One of the reasons we travel and accept jobs in other parts of the world is to go to interesting and exciting places. Zanzibar is one of those places that even sounds exotic. With a unique history and ties to Oman (a country that I love dearly), Zanzibar provides a blend of Arab and African, and has long been a place I have wanted to visit. So, with a long weekend available, Nancy and I headed off on our safari (the word simply means journey). Here's some pictures:
View from our hotel on the beach - low tide.
Zanzibar is a group of islands (sometimes called the Spice Islands), so of course ocean related activities and historical sites are the two main tourist attractions. We spent a couple of nights at a beach hotel and one in the old historic "Stone town". If you look closely at the photo above, you might see people off in the distance - it's low tide and the women have walked out from shore in groups to surround and net the small fish.
Dhow ride - going by a fancy hotel on the beach.
We had to go for a sunset Dhow ride. We were anticipating a quiet cruise, but found we were sharing the boat with a diverse group of friends, living in Zambia, but from both Europe and Africa (Germany, Sweden, South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania) who brought along a group of drummers and danced much of the trip. Great fun.
We also spent some time in Stone Town, the old capital of Zanzibar, with winding alleys and old buildings. We loved the old doors.
gorgeous hours
great carving
Indian style
Slave dungeon- as many as 50-60 packed in these holding cells
Zanzibar also had a long history as a center of slave trade and we visited both a slave market area and the underground cells where they held the slaves.
Zanzibar also has the distinction of being the site of the Anglo-Zanzibar War, known as the shortest war in history - 38 minutes.
Fort in Stone Town
We even went to a small island called prison island ( real name - Changuu) that had served as a quarantine site as well as the home of some giant land tortoises.
Great beaches - this one on Changuu
Nancy and I even went snorkeling !
in the boat on the way to the reef for snorkeling.
Our first safari took us from Dar es Salaam by plane to Kilamanjaro International airport. We were met at the airport by Athumani, our guide and driver for the next three days, along with his safari vehicle - equipped with a cooler and seats for seven .
Nancy & Athumani & our transportation
We drove the first day to first night's lodging at a "tented " lodge that is nicer than our current apartment.
Inside the tent - note bathroom area through the arch.
Pretty nice view of Lake Manyara from the porch of the tent, too!
Spent the first day exploring Manyara national park - around Lake Manyara and the adjacent Great Rift escarpment area. Beautiful conenctions between the mountains, the lakes, and the forest. Lots of animals.
Giraffes liked the partial clearings between lake and escarpment.
Then we drove to the Ngorongoro Crater Area and Ngorongoro conservation area . This amazing place is a huge (about 100 square miles) volcanic crater, encircled by mountains and full of wildlife.
Ngorongoro
We felt lucky to have come in the rainy season, as it was so lush and green and peaceful. The conservation area also encloses the Olduvai Gorge area where evidence of some of the earliest humans has been found. It really did feel like the garden of Eden.
Sunset at the lodge overlooking Ngorogo . Rainy & cold but beautiful.
I am finding it hard to express how it was, so I will simply add a few more pictures to try and help folks get the feel of being in this gigantic crater full of animals with a rim of mountains all around. Great experience.
Big Temba (Elephant) in the crater
Nice horns
Hippos in the pool - clouds around the rim of the crater
Hyenas are just plain nasty looking.
We saw so much and the pictures can't capture the feel. I think I may want to get a telephoto lens ;-) I also kinda like saying the word Ngorongoro.
