Loved your photos, esp the Maasai and the Maasai children.

I do not want to hijack this thread and started a new one about the West Kilimanjaro area.

IMO there are better options than Kambi ya Tembo for people looking for a better wildlife and a more intimate safari experience.

not a problem, climbhigh, feedback is what this board is all about.

as the "virgin" in my thread indicates, this was my first safari so i don't have much basis for comparison. however, as a human being i can tell you that the staff at kambi ya tembo was exceptionally warm and welcoming. sinya reserve was nice but, as i've said, nothing extraordinary.

are there better options? i'm quite sure. i'll look for your thread and hope to someday get to those places. did i have a fabulous time on my safari? you bet. every gosh darn minute! (thanks, ms. palin.)

Thanks for all the info. everybody I hope to avoid the shirt on fire, but other than that it looks appealing. Glad the shirt on fire caused no injuries and can be a funny travel tale.

lynn,

the shirt on fire story (thankfully) really did end up being very funny, particularly because it was john. he's a rather low key kind of guy, especially in comparison to peter, our other guide on the trip. so, to here john tell the story, of how he was giving his talk and suddenly smelled something burning, but knew nothing was cooking for dinner... was pretty funny. he was a very good sport about the whole thing.

I was in the hut with John when the "shirt incident" happened. He's definitely "low key", so it was quite amazing to see him suddenly start frantically dancing around and ripping off his shirt, buttons flying. I saw the flame on the shirt when I got it off. There was a burn-hole about an inch wide in the back of it. He had unknowingly been backed up to a small, lit flask of kerosine while giving his briefing. As he said, it was good that the shirt was made of cotton, not nylon. He laughed about the fact that it was his last clean uniform shirt.

I see that you've posted your Zanzibar pics.

http://mothership.smugmug.com/gallery/6728697_3mRtD

I especially love the Stone Town photos. You've really captured the feel of the place, from the curtains billowing from the windows to the shadows cast by the studs on the doors. There is a book called "The Wonder Safaris" by Adam Levin in which he writes of the mysteries behind those curtains.

hi shay!!

thanks. well, it's a start. i plan to add a lot more but i never seem to have enough time. the zanzibar pics are so different from the safari ones (obviously). they really do reflect how strikingly dissimilar the two regions are.

i hope to add more this weekend. regards

anita
i am reading your trip report, but slowly in between all the things i need to do for the holdiays, but hey guess i am the virgin now!
and i like africanus returnus.
i was only on this site a bit more than a week when i started talking about my First trip rather than my dream trip. this is an infectious site.
so i am just writing to keep your wonderful trip report and photos up there at the tip.
amy

amy,

just don't hesitate to ask your questions - anything - because someone will read them and know the answers (even if they've been asked and answered many times over. the patience of people on this board is remarkable.)

enjoy your holidays,
anita

Hi Anita,

I too was a virgin back in 2007 and received wonderful advice from this forum.We went to Tanzania in Feb/March this year and I still can't shake the experience from my head. I lurk on Fodors daily reliving memories through the experiences of others. I have just read your entire thread about planning and then came to the highlight - your exceptionally well written and moving trip report. I had to write quickly and tell you how much I enjoyed your story telling style before I look at your photos.

Wonderful trip report. Thanks for sharing.

mazj and leslie s,

thank you, both, for your lovely responses! you guys made my day.

safe holidays,
peace
anita

Anita -
Hope you enjoy your holidays, too.
Your report & the other thread where you originally asked for help on the overwhelming project of planning a trip to Africa were full of great information.

That trip is still years away for me - I have 2009 already planned & am hoping for India and Morocco in 2010. But in the meantime I browse the Africa board & love to read about others' experiences. Sounds like a magical place & your adventure was so much fun to read about.

The fodorites are amazingly generous with their advice. I can't imagine going anywhere without reading up here first.

I hope you'll continue to share your travel on the boards - you have a wonderful way with words!

leslie

leslie_s,

yes, this board becomes a bit of an addiction, informative and entertaining. and, yes, i will continue to share stories on the board even if i have to make them up. i haven't gotten this much appreciation since before i had kids (some 20+ years ago.)

safe and healthy new year,
anita