My Africa Diary Video Blog - Part 6

---

If you are in Manyara in Tanzania, you have to spend a night or two in the Gampling Lodge in Manyara…just amazing. It is fenced from the open meadows of the wilderness and the tented lodges are spread across the huge compound covered with large trees,- a peaceful world of solitude. There are tourists here and there, but it’s not a typical hyper tourist lodge. When the darkness falls, all go quiet except the distant wilderness. 8 pm is quite a late evening here, 9 pm is the ‘sound of silence’! We finished our Kilimanjaro Lager in the open pub overlooking the darkness and turned on the headlamps walking through the dark compound to our lodges. From the porch, I looked across the fence,- a dim light from the half moon made the open meadows and the surrounding hills a totally unknown world. “Hello darkness my old friend”…we headed inside the tent. It was around midnight when I woke up with some sound. There are cautious footsteps outside,- hard to say which side of the fence the sound was coming from…baboons don’t come out at night, their eye sights are poor at night; must be hyenas. Unlike in Kenya when I turned on the headlamp and stepped out the tent to find out who was breathing over my neck outside the tent, I didn’t have the appetite to get out and find…rather I was enjoying the ‘sound of silence’ from my bed. An owl hooted somewhere, sounded like a barn owl; a constant ‘ti-ti-ti’ sound coming from the nightjars flying at a distance. A deer barked not too far away. I have to say I find the whole ambience so attractive and amazing. The world of night in a jungle is different than daytime. The nocturnal animals wake up and the predators get out making their kills. I felt the same in the swamp Borneo enjoying the jungle night from my boat. But that is a different story.

*****

It was a sunny morning with sunrays playing hide and seek through the leaves of the tall trees. Outside was peaceful, the night world has gone to sleep and the morning birds welcomed the day. After breakfast, it was time to say good-bye to the Gampling Lodge. Yes, I will be back again! But now is the time for safari to Lake Manyara. Eddie was ready with his cruiser and we headed out straight to Manyara…the dense woods was intimidating and it was so easy for any animal to ambush. I certainly hoped that we don’t get a flat tire in the middle of the woods. Soon, we came to the open and we saw the swamps everywhere...hippo world. Dangerous! Do you know who causes the most number of fatalities in Africa? Yes, you guessed it,- hippos! I tell you, the grassy wetlands are covered with so much green native plants, if you don’t know the tracks well, it’s so easy to drive down into the swamp by mistake. I was glad that I was not driving the cruiser. No, I am not going to tell you the whole story here….I would prefer you watch the video slideshow of Lake Manyara. Otherwise you would miss the moment when I wanted to hug the big samba when Eddie warned me, “Don’t you think it for a minute…I don’t carry the body bags.” Thank you my friend, you kept me alive today to show you all the slide show of Lake Manyara….Enjoy!

---

Comments

[thomas altobias]

Social Media Marketing Solution
Absolutely great posting. I actually happy when i done this topic. I am excited world have a excellent author. Always i am waiting for next reading. Thanks a lot for great posting share. Social Media Marketing Solution

[gangopa]

Thanks to Social Media Marketing solution
Hi Thomas, Thank you for viewing my post. I am actually touched by your comment, - great accolade. I have one more episode to go, hope you would be able to watch it when I post. Thanks again,

[jenniferevent]

Event Management Software
I’m impressed by your article. keep inspiring us.

[gangopa]

Thanks, Jennifer
Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for viewing the post. Video blog actually is my new experimentation to attract the imagination of people more effectively; friends like you motivate me to excel in my effort. Thank you again! Tab

[D MJ Binkley]

Sleeping in the jungle
You've found your element. Sleeping with the sounds of silence, a hooting owl or a roaming hyena is perfect. That water buffalo was keeping an eye on you and you captured some stunning birds.

[gangopa]

Sleeping in the jungle
Dear MJ, sometimes I think perhaps the wilderness is my natural habitat, this make-believe civilization is not for me, - I really don't fit in here. Then when I interact with friends like you, that makes me want to live another day with people like you. I sometimes think about the duality of my imagination. You trigger my inner thoughts so intensely, no wonder you are a friend to everyone in TB...thanks for viewing!