I woke up a bit crabby in the morning from lack of sleep due to mosquitoes. Planes raced at low level over the campsite taking eager tourists to the nearby proudly named ‘Manyara Airport’ ie a rough strip on top of the escarpment.
After chewing eggs and red bananas in Mtu-WaMbu, we headed into the Lake Manyara park for some safari action. Lake Manyara was last on our priority list of Northern Safari Circuit Parks, but it certainly was well worth it.
We saw lots of baboons and monkeys, hippos grazing in the daytime (unusual), zebra fighting and biting each other and tons (literally)of elephant. The first elephant we saw was wandering in the mid-distance so I cheekily popped out of the car to get a better photo. Ah, the wind was blowing towards me, all good.
(hippo)
Just as we resumed tootling along in the car, a big shape pushed out of the foliage by the side of the road. Hatari! Tembo! The elephant and our intrepid driver were equally startled as we began a stealthy reverse. I wasn’t that freaked out but I got a little bit serious about telling my fellow passengers not to shriek or make noise.
(phew he's moving on)
Thankfully, the elephant relaxed and ambled on its way. Soon we were driving through a large spread out herd of mothers, adolescents and babies. We saw a massive tusker dwarfing the other elephants around it. Possibly the herd matriarch? Magnificent.
(what a monster)
(elephant everywhere we drove!)
Had a lunch break near-ish Lake Manyara proper. Some giraffe wandering in a stately manner in the distance. The lake is growing smaller year by year apparently, the water certainly looked quite far away.
(Giraffe wanders past with Lake Manyara in the distance)
After exiting the park, we met up with our friends Daudi and Bexter who had driven up from Arusha. After a cheeky beer we drove off in convoy to the town of Karatu proper. At least we drove until stopped by some cops angling for bribe money. They were making ridiculous claims like one of our cars had no current fire extinguisher sticker (it did) and that the car was a ‘bus’ for the purposes of fine levels. We stuck to our guns and were soon on our way, without having to pay. Something about cops here angling for money always sickens me, no matter how long I stay here. ‘Serve and Protect’ my CUSS.
‘Practice your mudslides’
(hmm...bit of mud)
One of our drivers had to bail to see a friend in hospital so, 6 of us had to cram into the remaining small 4WD vehicle. Ouch. We turned onto the off-road mudtrack that led to the place Intrepid was staying. She warned the driver to practice his mud sliding on the good parts of the road, as due to a recent spell of heavy rain, the way would be a mire. She was right. A couple of near misses and slides, a big ditch and one epic race through a huge puddle, left the car coated in mud and the passengers equally exhilarated and terrified. We are not all as intrepid as Intrepid.
We arrived at our destination about 5pm. A former colonial building now a religious community for Catholic Brothers and guest house.
Intrepid has been staying there while she waits for a flat to be completed for her near the primary school she volunteers at. The surrounds of the Brother's House were beautiful. Rolling coffee plantations leading off to dense green bush marking the boundary with the Ngorogoro Conservation Area.
Notwithstanding, the poverty of the locals in the area, I took guilty pleasure in feeling relaxed in a peaceful environment. Had some sundowners while watching a colony of chattering weaver birds settling down for the night.
Felt like I was unwinding.
(Volunteers relaxing)
The rest of the evening we spent in fellowship aided by some cheeky bottles of wine. Intrepid showed us some handstands. I reflected on my atrocious upper body strength and my need to get back to a gym when we get home ASAP. We planned to get in a dawn run so I needed my beauty sleep, so retired to a big comfy bed with zero mosquitos.
To be Concluded.
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