously if they had any rooms? Yes. Thank God! I dumped my bags and set about trying to organise the trip up Kilimanjaro for myself and my [View Full Entry]

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in dar, for the passed three days straight rain, except for a bit yesterday morning. the rainy season is still upon us. also a bit chilly compared to what it has been. 2. most of the boys (although sadly not the girls) are in school at least part of the day now. while this is good for them, it makes the day slightly more boring. more time to study swahili or surf the internet. 3. i sent out a bunch of emails trying to set up meetings with ngos to talk about their history. hopefully i get some responses. 4. the [View Full Entry]

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The spice tour was great. We visited plantations and local villages that had spices growing in the backyard. We saw how curry was grown, cinnimon, cardamom, vanilla, ginger, coffee, and more. After the tour and march throught the fields we were taken to a village for lunch. we were seated on the floor in groups of five and fed delicous coconut curry fish, jasmine rice, chapati and local spinach peanut combo. When I saw food is delicious I mean better than normal. Most of Africa is not known for its delicacies. In fact most of the time its down right grim. [View Full Entry]

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After my not so safe experience with the 1st tour company for a 2 day Safari, I decided I definitely didn't want to go up the mountain with them for 5 days. So I went to the company I originally planned to go up with and we sat down the morning I was supposed to climb and to plan my trip up. I was hoping that I could be added to a group that was already going up to save money, but they didn't have any others. I explained to the owner, who I call 'Big brother' that he had to [View Full Entry]

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Since the plan changed and I'm traveling alone now, I am so happy I made it here with no problems. I took one of the deluxe buses (no toilet and very NATURAL A/C- LOL!!) from Dar es Salaam to Moshi (the area where you start climbing Kilimanjaro. Leaving Dar was exciting and at the same time, nerve-wrecking because plans had changed and I had no idea where I was going. Thank goodness for "the gift of gab": I had been using it all week prior to coming and found many contacts who knew somebody who knew somebody.... So I boarded the [View Full Entry]

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