Diana Petterson African Continent, Tanzania

Tanzania: Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Zanzibar & So Much More

Getting into the first row seat of our 4x4 Jeep for our drive from the our Twiga Campsite & Lodge in the Mto wa Mbu village through the Ngorogoro Conservation Area and onto the Serengeti National Park for the night. The overland truck will stay in Mto Wa Mbu with most of our stuff while we bring just the essentials for two nights in the Serengeti. (Oct. 8, 2024)

Tanzania: Country #80 on my Countdown to 100 U.N. countries by the time I turn 70 in 2026.

Day 2: It’s a 7:00 am start with some 10 hours of driving to get to our camping site for the night, Mto wa Mbu, including crossing the border into Tanzania.

I woke up at 5:00 am, did another repacking to make sure I have what I need for the night since I will be in my tent.

As a quilter, I come from the “you measure twice, cut once” teachings. I applied that to my packing, making sure to measure my rolling duffel bag at 20.5″H x 12″W x 11.5″D, way more than twice in case I magically grew, to the locker size onboard the overland ruck at 26L x 18W x 10H, and it fit perfectly. I was also able to fit my canvas backpack to the back of my locker and then slide in my duffel bag lengthwise. It fit perfectly. I even have a little room to the side of the duffel bag that I used for my small travel pillow.

And, as far as the overland truck is concerned, it must be one of Intrepid’s newer versions because it has individual cushiony bucket seats with shoulder strap seat belts that we are required to wear. There’s still no air conditioning but the smaller top windows provide a lot of ventilation and if we want more the middle big window opens up for a blast of air.

We were literally on the road by 7:05 am stopping to stretch and pee facilities that had separate toilet stalls but with pit or porcelain hole toilets. These are in ground toilets that require bending those knees. I’m using a charcoal wipe to cut down on using toilet paper and that seems to work so far. The charcoal wipe doesn’t smell but it should be washed so it can be reused. Too much? It’s just the reality when traveling through countries with pit toilets.

We got to the Tanzania border around 10:30 am and we were all done by 11:15 am. To enter Tanzania, I had to have a via, which I purchased in advance and had a printed copy with me. Plus I needed to show my yellow fever card shot, which I took in July 2018 and it’s good for last. And, my passport of course, does not expire until May 2029.

Next stop, Arusha, to eat lunch, shop for snacks at the grocery and hit the ATM to get some Tanzanian cash. I took out 200,000 Tanzania Shilling, which is a little more than $73 USD.

From Arusha, we proceeded on Mto wa Mbu for our first night of camping.

Here’s to camping and getting to know Tanzania.

That foldable bottom step makes it so much easier to get on and off the overland truck. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Our lockers to the back and entrance of our Intrepid overland truck. Everyone brings their own lock. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Our Intrepid Travel (with no name) overland truck for our travels thru to Zanzibar, the first portion of our trip. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Inside our Intrepid Travel (with no name) overland truck for our travels thru to Zanzibar. It’s in great shape and the seats are rather comfy. This truck carries everyone’s luggage and stuff plus our tents, sleeping bags and mats. It also carries whatever the crew need, especially our cook. There’s also a number of jugs providing everyone with plenty of water refills. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya and the Maasai tribe communities on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya and the Maasai tribe communities on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Driving thru Kenya and the Maasai tribe communities on our way to the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The land’s beautiful and intense red soil approaching the Tanzanian border. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The land’s beautiful and intense red soil approaching the Tanzanian border along with the Acacia trees. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The land’s beautiful and intense red soil approaching the Tanzanian border along with the Acacia trees. (Oct. 7, 2024)
At the border crossing from Kenya to Tanzania and the Maasai women (to the right, crowding around the tourists to get us to buy their jewelry. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The Maasai women on the Kenya side of the border into Tanzania who are trying to sell their jewelry to tourists. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The Maasai women on the Kenya side of the border into Tanzania who are trying to sell their jewelry to tourists. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Getting into Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The large shopping market and shopping center with a variety of restaurants in Arusha that looks as if it was built mainly for tourists because the locals shop in the market across the street. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Shopping for treat at the grocery store in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
This is Winnie, an entrepreneur, like so many who are trying to make a living, selling jewelry and carvings. I chatted with her and bought a bracelet from her because her price of 10,000 Tanzanian Shillings, about $3.70 USD. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The locals market across the street from the tourist-feeling supermarket in Arusha, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The coffee fields on our drive leaving Arusha to get to our destination for the evening, our first campsite at Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The coffee fields on our drive leaving Arusha to get to our destination for the evening, our first campsite at Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The Maasai shopping on our way to Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The Maasai shopping on our way to Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The Maasai shopping on our way to Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
A quick rest stop with western and porcelain toilets at the Lion’s Cafe and Bakery on our way to our first campsite in Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
A Maasai male herding his cow along the dirt road. The Maasai men tend to the cows while the women tend to everything else, even building the home. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Another Maasai male herding his sheep along the dirt road. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Our campsite for the night, after 10 hours of being on the road from Nairobi, the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. We arrived around 5:00 pm and before getting our person stuff out, we had to get our tents set up. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Thankfully I had help because I did not have a tent roomie. Instead, I paid the single supplement so I could have a room, scratch that, tent to myself. And just behind where my tent was about to be pitched were the shared facilities. It included four showers and four western style toilets. (Oct. 7, 2024)
My tent, this first one, all set up at our first campsite, the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
The shared facilities within a short walk of my tent and the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu was a gated place so outsiders, including animals could not enter. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Jeremy, our ever so kind and gracious Intrepid Travel cook called us to dinner at 7:00 pm with a starter of pumpkin soup for our first campsite dinner. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Jeremy’s temporary kitchen at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Our group, now about 18 of us, lining up for our first camping dinner together at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu. Don’t tell anyone but I think I’m the oldest member in the group. (Oct. 7, 2024)
For our first campsite dinner at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania, Jeremy cooked a beef, rice, mixed vegetables. (Oct. 7, 2024)
Everyone pitching in after dinner to help wash , dry and put away the dishes and utensils. Before we eat dinner Jeremy has a hand washing spot set up and instructs us all to wash our hands. (Oct. 7, 2024)

Day 3: The Ngorogoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

It was a day of seemingly endless, beautiful landscape, roaming wild animals and the bumpiest of roads through a caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area.

I live in the city so a natural forming landscape from a volcano millions of years ago where the Maasai people, animals, plants and birds thrive, is fascinating.

We spent the day at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area enjoying all our eyes can behold. And then getting to our campsite at the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park where we literally slept in our tents with the wild animals.

Here’s to a day in Tanzania’s Ngorogoro Conservation Area.

Getting into the first row seat of our 4×4 Jeep for our drive from the our Twiga Campsite & Lodge in the Mto wa Mbu village through the Ngorogoro Conservation Area and onto the Serengeti National Park for the night. The overland truck will stay in Mto Wa Mbu with most of our stuff while we bring just the essentials for two nights in the Serengeti. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The tent was quickly taken down with help at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu. Sorted out what to bring and what to leave in my locker for our 2-night stay in the Serengeti. I was up at 5am to help get my tent down before breakfast at 6am and ready to leave in our jeeps by 7am. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Breakfast of beans and sausage was served, but before eating breakfast, we had to pack up our lunches of spaghetti, a sliced vegetable mix and fried chicken. I don’t know what time our cook, Jeremy, gets up to get all this done, but so far I have not had to go away hungry. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The bed pads are all lined up to go in a supply jeep along with our tents to the Serengeti National Park for the next two nights. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Because our original overland truck is unmarked, we are having to switch to another truck with Intrepid’s logo on it so we won’t be stopped several times by police inquiring about the vehicle. The truck stays here at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu until we get back from our Ngorogoro and Serengeti trip. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The overland truck stays at our campsite in the Mto Wa Mbu village while we pack up the jeeps with our 2-days of personal items and sleeping bags to spend the day at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area and the night at the Serengeti National Park. Our tents and sleeping bags are being packed up in a supplies jeep. (Oct. 8, 2024)
My jeep group from the Mto Wa Mbu village through the Ngorogoro Conservation Area, today, thru the Serengeti National Park tomorrow and back to Mto Wa Mbu village, the next day, Thursday. From left: Wadey from Australia; Alice from Kenya; Svenja from Switzerland by way of Germany; Daniela from Germany; Tony from Kenya and me from the USA. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Our first wildlife for the day while leaving the Mto Wa Mbu village were these baboons along the street on the way to the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The beautiful jacaranda tree decorating the already stunning landscape on our drive to the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Our jeep group, we’re all with this portion of the Intrepid tour to Zanzibar, standing in front of the entrance to the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. From left: Wadey, me, Svenja, Tony, Simona who was sitting next to our jeep driver up front, Alice and Daniela. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Once we entered the Ngorogoro Conservation Area and throughout our time in the Serengeti, it was the beginning of bumpy, rocky roads, cutely called an ‘African Massage.’ (Oct. 8, 2024)
Me with views of the caldera of the Ngorogoro in the distance. The crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. Long since having collapsed and eroded, the nearly 3 million years old ancient caldera shelters the Maasai tribe, who have lived in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for more than 100 years, and is quite the wildlife haven for numbers of animals including wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, lions and many more. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Views of the vast caldera of Ngorogoro Conservation Area, which we drove into. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Views of the vast caldera of Ngorogoro Conservation Area, which we drove into. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A young Maasai boy standing on the side of the road. I actually wasn’t intending to take a photo of him but as soon as he saw us stop he ran up to us. He was basically asking for money to have his photo taken. We are very much discouraged from doing so because it encourages the children to stand by the road looking to make money instead of going to school. And it creates a dependency. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A Maasai village inside the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A beautiful giraffe in the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A group of older male Buffalo who have been discarded by their family in the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. The adult African buffalo’s horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head, referred to as a “boss”. (Oct. 8, 2024)
More than1.5 million Wildebeest migrate on a loop path through Tanzania and Kenya following the seasonal rains even when that involves passing through dangerous territory. But the Wildebeest here at the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area are permanent residents and only migrate within the caldera.
The name Pumbaa comes from a popular Swahili phrase that refers to warthogs. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A Thomson’s gazelle, Pumbaa or warthog among the Wildebeest in the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. The name Pumbaa comes from a popular Swahili phrase that refers to warthogs. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A Thomson’s gazelle in the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The Wildebeest in the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The Wildebeest in the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A close up of the Wildebeest inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
And a young male commanding attention as the Wildebeest and the animals give him a wide space at the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The zebras inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The various jeeps checking out and the female lion laying on the ground enjoying the attention at the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The two female lions and male lion with the mane at the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. It’s mating season so the male lion has his hands full. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The male lion following the females into the bush inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The Wildebeest and the zebras roaming together at the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. The two animals are known to work together. The Wildebeest does not see well but the zebras do so they help one another. Oct. 8, 2024)
The zebras inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The pink flamingos inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Stopping at this scenic location inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area to have our prepared lunch. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Views inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Views inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Views inside the caldera at the Ngorogoro Conservation Area. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The Olduvai Gorge inside the Ngorogoro Conservation Area is considered to be one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and often called the “Cradle of Humankind.” It reveals an outstanding record of human biological and technological evolution over the past two million years. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The enlarged skull sculptures at the caldera of the Ngorogoro Conservation Area are (left) Paranthropus boisei “Zinjanthropus” or “Nutcracker Man”, and (right) Homo habilis “Handy Man.” These forms were present during the time of the Oldowan “pebble tool” technologies at Olduvai. This site yielded the very first known fossil remains of two contemporary bipedal hominin species, both dating to approximately 1.84 million years ago. (Oct. 8, 2024)
The bumpy, dusty road from Ngorongoro to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Me at the signed entrance way from the Ngorogoro to the Serengeti National Park. (Oct. 8, 2024)
It was drizzling as we continued to make our way into the Serengeti to get to our base for the next two nights, the Ngiri Public Campsite. (Oct. 8, 2024)
An elephant walking along the plains in the rain of the Serengeti. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A close-up of a rather withered-looking elephant walking along the Serengeti plains. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A handsome male lion roaming alone in the plains of the Serengeti. (Oct. 8, 2024)
A handsome male lion roaming alone in the plains of the Serengeti. (Oct. 8, 2024)
We arrived after dark at the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park where are tents were all set up and waiting for us so we could head to dinner. I have to be up early in the morning for a 5:00 am pick up time by the Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 8, 2024)
We arrived after dark at the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park where are tents were all set up and waiting for us so we could head to dinner. I have to be up early in the morning for a 5:00 am pick up time by the Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Chowing down in the kitchen area of the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park. We are sleeping in an unfenced area of the Serengeti where the animals are free to roam. We were cautioned to check out the area with our headlamps to see if a pair of eyes might be staring back. With the bathroom so far away from my tent, I decided to wait until in the morning. (Oct. 8, 2024)
Our cook Jeremy seems to make a delicious meal no matter where he cooks, including this one tonight of a steepish-like chicken with fried potatoes and a cabbage mixture. (Oct. 8, 2024)

Day 4: A day at the Serengeti with a morning hot air balloon ride over the Central Serengeti and a game drive.

For eons, African wildlife have roamed freely across the vast plains of the Serengeti, which was sparsely inhabited by humans.

It’s affectionately called the Endless Plain, for its sheer vastness and beauty. And, it is best known for its huge herds of plains animals, especially the wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. And it is the only place in Africa where vast land-animal migrations still take place.

In the early 1800s, the nomadic sheep and cattle farming Maasai people began to migrate to the Serengeti. The name “Serengeti” is often said to be derived from the word “seringit” in the Maasai language, Maa, meaning “endless plains”.

Here’s to a day in the Serengeti from a morning hot air balloon ride to see its vastness from above and an afternoon game drive to see the land and the animal kingdom that roam it.

Svenja and me at the balloon takeoff field for our hot air balloon ride with Serengeti Balloon Safari . The balloon company picked us up at 5:00 am at our Nigiri Public Campsite. Svenja is a part of my Intrepid group. She and I were the only ones who signed up from our group for today.
I made the arrangements through Intrepid and paid the $740 USD in advance. My allergies had kicked and I wasn’t sure I would make it but I’m so glad I did. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Enjoying a morning balloon cookie snack and some hot cocoa at the balloon takeoff field for our hot air balloon ride with Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Enjoying a morning balloon cookie snack and some hot cocoa at the balloon takeoff field for our hot air balloon ride with Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Our balloon pilot Barry, with Serengeti Balloon Safaris, giving us safety directions on what to do during take-off and landing. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Getting in a selfie as the balloons fill up at the balloon takeoff field for our hot air balloon ride with Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Hands free in the basket as we now have lift-off. Our balloon pilot Barry, with Serengeti Balloon Safaris, having gotten us off the ground upright and in the air for a smooth take off. He instructed us all the way and we listened. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Me in the basket of my hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti. When it rained last night, I wasn’t sure what the flying conditions would be like, but it turned out to be a beautiful morning, quite chilly but still wonderful. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying some 3,000 feet over the Serengeti, in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying some 3,000 feet over the Serengeti, in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Flying some 3,000 feet over the Serengeti, in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Back on the ground. The hot air ballon came down hard, scraping the land and coming to a stop on the plains of the Serengeti. The pilot had the bottom half of the basket get out first and then the top half. As people started getting out, it was easy to get too. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Our empty hot air balloon basket landed in the Serengeti. The pilot had the bottom half of the basket get out first and then the top half. As people started getting out, it was easy to get too. I was second from the left in the portion of the basket. We each wore belts to keep us attached to the basket. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Me standing my our basket and deflated ballon in the Serengeti. It was a hard but not too jarring landing into a beautiful open area of the Serengeti plains. There were two buffaloes and Wildebeest, neither of which came towards us but our pilot encouraged us all to stay close to the air balloon’ basket. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Staying close the air balloon’s bucket while keeping an eye on the Wildebeest and Buffaloes out on the plains of the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
And, just in time came more than just our transportation back to where our breakfast will be, but the arrival of the celebratory champagne. Clean champagne glasses and a couple of bottles of champagne for now. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Congratulations to our Serengeti Balloon Safari pilot, Barry, for getting us both safely into the air across the beautiful Central Serengeti plains and for a rough, but safe landing in an open field. From left: Our pilot, Barry, myself and Svenja, who is part of my Intrepid group. (Oct. 9, 2024)
After getting picked up where the hot air balloon landed, we passed a herd of wildebeest. This herd of wildebeest, from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, will usually participate in the migration that takes place between late April and early June. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The tables set up for our ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ breakfast, a part of the Serengeti Ballon Safaris service, under the massive acacia tree somewhere in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
A hand washing station at our ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ breakfast, a part of the Serengeti Ballon Safaris service. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The tables set up for our ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ breakfast, a part of the Serengeti Ballon Safaris service, under the massive acacia tree somewhere in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The tables set up for our ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ breakfast, a part of the Serengeti Ballon Safaris service, under the massive acacia tree somewhere in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
A part of the Serengeti Balloon Safaris service, after the hot air balloon ride, is loads of champagne and this full English Breakfast of scrambled eggs, grilled bacon and Cumberland pork sausage served with grilled tomato, sauteed mushrooms (I gave mine to Svenja), roasted potato and baked beans. It was delicious. (Oct. 9, 2024)
They call it the “Loo with a View” at the site of our balloon safari breakfast with Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Views of the Serengeti from the jeep ride to the balloon companies visitor center to get picked up by our Intrepid Jeep driver Nemes and our group who did a morning game drive. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Views of the Serengeti from the jeep ride to the balloon companies visitor center to get picked up by our Intrepid Jeep driver Nemes and our group who did a morning game drive. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The Visitors Center at the balloon headquarters where Svenja and I were dropped off by the Serengeti Balloon Safari’s company to wait for our Jeep driver, Nemes, and group to pick us up for our return back to the Nigiri Public Campsite.
Svenja and I were a bit confused because we thought the Serengeti Balloon Safaris company would drop us off back at our campsite where they picked us up from. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Back at our Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti for a rest before an early evening game drive starting at 3:00 pm. (Oct. 9, 2024)
On the late afternoon game drive, we immediately spot these beautiful Thomson gazelle in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
On the late afternoon game drive, we immediately spot these beautiful Thomson gazelle in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The beautiful acacia trees dot the Serengeti. The cylindrical nests hanging from this acacia tree are built by the Rufous-tailed Weaver bird. Their woven nests are built at the end of small limbs, making it difficult for snakes and other predators to reach their eggs. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The rock formations with the sprouting umbrella trees in the Serengeti are called “kopjes,” which are essentially isolated, rocky hills formed from ancient granite that was pushed up from deep within the Earth’s crust, exposed by the erosion of softer volcanic rock and ash layers around it; essentially appearing as “islands” in the grassland plains of the Serengeti. These rock formations provide vital habitats for various animals, offering shelter from predators and extreme weather conditions. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Some members of my Jeep group looking out into plains for animals from our open top Jeep 4x4in the Serengeti. From left: Svenja, Daniela and Tony. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The rocky formations in the Serengeti are called “kopjes,” essentially isolated, rocky hills formed from ancient granite that was pushed up from deep within the Earth’s crust. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Humans, at least 20 Jeeps full looking to see, photograph and film the elusive leopard in the Serengeti. The Jeep drivers get notified by the park rangers and each other about when animals are spotted. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Humans, at least 20 Jeeps full of them looking to see, photograph and film the elusive leopard at Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The rocky formations in the Serengeti are called “kopjes,” essentially isolated, rocky hills formed from ancient granite that was pushed up from deep within the Earth’s crust. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The rocky formations in the Serengeti are called “kopjes,” essentially isolated, rocky hills formed from ancient granite that was pushed up from deep within the Earth’s crust. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The rocky formations in the Serengeti are called “kopjes,” essentially isolated, rocky hills formed from ancient granite that was pushed up from deep within the Earth’s crust. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The beautiful and vast Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The rocky formations in the Serengeti are called “kopjes,” essentially isolated, rocky hills formed from ancient granite that was pushed up from deep within the Earth’s crust. (Oct. 9, 2024)
A male lion getting his afternoon rest by one of the rock formations called “kopjes” in the Serengeti. There was one other male lion who was hidden and sleeping in the bush. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The sleeping lion in the Serengeti not paying a bit of attention to use gawkers watching him take his siesta. At night he prowls his home for intruders marking his territory with his urine. (Oct. 9, 2024)
A female lion, a distance away from the sleeping male lions, is enjoying her own company in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The umbrella trees, looking like cactus to me, dotting the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Ostrich in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
And the game drive view of the day were the five young male lions roaming the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Young male lion roaming in a pack with four others. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Four of the five young males keeping company together in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
The five young males keeping company together in the Serengeti. They were quite playful with one another but as they get older, they may end up fighting one another to death to be the one who mates with the female. For now, they roam the Serengeti plains together and kill as a pack at night. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Back at our campsite, the Nigiri Public Campsite in the open of the Serengeti After our early evening game drive, a group built a camp fire between the tents so we could have a fireside dinner. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Back at our campsite, the Nigiri Public Campsite in the open of the Serengeti After our early evening game drive, a group built a camp fire between the tents so we could have a fireside dinner. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Our fireside dinner at Nigiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti. (Oct. 9, 2024)
Jeremy, our super kind and helpful Intrepid truck driver, made another delicious dinner of lamb chops, rice and deliciously seasoned beans. (Oct. 9, 2024)
This is the view of four male group volunteers washing the dishes after dinner at our Nigiri Public Campsite. I would say this is a rare sighting but these men always helping to clean up and more. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Day 5: The long and bumpy ride in our Jeep through the Serengeti and the Ngorogoro back to our overland truck at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu.

I was exhausted and maybe got about two hours of sleep last night when I was woken up by animal noises, or so I thought, outside my tent. But when I opened my eyes, I saw that the cover of my tent entrance had been slightly bent over and it looked like a small animal and the head of a larger animal was just hovering by my zippered entryway. Needless to say, I was startled and scared and chose to just keep still. I had visions of the young lions sniffing for dinner at my tent front door. This kept me up until I realized that there were no animals of any kind at my tent door, just the contorted tent flap that got moved by the wind in the night. Just my Serengeti wildlife imagination running away with me. By this time, it was too late to fall asleep again.

With a 7:00 am start to our day, we said our goodbyes to the Serengeti with a final game drive in our Jeep 4×4 to get back to our overland vehicle at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu.

As it turns out, this last Safari game drive proved that no matter how many game drives you’re on, there’s always something different to see and today was no exception with the sightings of a bloat of hippocampus and the small Dik Diks.

It was a long day of bumping and driving through the Serengeti and again through the Ngorogoro before making to the flat highway road to the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu.

The group plans for the evening included a local community guided stroll around the farming areas, milling machine, local homes and farmlands, which I would have loved to do if I were not so incredibly tired.

I was just too exhausted and instead of wearing myself out even further by pitching my tent in the heat, I opted to pay for one of the available rooms at the lodge. It was $60 USD. Nothing fancy but I had a bed, a toilet and a shower. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that bring joy.

I took a shower in the dark and slept.

Our tents packed and on the supply jeep back to our Intrepid overland truck. A young man, who put up my tent came back to take down my tent. I tipped him, 40,000 Tanzanian Shillings, a little less than $15 USD. And one of the young strapping men in my Intrepid group, brought it back to the Intrepid overland truck. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The 4×4 Jeeps ready for our last ride through the Serengeti, Ngorogoro and back to our overland Intrepid truck parked at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu. I just loved seeing the Serengeti Balloon Safaris balloon passing overhead of our campsite. Another beautiful days for a ride in the air. (Oct. 10, 2024)
On our last game drive through the Serengeti, we spotted this gorgeous male Impala in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
On our last game drive through the Serengeti, we spotted this gorgeous male Impala in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
My first hippopotamus sighting in the Serengeti with this lone hippie walking around and the remaining bloat or pod napping. Normally they tend to feed at night as a group. Hippos are deadly because of their propensity to defend their home ranges. On average, hippos are double the danger to humans than are lions. (Oct. 10, 2024)
My first hippopotamus sighting in the Serengeti with this lone hippie walking around and the remaining bloat or pod napping in the water. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Hippo for the close-up in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The bloat or pod of hippos in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The bloat or pod of hippos in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
I had no idea that this small creature called the Dik Dik was such a popular and difficult to spot animal, but Daniela did, my Jeep tour member did. The Dik Diks are among the smallest antelopes. (Oct. 10, 2024)
A close-up of the Dik Diks, considered the smallest antelope. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The illusive cheetah in the distance scouting out its prey in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
An animal I’ve never heard of, the Topi, it’s a medium-sized reddish-brown antelope. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The Topi in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The Topi in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
On this trip I’ve seen a number of giraffes on their own but not this beautiful herd of giraffes which is called a journey. (Oct. 10, 2024)
A giraffe from the journey or herd of giraffe walking in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Before getting back to our Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu, we stopped at this shop, African Galleria, with many sorts of African items including the natural stone called Tanzanites. I don’t make it a habit of shopping while I’m traveling. I limit myself in what I bring because I’m the one who has to cart it from place to place. Plus I was truly exhausted and would rather have been taken to our campsite. (Oct. 10, 2024)
The exterior of the African Galleria shop we stopped on our way the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu for the night. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Inside the African Galleria shop we stopped on our way the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu for the night. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Inside the African Galleria shop we stopped on our way the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu for the night. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Inside the African Galleria shop we stopped on our way the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu for the night. (Oct. 10, 2024)
I stayed in one of the lodges, basically a room with my own bathroom, at the Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu. (Oct. 10, 2024)
This is where I ended my long day bumpy jeep drive day back at the Twiga Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu for one night. This is also where we set up camp on our first camp night. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Getting reorganized seems to be a constant so having the room to get it done was quite helpful. The room was $60 USD cash because the receptionist claimed their credit card machine was broken. The room had two sets of beds, needless to say, I only slept in one. And for $60 USD, I didn’t even get a towel. Thankfully I have my own. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Getting reorganized seems to be a constant so having the room to get it done was quite helpful. The room was $60 USD cash because the receptionist claimed their credit card machine was broken. The room had two sets of beds, needless to say, I only slept in one. And for $60 USD, I didn’t even get a towel. Thankfully I have my own. (Oct. 10, 2024)
My own shower and toilet in my room for the night at the Campsite & Lodge in Mto wa Mbu. I couldn’t find a light switch either inside the bathroom or outside of it, so I took my warm shower in very little light, but I managed. And for $60 USD, I didn’t even get a towel. Thankfully I have my own. (Oct. 10, 2024)

Day 6: Rise and shine but no tent to take down.

It was another early to rise day and take down our tents, but not for me! Yay! It’s a hassle putting up and taking down the tents but I must admit, I have slept well in the tents, minus the imaginary roaming wild animals or two.

But having a room gave me time to also sleep comfortably in a place above ground with light not requiring a headlamp and space to get myself organized again without sitting on the ground to do so. So tents are okay, a room is better.

For the most part, it was a long 10 hour day of driving and peeking into Tanzanian villages and how people live their lives. I love this part. Basically being a voyeur into the lives of others who live so differently from me.

When we finally arrived in Lushoto, a village in the Usambara Mountain range in Tanzania, I had hoped to upgrade to a room again at the Lawns Hotel. It is said to be the grounds of the oldest hotel in Africa, alas there were no rooms at the inn.

So camping on the spacious green lawn, was it for me. With help from our group leader/guide, Jacob, and group member, Svenja, I put up my tent and had time to spare before dinner.

This is me smiling because I made it til the end of the day and I’m enjoying my dinner of beef, mash potatoes with a cabbage and carrot mixture. (Oct. 11, 2024)
The clean new Intrepid overland truck ready to begin getting us from place to place. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountain range. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountain range. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountain range. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountain range. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountain range. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountain range. (Oct. 11, 2024)
The beautiful Tanzanian landscape. (Oct. 11, 2024)
A quick stop for lunch under a shaded tree on our 10- hour drive to the village of Lushoto in the Usambara Mountains. This Intrepid crew knows where to take us for lunch spots along the way that also provide decent toilet stops. And so far either Jeremy prepares our meals in advance and we put them into containers ourselves or he has food prepared for us when we get to our destination. And, there’s always a lot of delicious food. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Our quick lunch stop under a shaded tree during our 10- hour drive to the village of Lushoto in the Usambara Mountains. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Jeremy’s version of guacamole included something I don’t use in my version, green peppers and carrots. (Oct. 11, 2024)
The fertile land in Tanzania where these agave plants are growing. They were actually imported from Mexico. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Views of Tanzanian life along our 10 hour road trip from Mto wa Mbu to the Usambara Mountains. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Driving up and through the Usambara Mountains to get to the village of Lushoto where we will spend the next two nights. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Uniformed young school girls walking along the as we continue our drive through the Usambara Mountains towards the village of Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
The Usambara Mountains on the way to the village of Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
The red earth of the land is used to make the bricks to build the homes as we continue our drive through the Usambara Mountains towards the village of Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
A farmer tending to the land as we continue our drive through the Usambara Mountains towards the village of Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Finally, after an early morning leave time of 6:30 am, we are at our destination for the next two nights, the Lawn Hotel in the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Checking out the lawn area of the Lawns Hotel in Lushoto where we will be pitching our tents for the next two nights. I had hoped to get a room upgrade but there were no rooms available. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Our Intrepid group’s tents on the lawn of the Lawns Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Our Intrepid group’s tents on the lawn of the Lawns Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Jeremy doing his cooking magic for our dinner in the make shift kitchen on the campgrounds of Lawns Hotel in the Lushoto village of the Usambara Mountains. His food has been tasty but my appetite has been cut down to less than half. I’m sure it will come back as I go along but I still try to eat a little something for each meal. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Everyone helping themselves to Jeremy’s cooking. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Buckets set up as our dish washing station at our Lawns Hotel campsite in Lushoto. (Oct. 11, 2024)
Dish washers and flappers standing by to air dry the dishes by flapping them through the air. Jeremy also sets up a handwashing station with hot to warm water which is greatly appreciated. (Oct. 11, 2024)
I was at least awake enough tonight after dinner to celebrate Jill’s 33rd birthday. A nice gesture of cake from the Intrepid crew. (Oct. 11, 2024)
I was at least awake enough tonight after dinner to celebrate Jill’s 33rd birthday. A nice gesture of cake from the Intrepid crew. (Oct. 11, 2024)

Day 7: Nothing like a good night’s sleep and a day of rest.

It’s been a hassle putting up and taking down the tent, and I’ve got a long way to go so it will continue to be, but I’m getting the best sleep ever! Last night was chilly but I was dressed in a warm fleece jacket with a beanie on my head inside a comfy sleeping bag with traffic sounds and loud music in the distance. But I still got a highly unusual 8 hours of sleep.

Okay, maybe it’s not about the tent but more about me being completely exhausted.

While my group was off on a morning hike of the Usambara Mountain and a pass through village stop, I was taking it easy back at the Lawns Hotel campsite.

I had a wonderful omelette breakfast, relaxed a little and took it easy then took a nice hot shower. I so appreciate the physical and psychological healing of a hot shower. At home, I don’t give it a thought but here, it can be difficult to come by hot water so I’m enjoying it when I can.

Although the night was rather chilly, this morning was much warmer but by the afternoon the temperature had dropped and it rained.

I spent most of the change in temperatures getting caught up on my FB posts when the rest of the group returned in the late afternoon, soaked from the rain.

Here’s to enjoyable day of lounging around the campsite.

While the rest of the group went on their walking and hiking tour of the Usambara Mountain and a pass through village stop for lunch, I had a leisurely and delicious omelette breakfast. It was a simple two-egg omelette with seasonings and it was delicious. That’s Jeremy, our Intrepid cook who made the delicious omelette breakfast and Julia, a tour member who, like me, just chilled but also washed clothes. (Oct. 12, 2024)
The warm morning campsite at Lawns Hotel in Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. (Oct. 12, 2024)
The warm morning campsite at Lawns Hotel in Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Inside my messy tent at our Lawn Hotel campsite in Lushoto. I use one of the chairs from the overland truck so I don’t have to sit on the ground the whole time. To me, this is just too small of a space to share. (Oct. 12, 2024)
It may not look like much but this is the Women’s toilets at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 12, 2024)
The two stalls in the Women’s toilets at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. There was also another flushing western toilet in the Women’s shower room. (Oct. 12, 2024)
And Western style toilets that flush with toilet paper in the Women’s toilet stalls at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. This is an absolute luxury when camping. (Oct. 12, 2024)
And once again, the Women’s shower room at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto doesn’t look all that impressive but it is on the inside because it has hot water showers. Another camping luxury. (Oct. 12, 2024)
The Women’s shower room with three shower stalls at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. Having the bench all to myself to put my things on was helpful. There were also hooks above the bench to hang clothes, towels, etc. And at the end was the toilet stall. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Inside an individual Women’s shower stall at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. Plain and basic but with hot water. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Views around the lush landscape at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Views around the lush landscape at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Views around the lush landscape at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Views around the lush landscape at the Lawn Hotel in Lushoto. (Oct. 12, 2024)
Once it started raining and got cool, I plopped myself in a little corner at the guest lounge and had a bowl of spaghetti bolognese, at least that’s what I ordered but I got a hot bowl of spaghetti and sauce instead. A nice corner to eat, drink wine and get some writing done. (Oct. 12, 2024)

Day 8: The beauty of the land and its people as we drove south to the Dar es Salaam beach town of  Kipepeo.

The weather in Tanzania is as diverse as its landscape. I am literally chilled with layers of clothes on and in a matter of seconds, I’m hot and ready to disrobe.

Leaving the Usambara Mountains behind, we traveled further south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal town of Kipepeo Beach.

We left for our 9 hour drive day, at 6:00 am, stopping along the way for toilet, the police and stretch breaks and a nice picnic site to eat Jeremy, our Intrepid cook’s, prepared lunch.

Yes, we were stopped twice by Tanzanian police basically checking to make sure, since the overland truck is registered in Kenya, that the taxes were paid to drive on the Tanzanian roads; the driver has a license and registration papers and the vehicle is insured.

Dar es Salaam, considered to be one of Tanzania’s largest and busiest cities, is also the best location to access Tanzania’s beaches and the ferry to Zanzibar’s beaches and its UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town. But that’s for tomorrow.

We arrived at our campsite, the Kipepeo Beach Rest at the Mjimwema Beach in Dar es Salaam’s beach town of Kipepeo about 4:30 pm. And lucky me, along with several of our Intrepid group members, were able to upgrade to a very basic hut.

So, not tenting for me tonight just hearing the waves of the Mjimwema beach on the Indian Ocean coastline.

Check out my day.

Me at our early lunch stop at a nice picnic stop from our time in the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Thanks to Jacob, and waking up at 3:45 am, I was actually the first person to have my tent down at our Lawn Hotel campsite early this morning in Lushoto. With a 6:00 am departure time for our 9-hour drive to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo, I’m doing my best to go with the flow. (Oct. 13, 2024)
I can’t eat food this early in the morning so for breakfast, I just settled for a banana and orange juice. Plus Jeremy made us lunch to go, rice and a Samosa, in my world it’s like an empanada or a pastechi because it’s a deep-fried pastry shell filled with a flavorful mixture of minced beef, garlic, spices, and onions. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we are leaving the village of Lushoto and the Usambara Mountains to travel south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Morning countryside views as we continue our travels south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
A family getting an early start to their day as we continue our travels south to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
A bustling village getting an early start to their day. There were a number of small villages along the way. (Oct. 13, 2024)
A bustling village getting an early start to their day. There were a number of small villages along the way. (Oct. 13, 2024)
A bustling village getting an early start to their day. There were a number of small villages along the way. (Oct. 13, 2024)
A rather descent toilet stop with a number of inground toilets and a couple of western toilets without seats. Okay, so why am I posting about toilets, because that’s an important thing. So finding clean, descent toilets are very important. (Oct. 13, 2024)
For a women’s bathroom, having a number of stalls is wonderful.
A rather descent toilet stop with a number of inground toilets and a couple of western toilets without seats on our long day’s drive to Dar es Salaam. Okay, so why am I posting about toilets, because that’s an important thing. So finding clean, descent toilets are very important. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Most of the stalls were these inground toilets.
A rather descent toilet stop with a number of inground toilets and a couple of western toilets without seats on our long day’s drive to Dar es Salaam. Okay, so why am I posting about toilets, because that’s an important thing. So finding clean, descent toilets are very important. (Oct. 13, 2024)
And, there were just a couple of the western toilets without seats. And most places do not provide toilet paper.
A rather descent toilet stop with a number of inground toilets and a couple of western toilets without seats on our long day’s drive to Dar es Salaam. Okay, so why am I posting about toilets, because that’s an important thing. So finding clean, descent toilets are very important. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Village life along the way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Village life along the way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
A village cemetery along the way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Village life along the way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Village life along the way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Our picnic lunch stop on our way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Leaving our picnic lunch spot as we continue to make our way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Village life along the way to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Jeremy, our Intrepid cook, buying fresh pineapples from a candor along the road as we continue to Dar es Salaam and the coastal beach town of Kipepeo. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Driving through the busy city of Dar es Salaam, the capital and largest city of Tanzania. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Driving through the busy city of Dar es Salaam, the capital and largest city of Tanzania. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Driving through the busy city of Dar es Salaam, the capital and largest city of Tanzania. (Oct. 13, 2024)
The sunset and the calm of the Mjimwema Beach at the Kipepeo Beach Resort in Tanzania, our home base for the night. (Oct. 13, 2024)
The sunset and the calm of the Mjimwema Beach at the Kipepeo Beach Resort in Tanzania, our home base for the night. (Oct. 13, 2024)
The sunset and the calm of the Mjimwema Beach at the Kipepeo Beach Resort in Tanzania, our home base for the night. (Oct. 13, 2024)
The backs of the huts at the our home base for the night, the Kipepeo Beach Resort in Tanzania. (Oct. 13, 2024)
My little one room, twin bed hut for the night at the Kipepeo Beach Resort in Tanzania. (Oct. 13, 2024)
My little one room, twin beds hut and helpful mosquito nets at the Kipepeo Beach Resort in Tanzania, for our one night stay. (Oct. 13, 2024)

Day 9: A ferry to Zanzibar and a walk through the UNESCO site of Stone Town and its former Slave Market.

An early rise day of 3:45 am for our group to leave the Dar es Salaam coastal beach town of Kipepeo at 4:45 am to catch a ferry to Africa’s ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar.

This insular semi-autonomous region which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania, is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

Zanzibar’s history is filled with slave traders, Arabian sultans, fruit exporters and Spice traders.

Its architecture, mostly dates back to the 19th century, reflecting a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. The old part of Zanzibar’s main city of Zanzibar City is known as Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The name “Stone Town” comes from the coral stone used in the construction of many of the city’s buildings, giving the city a warmish red tone.

Before checking into our Spice Palace Hotel, several of us walked to the waterfront and had lunch. Then I checked into my hotel room, rested and prepared for a 3:00 pm Stone Town City Walking Tour, including the doors of Zanzibar, the Darajani Central Market and the Slave Market Memorial; and later in the evening, we sampled a few tastes from the nightly food market in the Forodhani Gardens.

Here’s to a full day of getting to and enjoying the archipelago of Zanzibar and its old city of Stone Town.

Made it through passport control at the Kigamboni ferry entrance in Dar es Salaam to board the ferry to Zanzibar. (Oct. 14, 2024)
At the ferry port in Dar es Salaam waiting to board our hour and a half to 2-hour ferry boat ride to Zanzibar. (Oct. 14, 2024)
At the ferry port in Dar es Salaam waiting to board our hour and a half to 2-hour ferry boat ride to Zanzibar. (Oct. 13, 2024)
Inside the waiting area of Kigamboni ferry terminal in Dar es Salaam. It was a bit confusing on what to do with our bigger bags at least until Jacob arrived and let us know they all go into a cage with a number on it. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Views of rather tall buildings in Dar es Salaam as we board our ferry. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Inside the VIP section of the Kilimanjaro-7 vessel at the Kigamboni ferry terminal in Dar es Salaam. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Views from the outside deck of the Kilimanjaro-7 vessel at the Kigamboni ferry terminal in Dar es Salaam. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Arriving into Zanzibar by ferry from the Dar es Salaam. Starting this past Oct. 1, tourists are required to purchase the Zanzibar health insurance for $44 USD. I had to make sure this wasn’t a scam and it’s not so I purchased mine in advance at home and printed out the certificate. (Oct. 14, 2024)
There was so much confusion after arriving in Zanzibar because of needing to show our passport, the insurance and the yellow fever card. This process, of showing these documents and going through security twice made no sense since Zanzibar is not its own country, but is a semi-autonomous region within Tanzania. Oh and now I have a Zanzibar stamp in passport. (Oct. 14, 2024)
At the ferry exit in Zanzibar, our Intrepid tour leader/guide, Jacob (left) introduced us to Abdullah (right) who walked us to our hotel, the Spice Palace Hotel in Stone Town while our luggage was transported closer to the hotel. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Once we arrived in Zanzibar, we walked to our hotel while our luggage was transported close to the hotel. The alleyways make it difficult for cars to get through. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like in centuries ago. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like in centuries ago. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking to our hotel in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. The narrow alleyways make it difficult for vehicles larger than motorcycles, bikes and carts to make it thru. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Our Spice Palace Hotel in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Our bags in the reception hall area of the Spice Palace Hotel as we wait for our rooms to be ready. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Lunchtime in Zanzibar’s Stone Town with me, Daniela. Wadey and Chris while are rooms at the Spice Palace Hotel are getting ready. Cheers. (Oct. 14, 2024)
After lunch, I was able to check into my single room at the Spice Palace Hotel in Zanzibar and get myself together for 3:00 pm Zanzibar City Walking Tour. (Oct. 14, 2024)
My spacious and rather modern bathroom at the Spice Palace Hotel in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
My spacious and rather modern bathroom at the Spice Palace Hotel in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Starting our Zanzibar City Walking tour with our local guide Abdullah. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The tour began with the infamous Zanzibar doors. The finely carved mahogany or teak doors of Zanzibar in Stone Town. There are an estimated 560 doors around Zanzibar city (the majority in Stone Town), and most of them are over a century old. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The original Zanzibar doors owe their distinctive brass studs to India created as a defence against elephants. Needless to say, this distinctive feature of Stone Town’s doors has always been purely decorative. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The finely carved mahogany or teak doors of Zanzibar in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The finely carved mahogany or teak doors of Zanzibar in Stone Town. The doors are known for their variety of styles, reflecting the island’s history, the owners wealth and sometimes their trade of slaves and spices. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The shops downstairs and homes upstairs in a souvenir shopping area in Zanzibar City’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
A beautifully carved door in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking through the alleyways of Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The carved wood and architecture in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Dhow Palace Hotel in Zanzibar’s Stone Town was originally the home of a rich merchant, Sheikh bin Mujbia. His descendants kept the building for more than three centuries before it was sold. At the bottom left hand corner of the frame is a carved pineapple, which means it was the home of a plantation owner.
Dhow building itself became the center of attention back in 1993 when it was transformed from a family mansion to this elegant hotel. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The open-air interior courtyard, of the Dhow Palace Hotel in Zanzibar’s Stone Town with its pool side restaurant. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The rooftop views from the Dhow Palace Hotel restaurant in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Art work at the Dhow Palace Hotel in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Heading down the beautiful staircase at the Dhow Palace Hotel in Zanzibar’s Stone Town to our next site. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking through the alleyways of Zanzibar’s Stone Town where you share the road with motorcycles, bikes and people pulling carts. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Freddie Mercury, the British singer and songwriter who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen, was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar in 1946. This is his childhood home in Stone Town. It’s now a hotel with a Freddie Mercury Museum inside. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The front door to Freddie Mercury’s childhood home in Zanzibar, now the Tembo House Hotel. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Views of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Views of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Views of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Old Fort (“Ngome Kongwe” in Swahili) in Zanzibar’s Stone Town was built by the Omani Arabs in 1699 after expelling the Portuguese. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The tower of the Old Fort in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Old Fort in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Entering the Old Fort in Stone town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Now a cultural center inside the Old Fort in Stone Town features shops, workshops, and a small amphitheater where live dance and music shows are held daily. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Now a cultural center inside the Old Fort in Stone Town features shops, workshops, and a small amphitheater where live dance and music shows are held daily. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Now a cultural center inside the Old Fort in Stone Town features shops, workshops, and a small amphitheater where live dance and music shows are held daily. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Now a cultural center inside the Old Fort in Stone Town features shops, workshops, and a small amphitheater where live dance and music shows are held daily. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Inside the Old Fort in Stone Town is an amphitheater which was added on the 1990s. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Inside the Old Fort in Stone Town is an amphitheater which was added on the 1990s. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town where a festive evening food market takes place and where our group will be going to sample the food. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking through the alleyways of stone Town with its many shops. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking through the alleyways of Zanzibar’s Stone Town where you share the road with motorcycles, bikes and people pulling carts. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking through the alleyways of stone Town with its many shops. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The people of Stone are 95% Muslim and quite conservative in their dress even for the young girls. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Views of Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Walking through the alleyways of Zanzibar’s Stone Town where you share the road with motorcycles, bikes and people pulling carts. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Entering the Darajani Market, one of the central markets in Stone Town. There isn’t anything you can’t buy here from fish to fashion and all things in between. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Darajani Market, one of the central markets in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Darajani Market, one of the central markets in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Darajani Market, one of the central markets in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Darajani Market, one of the central markets in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Darajani Market, one of the central markets in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
For centuries Zanzibar was the political and economic power in East Africa. And it was also the region’s most notorious slave market. Enslaved people were captured on the mainland, then were chained and held in bondage to be sold in the city’s slave market, often enduring horrific hardship on their journey.
The East African Slave Trade Exhibit (1800-1909) provides the historical legacy of slavery in Zanzibar as well as a slave memorial and the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral commemorating the work of David Livingston in abolishing the slave trade. Both built on site of the former slave market. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Through the exhibit hall, down the stairs of the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town is the entrance to the former Slave Chambers. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Through the exhibit hall of the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town is the entrance to the former Slave Chambers. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Through the Slave Chambers of the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town, Zanzibar City. This portion of the cells, where enslaved people were kept in cramped, dark conditions where the enslaved were chained together before being sold at the former slave market. This section held the women and children. This was a haunting place that made me feel closed in and sick to my stomach. I can’t imagine the horror these enslaved people went through. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Through the Slave Chambers of the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town, Zanzibar City. This portion of the cells, where enslaved people were kept in cramped, dark conditions where the enslaved were chained together before being sold at the former slave market. This section held the women and children. This was a haunting place that made me feel closed in and sick to my stomach. I can’t imagine the horror these enslaved people went through. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The cement slabbed Slave Chambers through the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town, Zanzibar City where up to 75 women and children were held here, often chained. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The cement slab Slave Chambers through the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town, Zanzibar City where the men would be shackled and piled together in this cell. The enslaved were kept in terrible conditions where many died of suffocation and starvation. Some 50 men were chained here often packed and stacked on top of one another after they had been snatched from their homes. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Slave Market Memorial sculpture and the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral at the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Stone Town, Zanzibar City. The church was built after the market was closed and in commemoration of the abolishment of slavery. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Slave Memorial at the former Slave Market in Zanzibar’s Stone Town where human beings were sold. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Slave Memorial at the former Slave Market in Zanzibar’s Stone Town where human beings were sold. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Slave Market was closed on the orders of the sultan in 1873, and in 1879 this an Anglican cathedral, the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, was constructed at the site of the former Slave Market. The cathedral is considered a symbol of emancipation from a tyranny that destroyed countless lives in the region. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Stone Town where the largest Slave Market once stood in Eastern to sell people. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Inside the Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Zanzibar’s Stone Town where the largest East African Slave Market once stood. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Inside the Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Zanzibar’s Stone Town where the largest East African Slave Market once stood. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The altar insIde the Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Zanzibar’s Stone Town where the largest East African Slave Market once stood. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The beautifully carved 14th station of the cross when Jesus is laid in the tomb after his crucifixion hanging on the wall inside the Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The columns were incorrectly placed upside down inside the the Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Zanzibar’s Stone Town was installed to commemorate the abolition of slavery at the site of the former slave market.
However, it was not until 1873 that Sultan Seyyid Barghash of Zanzibar, under pressure from Great Britain, signed a treaty that made the slave trade in his territories illegal. That decree was not enforced effectively either. It was not until 1909 that slavery was finally abolished in East Africa. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The panels full of the slave trade history in Zanzibar and East Africa at the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
A photo from a history board of the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Zanzibar’s Stone Town of men and boys, considered to be a threat, and restrained because they are more likely to flee. (Oct. 14, 2024)
A photo of a sketch of buyers, sellers and slaves from a history board of the East African Slave Trade Exhibit in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Slaves fit only for labouring or lowly domestic employment (seen here in chains) were given little attention. Young women to be sold for harem positions had their faces made up using kohl on the eyebrows and wore rings in the nose and ears (foreground). According to observers, the most valuable were dressed in great finery and adorned with bangles and jewels. These were removed as soon as the women were sold. (Oct. 14, 2024)
A sketch of the Slave Market in Zanzibar’s Stone Town from June 1872 by Lieut. Henn of the Livingstone Relief Expedition. Endless East Africans were sold as slaves and shipped to Arabia, India and the Americas. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The open-air evening food market in the Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town where our group did some food sampling starting with fried Casava and bread fruit. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The open-air evening food market in the Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town where our group did some food sampling starting with fried Casava and bread fruit. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Squeezing sugar canes for us to drink at open-air evening food market in the Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The juice from the fresh squeezed sugar cane for us to drink at open-air evening food market in the Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
And then we had a Zanzibar pizza with meat or veggies at the open- air evening food market in the Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town. The pizza was made of some kind of dough, stuffed with seasoned minced meat and then fried. It was quite tasty. (Oct. 14, 2024)
Zanzibar pizza with meat or veggies at the open- air evening food market in the Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town. The pizza was made of some kind of dough, stuffed with seasoned minced meat and then fried. It was quite tasty. (Oct. 14, 2024)

Day 10: A Zanzibar Spice Tour on plantation of former slave trader then off to the Northern Beaches.

We had a late morning start, 9:00 am, for our spice tour of the Kizimbani plantation in Zanzibar to learn about the local spices, their history and how they are grown and harvested.

Zanzibar is known as the “Spice Island” and is famous for its cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, chili, and black pepper.

This spice tour was on the former plantation, now the community-owned Kizimbani Plantation, of Muhammed el Murjebi who was called Tippu Tip. He was an African-Oman slave owner who traded in ivory and was an explorer, governor and plantation owner.

Growing all together are trees and plants of cinnamon, pepper, ginger, lemon grass, iodine, cocoa, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla.

After our Spice Tour, it was time for the beach and a comfy bed and room at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in the North Coast of Zanzibar.

A Spice Day and a Beach Day all in one.

Me, Daniela, Netty, Wadey, Julia (just see her arm) and Tony getting in a group selfie on our Spice tour of the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. This plantation was once owned by Muhammed el Murjebi (1837-1905), who was called Tippu Tip. An African-Oman ivory and slave owner of some 10,000 slaves, trader of cloves, explorer, governor and a plantation owner of the Kizimbani plantation with 300 acres. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Muhammed el Murjebi (1837-1905) who was called Tippu Tip, a was an African-Oman ivory and slave owner and trader, explorer, governor and plantation owner. Tippu Tip built a slave-trading empire, and is considered the second wealthiest Muslim slave trader in history, using the proceeds to establish clove plantations on Zanzibar.
Tippu Tip traded in slaves for Zanzibar’s clove plantations. As part of the large and lucrative trade, he led many trading expeditions into Central Africa, constructing profitable trading posts deep into the Congo Basin region and thus becoming the best-known slave trader in Africa, supplying much of the world with enslaved Africans.
The former home of Tippu Tip in Stone Town, which we saw yesterday on our Stone Town walking tour, has been turned into a block of flats now occupied by several families. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The exterior of what use to be Tippu Tip’s home in Stone Town. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The former home of Tippu Tip in Stone Town with the huge carved front door, a sign of Tippu Tip’s great wealth. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The tomb of Muhammed el Murjebi called Tippu Tip, the slave trader and plantation owner, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It was once covered in overgrown vegetation, but all that has been cleared away. It’s difficult to believe but this man was considered a hero. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The tomb of Muhammed el Murjebi called Tippu Tip, the slave trader and plantation owner, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It was once covered in overgrown vegetation, but all that has been cleared away. It’s difficult to believe but this man was considered a hero. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar where our Spice Tour took place is 300 acres of land specifically geared to grow a variety of spices and fruits. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Abdullah (right) our Spice tour guide holding up one of the decorative baskets to put in any of the spices we collect at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The Annatto is a natural food dye and spice that’s used to color many foods and drinks along with cosmetics like lipstick at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Lemongrass at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
A number of Jack tree fruit plants at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
A Jack Tree fruit plant at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 155, 2024)
Our young assistant climbing up the curry tree to retrieve a handful of curry leaves at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Our young assistant after climbing up the curry tree to retrieve a handful of curry leaves at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The cacao pod taken from the cacao tree at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. The white pulp contains the beans where chocolate comes from. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The cacao bean, is where delicious the delicious chocolate comes from, at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. The beans are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The Vanilla plants at Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Me all decked out in a flowered necklace and flower and leaves basket at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
A long-tailed monkey at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Pepper seeds are picked when the color is green, then it’s dried and turns black for black pepper. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The pineapple trees at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The cloves plant that smells like Christmas at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Termites climbing up the side of a tree at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Walking through the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Me, Netty, Daniela and Tony with our Queens and King crowns on at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. We took a break to drink tea and eat fresh fruits. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Break time for tea and fruit, like this delicious, fresh mango, at a stand in the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Eating fresh pineapple at the Kizimbani Plantation in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Me and my crown in the middle of the red earth of Zanzibar, Tanzania, at the Kizimbani Plantation. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Our Spice Tour guide Abdullah showing us the nutmeg tree and seed or mace that contains the nutmeg seed that’s ground into the nutmeg spice at the Kizimbani Plantation. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The ground nutmeg spice is derived from the red seed inside the fruit or mace at the Kizimbani Plantation. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The home of a local woman on the Kizimbani Plantation who made our group lunch. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The home of a local woman on the Kizimbani Plantation who made our group lunch. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The neighboring family with the children playing outside on the Kizimbani Plantation. (Oct. 15, 2024)
We sat on the floor inside the home of a local woman who made our lunch at the Kizimbani Plantation. My stomach was a bit bubbly so I did not eat but the group members enjoyed it. (Oct. 15, 2024)
We sat on the floor inside the home of a local woman who made our lunch at the Kizimbani Plantation. (Oct. 15, 2024)
We sat on the floor inside the home of a local woman who made our lunch at the Kizimbani Plantation. (Oct. 15, 2024)
After the morning Spice Tour, we arrived at our beach side home for the next two nights at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in the North Coast of Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Our beach side home for two nights, the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in the North Coast of Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Our beach side home for two nights, the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in the North Coast of Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
My room at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
My rather large bathroom at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Views from my balcony of the sand and other bungalows at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
Views from my balcony of the sand and other bungalows at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi at the Kendwa Beach in Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The staircase down to the Kendwa Beach at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi, Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The white sand leading to the Kendwa Beach at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi, Zanzibar. (Oct. 15, 2024)
People relaxing at the gazebo’s by the Kendwa Beach at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi, Zanzibar. (Oct. 14, 2024)
The pool area of the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi, Zanzibar, with the Kendwa beachfront area in the distance. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The Sunset Kendwa Resort restaurant where I treated myself to a delicious meal and a very strong Sangria. (Oct. 15, 2024)
I hadn’t eat much breakfast or lunch so when we arrived at the Sunset Kendwa Resort, also called the Sunset Bungalows Lodge in Kilindi, Zanzibar, I got settled and send pretty much all of cloves to be laundered. It was roughly $1 USD per item. Then I made my way to the resort’s beach restaurant to treat myself to a delicious meal. I thought about seafood but the second I saw the description of this meal, I was sold…Marinated and grilled steak tossed in black pepper corn and served with Masala chips, basically deliciously seasoned fried potatoes. And the cost was $15 USD. Yes, prices are in USD. (Oct. 15, 2024)
With the sunsetting and my delicious dinner more than gone too, I was still enjoying my Zanzibar Sangria of red wine, chopped fruit & dark rum at a cost of $8 USD. (Oct. 15, 2024)
The sun setting on the Kendwa Beach in the North Coast of Zanzibar at our beach hotel, the Sunset Kendwa or Bungalows. (Oct. 15, 2024)

Day 11: Took shade on a hot beach day then enjoyed an African feast and entertainment at night.

I grew up in Florida. I wasn’t much of a beach person then and I’m even less of one now. But I have no problem relaxing by the water if it’s not too hot. But it was quite hot so I retreated to my room and the shade of my balcony.

All that changed once the sun went down. And that’s when I came out to enjoy a feast and music with a couple of tour members for our last night at the beach in Zanzibar.

Enjoying my African Buffet Dinner by the beach at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar with Alice (middle) and Svenja (right). (Oct. 16, 2024)
A beautiful beach setting for an African Buffet Dinner and music at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Oct. 16, 2024)
A beautiful beach setting for an African Buffet Dinner and music at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Oct. 16, 2024)
Food galore at the African Buffet Dinner at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Feb. 16, 2024)
Food galore at the African Buffet Dinner at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Feb. 16, 2024)
Food galore at the African Buffet Dinner at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Feb. 16, 2024)
A fire dancer at the African Buffet Dinner at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Oct. 16, 2024)
A fire dancer at the African Buffet Dinner at the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Oct. 16, 2024)

Day 12: Leaving our beach paradise to go back to Stone Town and meet our new Intrepid tour leader and some new tour members too.

We were a group of 20 and now we are down to eight with four more joining us from Stone Town to Cape Town, South Africa.

Although the overland truck can hold up to 24 people, that’s just way too many people for me. So, for this go round, at least until we get to Victoria Falls, where we may be picking up seven more travelers, it’s just the 12 of us allowing for room to spread out.

And, after tonight, I will be back to tenting as I continue from Zanzibar through the next 38 days to Cape Town with stops in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and ending in South Africa.

A lot more of the African Continent to see and experience.

Leaving our beach side, for the past two nights, the Sunset Kendwa, or Sunset Bungalows Resort in Zanzibar. (Oct. 17, 2024)
And in a little more than two hours, we arrived back into Zanzibar City’s Stone Town and its mixture of architecture, including this lime-green latticework with balconies called the Old Dispensary. It was commissioned to be built in 1887 by Sir Thara Topan as a hospital in honor of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. However Topan died in 1891 before it was completed in 1894. (Oct. 17, 2024)
Walking back to our Spice Palace Hotel, we passed the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stone Town.
The church was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1898. The design of the church was based on that of the Marseille Cathedral. The church is only open for mass on Sundays, so I could not go in. (Oct. 17, 2024)
The Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stone Town. (Oct. 17, 2024)
While several of our group went shopping, three of us wanted to eat seafood. We stopped here at the Cape Town Fish Market in Stone Town, with views of the Indian Ocean and next to Forodhani Park, for our seafood fix. (Oct. 17, 2024)
Views of the Indian Ocean in Stone Town of Zanzibar City in Zanzibar. (Oct. 17, 2024)
Me, Chrissy (joking the group in Zanzibar to Cape Town) and Wadey who began with me and several others in Nairobi. I did not have breakfast so I was pretty hungry and ready to eat something good. I’m also drinking a Savanna Cider, something I enjoyed drinking on previous trips to Africa. (Oct. 17, 2024)
My grilled Lobster Thermidor with fried potatoes. I’m not sure what the sauce was but it had a nice taste to it so instead of dipping my lobster bites in melted butter, I dipped it in the tasty sauce. (Oct. 17, 2024)
We said goodbye today to Jacob (right) our Intrepid tour leader and guide who got us from Nairobi to Zanzibar. And now, hello to Laban, our new Intrepidtour leader, (left) who will take us from Zanzibar through the next 38 days to Cape Town with stops in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and ending in South Africa. A lot more of Africa to see and experience. (Oct. 17, 2024)

Day 13: Ferry from Stone Town to Dar es Salaam where we met up with our overland truck and crew for an 8-hour drive to Morogoro.

Within the hour of leaving the Spice Palace Hotel in Stone Town, walking to our van, being taken to the crowded ferry port and whisked in like VIP, then boarding the ferry boat and enjoying some packed fruit for breakfast, we were off at 7:00 am to Dar es Salaam.

Even though Jacob, my previous Intrepid tour leader got us to Zanzibar without a problem, Laban got our group of 12 through the confusion of security, getting our luggage stored and then then into our comfy seats in the VIP section of the ferry.

He made the process quick and easy but the choppy waters during that one and a half hour ride was starting to stir my tummy and rekindle the throwing spells I had on my Antartica trip going through the Drake Passage. Thankfully we arrived at the Dar es Salaam ferry before any barfing took place.

From the Dar es Salaam ferry, we were whisked away on another van for a 2-hour drive to meet up with our overland truck and crew for our introduction back to the reality of camping and driving long hours.

It took 8-hours of driving before we made it to our Tan-Swiss campsite by the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania.

I did check out the upgrade for $10 USD, but sleeping on the ground with my sleeping pad and bag felt so much better than the dingy room.

Here’s to the tent life, again.

Waiting in the VIP lounge at the Zanzibar ferry terminal before boarding the ferry to meet our overland truck and crew in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Laban, our Intrepid tour leader, holding our breakfast from the Spice Hotel in Zanzibar so we could have something to eat on the ferry to Dar es Salaam. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Getting our tickets checked again at the Zanzibar ferry terminal. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Walking to board the ferry from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Walking to board the ferry from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Putting our big pieces of luggage all in one luggage cage before boarding the ferry from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam. (Oct. 18, 2024)
And before I got too comfortable, even through the choppy waters, we were back in Dar es Salaam getting our luggage out of the luggage cage. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Views of Dar es Salaam from the port after exiting the ferry from Zanzibar before getting in our van for the 2-hour drive to meetup with our overland truck. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Views of Dar es Salaam from the port after exiting the ferry from Zanzibar before getting in our van for the 2-hour drive to meetup with our overland truck. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Waiting to board the van after our ferry ride to Dar es Salaam for the two our drive to meet our overland truck.
Inside the van at the Dar es Salaam port before departing to meet our overland truck, about two hours away, at a Dar es Salaam shopping center. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Our new Intrepid crew loading up the overland truck after grocery shopping at the supermarket inside the Mlimani City shopping mall in Dar es Salaam. Our new cook is Ibrahim, driver is Edwin and our tour leader is Laban who has been with us since our last night in Stone Town. And Laban’s assistant in training to be a lead guide, a young woman named Shi, pronounced like She. (Oct. 18, 2024)
The Mlimani City shopping mall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is considered to be one of the largest malls in the country. It’s where we met up with overland truck and where we could stop in to get needed supplies or snacks before getting on the road for our 8-hour drive to the Tan-Swiss campsite by the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
A lot of road construction taking place on the roads in Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
The dirt highway roads to be paved from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro while little, if any, work is done to provide paved walking areas since so many people walk. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Passing through the village of Kimara on the way to our Tan-Swiss campsite by the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
More construction work being done on the road to Morogoro. It’s interesting because the government owns the land that the people settle on. So that later, if the government decides it wants to use that land then the people have to move, with some government assistance. (Oct. 18, 2024)
The Uguru mountains along the old Dar es Salaam road to the Tan-Swiss campground near the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
The Uguru mountains along the old Dar es Salaam road to the Tan-Swiss campground near the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
The Uguru mountains along the old Dar es Salaam road to the Tan-Swiss campground near the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Arriving at the entrance of our campsite, Tan-Swiss, about a 20-minute ride to the Mikumi National Park, which we’ll visit tomorrow on a game drive. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Our tents up at the Tan-Swiss campsite by 6:40, before dinner at 8:00 pm. (Oct. 18, 2024)
Me fulfilling my duty roster assignment to help prep for dinner at our Tan-Swiss campsite near the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. I did not cut all that up in the bowl, but I did cut some carrots. (Oct. 18, 2024)

Day 14: Mikumi National Park game drive; then five hours of driving to Iringa.

In the morning we departed the Tan-Swiss campsite for a 6:00 am game drive at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania, about a 20-minute drive away.

I really enjoyed the game drives and the balloon ride at the Serengeti and even though the game drive this morning was nice, it was no Serengeti.

This is definitely a much less touristy park but the land of the Serengeti is just stunning and the wildlife the same. But we did see hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, wildebeest, impalas and a Leopard stalking its prey in the bushes.

For this morning, our crew took down our tents so when we returned from the game drive, we could eat lunch and get on the road.

It was a 5-hour drive through the beautiful countryside to the next campsite, the Old Farmhouse in Iringa, more specifically the village of Kisolana for the night. And it’s where I upgraded for $35 USD (actually $36, an extra dollar for using the credit card) to one of its stable rooms turned very nice guest room.

It was a nice luxury, out in the middle of no where, to have my own bathroom. Here’s to a good night’s sleep and a 3:45 am wake-up call for a 5:00 am departure to cross the border into Malawi.

My jeep mates at the entrance to the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania, for a morning game drive on a 4×4 Jeep. It turned to be a cool and overcast morning and I was actually quite cold. It even started raining as we were leaving the park and heading back to our campsite. From left: Samantha, Wadey, Joyce, Courtney and Julia. (Oct. 19, 2024)
I love this notice at the entrance of the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania, “Do Not Feed Animals.” You would think people would know this. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Entering the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Inside the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The wildebeest and impalas grazing together in the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. A group of wildebeest is called a “confusion”. This term likely comes from the noise and disorientation that occurs when wildebeest migrate in large numbers. And a heard of impala is a group of impalas. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The wildebeest and impalas grazing together in the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The wildebeest and impalas grazing together in the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Female warthogs, called sows, are social animals and live in groups called sounders, at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Further away, we came across some individuals warthogs at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. Male warthogs prefer to live alone while female warthogs live in groups with offspring called soundings. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Further away, we came across some individuals warthogs at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. Male warthogs prefer to live alone while female warthogs live in groups with offspring called soundings. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Further away, we came across some individuals warthogs at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. Male warthogs prefer to live alone while female warthogs live in groups with offspring called soundings. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The African giraffes at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A baobab fruit tree in the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The rather thin looking baboons at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Me with a bloat (group) of hippos sleep in the pond at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A bloat (group) of hippos sleep in the pond at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A bloat (group) of hippos sleep in the pond at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A bloat (group) of hippos sleep in the pond at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A fun group shot by the sleeping hippos pond at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. From left, Courtney, Wadey, Samantha, Julia, Joyce and Chrissy. We’re an 11 women group with one man, Chris who’s traveling with his wife, Kate. And we’re all going to Cape Town, the end of this trip. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A lone African giraffe at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A plane coming into a small landing strip in the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. It’s people coming in for the day to visit the park. So far, the Serengeti, which I visited earlier during this trip, is still my favorite. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A small airfield for planes coming into a small landing strip in the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. It’s people coming in for the day to visit the park. So far, the Serengeti, which I visited earlier during this trip, is still my favorite. (Oct. 19, 2024)
You can see its tail and some spots on the body but that’s the illusive leopard at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
You can see its tail and some spots on the body but that’s the illusive leopard at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
You can see its tail and some spots on the body but that’s the illusive leopard at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
A baobab tree at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Zebras at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Zebras at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Zebras at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Zebras at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The resting wildebeest at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
More beautiful impalas grazing at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Leaving the Mikumi National Park, these signs are on both sides of the toad because the park is not fenced so the animals can and do cross over from side to side. And there are fines for killing an animal crossing the road. In USD, it’s $15,000 for killing an elephant; $1,200 for killing a zebra; $500 for killing a hyena and $450 for killing a warthog. (Oct. 19, 2024)
After our game drive at the Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania, we left our Tan-Swiss campsite for the 5-hour drive to our next campsite in the Old Farmhouse in Iringa, more specifically the village of Kisolana for the night but it was slow going because of heavy traffic. (Oct. 19, 2024)
I’m not sure what Edwin, our Intrepid driver Laban, our Intrepid leader, and even Ibrahim, our Intrepid cook negotiated with the traffic police but we were able to get ahead of the traffic on the Morogoro-Iringa Road that was backed up for a couple of miles. (Oct. 19, 2024)
And this is why traffic was backed up for a couple of miles, a horrible accident of two petroleum tankers colliding with one burning down along the main road connecting Malawi to Zambia, the Morogoro-Iringa Road. (Oct. 19, 2024)
It actually looks like three vehicles were involved in the accident that occurred earlier in the day that caused the backup along the Morogoro-Iringa Road on our way to Old Farmhouse in Iringa, more specifically the village of Kisolana. (Oct. 19, 2024)
It actually looks like three vehicles were involved in the accident that occurred earlier in the day that caused the backup along the Morogoro-Iringa Road on our way to Old Farmhouse in Iringa, more specifically the village of Kisolana. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The beautiful mountain views with these baobab trees dotting the landscape. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The beautiful mountain views with these baobab trees dotting the landscape. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Stopping to fill up the gas tank of overland truck at a gas station. Gas station attendants are employed to pump your gas. (Oct. 19, 2024)
The stables turned into guest rooms with their own bathrooms at the Old Farm House in Kisolana for the night. I would have enjoyed staying longer but we leave at 5:00 am tomorrow to cross the border into Malawi. (Oct. 19, 2024)
My renovated stable room at the Old Farmhouse in Kisolana. (Oct. 19, 2024)
My own toilet and sink at my renovated stable room at the Old Farmhouse in Kisolana. (Oct. 19, 2024)
And the shower was hot at the Old Farmhouse in Iringa, more specifically the village of Kisolana. (Oct. 19, 2024)
This little outdoor kitchen hut at the Old Farmhouse in Iringa, more specifically the village of Kisolana, was where Ibrahim, our cook, prepared our meal and where we ate. (Oct. 19, 2024)
Tonight’s dinner was a delicious bow of spaghetti bolognese. I only wish I had more of an appetite, but this is the first camping dinner meal that I thoroughly enjoyed. (Oct. 19, 2024)

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