Serengeti to Lake Manyara

Our journey as a big group has just ended. We are in the parking lot waiving our final goodbyes to our new friends. They will be boarding one of the small planes soon to fly back to Kilimanjaro airport. I wonder if the runway is smoother than these Serengeti roads. We really don't have much idea of what our adventure today will be. We have a new driven Solomon - they call him King Solomon. He was actually the guide who found the black rhino the day before. We realize as we pull out of the parking lot that our game drive will be in the Serengeti. For some reason I was thinking we were going back to the Crater. Solomon drives us directly to this amazing little watering hole where there a lot of zebras getting a drink and cooling off. He points to some lions just off in the bushes. One of them is stalking the zebras. We watch with great anticipation as she makes her way down through the reads. The zebras sense her presence and start running. She strikes to soon and they all get away. Solomon tells us she is young. He can tell because she still has some faint spots on her fur. The inexperience cost her a nice breakfast. We watch for a few more minutes and then drive on. He takes us looking for a leopard. We wind around on the way to the leopard and find another pair of lions resting near a tree by the road. We watch them for a bit and then make our way down the road. Shortly he stops again and points to a tree in the distance. There is a leopard in the tree with her gazelle "breakfast" dangling from a branch. She had a good morning. We watch for a few minutes before driving on. Further down the road we see a hyena walking along with a gazelle hanging from her mouth. Solomon explains that the hyena has probably gotten the gazelle from a cheetah. Cheetahs are afraid of hyenas. Lots of buzzards are hanging out waiting for their turn in the food chain. We watch while the hyena eats a little and then abruptly gets up and starts heading off in to the grasses with the food. We are trying to figure out why. Then we suddenly see why. Up ahead in the distance we see a lion walking toward us. She is coming to take the gazelle from the hyena. She makes her way over to the grasses where we saw the hyena disappear. We can't see the action but the grass is moving around busily. Suddenly the hyena comes sulking away - no more gazelle. Lion is king of the Serengeti. The Cheetah makes the kill, loses to the hyena who loses to the lion and eventually the buzzards will get some too. Well that's part of the circle of life here.

We continue driving around looking for lions but the afternoon is bearing down on us. It is very dusty and we are getting tired. We eat our box lunches and start to fade. We find another lion of in the distance near the Kopje's but she isn't moving. We watch for a while but then start to make our way back to the back entrance/exit. We stop for our check out procedure and grab a few beers and some chips. After knocking back and beer John, Sierra and Monique seem to dose off and on while we make our way back through the Olduvai Gorge. I nod off a few times myself. I am tired. Its a long drive back and the road is even dustier than I remember. I have my buff pulled over my face for a good portion of the day. As we make our way back up the Crater road we see a Land Cruiser that has been in an accident. It looks like it rolled over the edge. There are lots of people standing around but it looks like it has already been taken care of and the occupants have already been taken away. The front glass was broken so I hope they were not injured badly. No way to know though. After another couple of hours we are out of the Crater area and back on the road to Lake Manyara. This was the area of the Iraqw people (see earlier blog entry). Finally we make a left off onto a dirt road. There are a number of shacks along the road side and I joke to Monique and Sierra that they can have the one with the roof. I guess its not really nice to make a joke like that when so many in Africa have such poor living conditions. We round a corner and arrive in front of our lodge surrounded by lush trees. It is a very peaceful looking setting.

Again the porters take our bags. We are escorted to a two story building with a thatch roof where are rooms are next to each other. We each have a balcony. Ours looks out on to the Lake down below in the distance. It is a salt water lake and still pretty even though much of it is dry right now. We decide to meet for drinks at 7. A shower is definitely in order to wash off all the dust from today. I think this was the winner in terms of dust but then that's probably not true. Summit day was probably the winner in terms of dust, well, who knows, there is so much dust here every day could be the winner!

All cleaned up John and make our way down to the bar a little early. It really is a beautiful setting here. Would have been nice to stay here for a day or two. They have a bicycle excursion in to town or an option to tour with a local farmer. Too bad we don't have more time. I feel like I am watching the last sands go through the hour glass. It is almost over. We enjoy the gentle night breeze with a glass of wine. The bar and restaurant are open air with a full view of the Lake Manyara Park below. It is so relaxing sitting here talking about our trip and how much fun we've had. Sierra and Monique arrive and we toast each other and the day. This was our best day on safari with the ballon ride to start and the action of the lion hunting and seeing the leopard and hyena. We've seen it all and didn't feel so rushed today. It was more relaxing. We talk a little about plans when we go back home. Monique has a dream for a neuro-wellness center which I love! We talk about it and how great it would be to have them in Colorado. I am keeping my fingers crossed but either way I want to help them make it happen no matter where it is.

Its getting late and we decide we better get to our table. There is a huge buffet with lots of choices. I try lots of the different salad options and some fish for dinner. John goes for the pasta! Much of the food has an Indian flare to it here as well. There are also lots of fruits and various desert choices. We eat way to much and drink more wine, lingering because we just don't want the night and the trip to end. We had decide on a 9 o'clock departure to get ourselves back to the Arusha Hotel in time to get bags and get to the airport. Walking back to the room we hear singing in the bar area so we stop and grab a seat. What looks to be some sort of gospel choir is singing and dancing. Their voices are beautiful. As we are sitting there I lean over to Sierra and say how cool it would be if they would sing the song from the mountain - Jambo, Jambo. Just then they start singing the song. I can't believe it! Its miraculous. Just like the entire trip. What a way to end the night. I am trying to upload the video to youtube. Will add a link if I get it figured out. We decide it is time to turn in. We make our way slowly to our rooms. We don't want to say good night. Its gone by all too fast but I am so glad we had this extra day with Monique and Sierra. It has helped us unwind.

Sweat dreams of Africa. One last time.

Up, Up and Away - Serengeti Balloon Ride

We woke up before the wake up "call" came to knock at our door. We were tired but anxious to get to the balloon ride. It didn't take us long to repack. After two weeks of packing up your stuff every morning you get to be an expert at getting it done quickly. As we start for the lobby one of the porters shows up to carry our bags. We are the first two from our group in the lobby. There is another couple waiting for the balloon ride as well. There are coffee and cookies on a small table but I decide not to have any since there is no bathroom on the balloon. The rest of the group gradually drifts in to the lobby half awake. There isn't a lot of talking.

One of the drivers from the balloon company comes and tells us we will be going in two groups. He will take two cars and then come get the others. Somehow we don't end up in the first group so once again we are waiting. It seems like I have done an awful lot of getting up early to wait around while I have been here in Africa - its that patience thing again. I think it is at least 30 minutes before the cars come back to get us. We load in to the Land Cruiser and head out. There still isn't much talking going on. I am in the front (again - car sick precaution) so I can see out the front into the pitch dark. As we drive down the road a civet (nocturnal cat) crosses the road in front of us. I see an owl and a hyena. I think everyone else is asleep. As we are getting closer to the balloon area there is a faint bit of light on the horizon. I am worrying that we will miss the sunrise from the balloon. It seems like it has taken us forever - by now it is almost 6 and we got up a 4. Just then we see 4 cheetahs to the side of the road. We are in a hurry though so we don't stop to look very long. Finally we make it to the balloon launch site. There are 3 balloons filling up with hot air. Ours is the last one. There was one more car behind us but we don't see it anywhere. We get out of the car and mill around. We are starting to get excited now. The other balloons are filling up quickly. We soon realize we aren't going to get any instructions until the other car shows up But there is no sign of it and nobody telling us what is going on. Patience again!

Finally it is getting too late , they tell us our other car is having some sort of engine trouble but another car is going to pick them up. They rush us over to the balloon for some hasty instructions. Balloons are loaded with the basket lying on its side on the ground. We have to climb in from an awkward angle but we manage. John and I climbed in one of the bottom sections facing up at Sierra and Monique. They were both a little wide-eyed and uncomfortable with the situation.

The balloon was filling with air and starting to tip the basket up. The balloon staff on the ground were holding it down but their was some question as to whether or not they could hold it much longer. Still no car with the others. I was thinking how awful it would be to miss the balloon ride at the end due to car trouble. Lori was in the missing car and I was feeling terrible that she might not make it after all she went through to put the trip together. We were about to float off the ground when up pulls the car. Mayhem ensues! A few are rushing toward the balloon but some seem to be in no hurry. They don't understand the urgency - the balloon only needs one gust of wind and it will take flight without them. They are being rushed over to the basket. One by one they are hoisted up over the tall sides the basket. On our end Mickey, Susie, Jeanne and April managed to tumble over the edge and in to their compartments. April was half asleep and not feeling too well but she managed. Down on the other end Lori and Neil made it as well. And we were off!

The other two balloons were out ahead of us dotting the sky. The sun had risen by this time and was casting some shadows from the balloons on to the ground below. It was a beautiful morning. We floated along in complete serenity. Amazing after the chaos of waiting for take off. Its just the most magnificent feeling being in a balloon looking over this wide open space - not a house, pavement, car, airplane - nothing in our way.

Almost immediately we spot the four cheetahs that we saw earlier from the Land Cruiser making their way through the grass. They are small from our vantage point but I can still see and feel the grace with which they move through the tall grasses. In no time at all we are past them and on to the first hippo pool. This is really something compared to the hippo pool in the Crater. I think there were maybe 4 hippos in the Crater but here there must be 20 or more! It looks like a dark bumpy island. There are even a few out of the water walking around. We drop down for a closer look quickly drifting by and floating toward some elephants.

The elephants get a little unsettled as we approach. Our balloon captain (from Indiana no less) tells us that the balloon emits a frequency we can't hear that is similar to what elephants use to communicate so the balloon disturbs them because they don't know where it is coming from. He lets some more hot air into the balloon so we rise up further from the elephants. I look around the balloon and everyone has a huge smile on their face. This is just so amazing. I have always wanted to go up a balloon but really THIS is the only way to do it! Spectacular.

We drift along for about an hour looking at wildlife and taking in our last breath of Africa. This will be the final day for most of our group. We are staying for one more day. He puts the balloon down alongside one of the "roads" not far from where they have our breakfast set up. We pile out of the group and then gather with the rest of our group from the other balloon while they pour us champagne and one of the captains tells us about the tradition of drinking champagne after a balloon ride. You can see the video I shot of him on YouTube if you search under Serengeti Balloon Ride.

After a multiple toasts, photos

we made out way to the Land Cruisers and up the road the breakfast. They had two beautiful tables set for us under and acacia tree. First we stopped at a table by the roadside with a glistening copper bowl and giant pitcher of water for us to wash our hands. Again - everything was first class - perfect! Well, except for the bees. There were bees all over the place trying to climb in our glasses and drink our champagne. Of course, they don't bother me because I am a bee keeper. I know that they won't bother you if you just ignore them. But Inez was deathly afraid of them. So much so that she had to go back and sit in one of the trucks while we ate. I felt terrible for her but I know how it is because my daughter Lindsay would be the same way.

With our champagne they served fresh fruits, then sausages and I think eggs. I forgot to write it all down. I do remember the champagne was flowing for most of the meal so that's probably why I don't remember all the food. It was wonderful though. I do remember that. There were also two portable toilets again with curtains around 3 sides and a sign on the back that said, "Loo with a View". Think they cater to the Brits maybe?

Our time together was drawing to an end and I was starting to get sad. We got back in the trucks for the ride to the airport and switching luggage. All but four of us would be boarding the planes back to Arusha and on to home or other travels. What a journey. We said our goodbyes hastily in the parking lot. This was probably better than something prolonged. I was all choked up seeing it come to an end. What an amazing group of people. I know we'll be connected for the rest of our lives but THIS moment in time was stamped with something special. Something that words can't even describe. It just had feeling permeating through it every day. I have struggled much of my life to let myself go and really feel the emotions that are right there. For the first time on this trip I did that every single day and it felt good. I can't even begin to thank Lori and my companions for showing me the light to living a life full of Joy! I have experienced that joyous feeling every day since we parted - sometimes remembering them but sometimes just in noticing the small things in life that give me joy. This I relearned on the trip. Sante my friends! Sante Sana (spelling may not be correct)