Blogs from Africa - page 27

Last night, instead of bird song to lull me to sleep, it was voices and clatter in the narrow street below, coming through the slatted windows. Did not keep me from going to sleep immediately. Our walking tour of Stone Town started at the hotel’s door, a few steps from the Old Fort . Taib related its history: the Omanis had already established a dynamic spice trade in Zanzibar by 1503 when Vasco da Gama defeated them. For 200 years the Portuguese controlled the country until about 1699 when the Omanis reconquered Zanzibar. Power went to the strongest navy in those days; both Portugal and Oman, being small countries, suffered from not being able to hold on to what they had conquered. The Old Fort was built by Omani Arabs as a defense against future Portuguese, ... read more

Last night I fell asleep at 9:40 while typing! Thus, this morning I was chipper at 5:50. I sat on the tiny porch of my chalet and drank hot water while reading. At 7:00, I walked over for breakfast, to the consternation of the waiter. Vegetable omelet and toast, accompanied by delicious little cinnamon buns. I am eagerly looking forward to visiting the spice farm tomorrow. A long walk on the beach – on the Indian Ocean! Calm, warm surf washed over my feet and ankles. Details of birds and shells attracted my eye, but I took photos blind, because the sun washed out the camera screen. All along the beach are resorts such as this one; we may be the only customers at ours. Dipping in the ocean was essential. The water was very shallow, ... read more

Again I watched the sunrise from my bed! When I went onto the patio for a bigger view, I saw first one and then two elephants ripping and crunching trees in the valley below. An exotic way to end the safari part of our trip. Breakfast was, as yesterday, vegetable omelet with toast, plus hot water and lime. Today there was some local, tough back bacon. Once out of the Tarangire Park environs, we joined the highway and made good time. Speed bumps were limited to before and after villages, where the speed limit was 50 k. Cows plodding along and across the road were very emaciated, a few looking like they would be unable to hang on until the rains. The grass had been chewed into dust. More traffic moved in both directions, because we ... read more

After lunch we went to the Silale Swamp, where the river moved through green marsh grasses. Thousands of birds picked through the plentiful waters. A pair of African Fish Eagles surveyed the scene from tree tops; the juvenile birds perched at a little distance. Catfish swam in the river. Pelicans flew in like twinkling lights, so graceful in the air. Egrets shone white in the murky green of the plants. Saddle-billed storks strutted about, while Marabou Storks stood tall and still – both waiting for opportunities. All along the edge of the river, like a living fringe, Whistling Ducks moved in slight waves. Farther out, white flamingos held sentinel. Even a few hippos were humped like rocks in the distance, not coming up for air while I was watching. A Secretary Bird made a big noise, ... read more

Senegal 11. – 25. Nov. 2022 Freitag, 11.11.2022 Anreise nach Senegal Flug nach Dakar über Lissabon. Hier überbrücken wir die 5 Stunden Wartezeit mit einer U-Bahn Fahrt in die Altstadt „Baixa“. Die hat sich seit unserem letzten Besuch vor 15 Jahren mächtig mit Fußgängerzone, Restaurants etc. herausgeputzt. Die 4 Stunden Flug nach Dakar ziehen sich in der unbequemen TAP-Maschine. Das Essen ist grauslich und die Getränkeversorgung spärlich. Ankunft nach 2 Uhr morgens. Wir warten lange aufs Gepäck und dann stellen wir uns noch langwierig bei der Passkontrolle an. Entgegen den Ankündigungen gibt es keinerlei Corona-Kontrollen. Der Bus und unser Reiseleiter Mamadu Ndiaye erwarten uns schon. Er sollte sich als ein sehr erfahrener und umsichtiger Mann herausstellen, der natürlich mit allen Wassern gewaschen ist, um die Unbilden einer Reise durch diesen urigen Teil Afrikas pro... read more