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Published: November 9th 2009
Hello again!
So our Oasis tour has begun!
On Sunday, we met our group around 8:00 in the morning (after a delicious breakfast at the Silver Springs). We had an orientation meeting, payed our local payment - which covers our food along the way and a few other things, and loaded up "Fanny" our enormous yellow truck.
There were about 12 of us who were just starting the journey in Nairobi, about 12 others have already been with Oasis and gone through Rwanda and Uganda.
We drove FOREVER the first day! It was really great scenery...but an AWFUL drive. It was dusty, then it was rainy, it was really dirty basically.
We got held up at the Tanzanian boarder briefly, so we got to our campsite at dark. So that was interesting, Brittney and I trying to set up our tent for the first time and get organized in the dark and the pouring rain. So basically the first night was not very fun at all (just because of the weather). The people seem really awesome!! They are all between 22 and 33ish, and seem like a pretty good time.
There is almost always a little bar at each campsite and they were all more worried about getting a beer before getting their tents set up!
We couldn't stay up too late though, I had an awful sleep at the hotel the night before, so we were two of the first to bed.
Brittney and I are the only Canadians! There are only people from England and Australia on this trip other than us, and I feel like I'm going to pick up an accent being around them so much!
I got up nice and early this morning though and had a shower. Which made me remember why I hate camping so much (this might be a long 2 months). It was FREEZING cold, and the drain was plugged, so I was standing in a disgusting foot of muddy and dirty shower water. I was not impressed.
The meals have been great though! Dinner last night was a veggie stir fry with noodles, and breakfast today was toast and scrambled eggs. Lunch was a cold pasta, which was pretty good as well.
This morning we did a Massai village walk, it was actually quite interesting, but REALLY hot and therefore not enjoyable at all. But we did go through a little Massai museum where we learned about the Massai culture and then went to a village where 5 of the 'warriors' performed a traditional dance for us. It was quite interesting
We have just arrived at the Ngorogoro Crater, which is not with our Oasis leaders. We were picked up by the guides, and brought to the campsite. Our tents were already set up for us which was a really nice surprise. Also, they make our meals for us as well.
Brittney was put into food group one so she had to take care of dinner last night and breakfast today. I'm in group 3 so I wont cook for a couple of days.
Anyways, tonight we are taking it easy, because the rumor is that we need to wake up at 4:30 or even 3:30 tomorrow morning for our game drive. Apparently it's really great though. We've been told the crater is the most densely populated area for wildlife. After the crater and some lunch we are doing our first excursion!!! It cost $250 US, but we've heard really great things about it as well. We are going in the Serengeti tomorrow!
Then we will be back with the Oasis people the next day...
Well I'm running out of internet time!
I'll write again soon!
-Denise
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Dad
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Sithi uhm ingonyama
Hi Denise Thanks for the blog update. This portion of your African experience also seems to also have a mixture of awe combined with harsh reality. You are doing a great job of keeping your blog positive by focusing on the awe part, yet accents with the realites of long rides, heat, and muddy camp conditions keeps it very real. I hope your trip to the Serengeti was pleasant and if any locals yelled "sithi uhum ingonyam" (oh yes it's a lion), that they were referring to one a safe distance away! Love Dad