My 1st African Adventure/June 2011
Jul 17th, 2011, 07:34 PM
#43
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atravelynn it was a good thing there were so many lions in the Mara cause we only saw one in the Serengeti!!
Hanuman I'm determined to get this trip report completed, just hope it's before you leave. What date are you flying out?
Hanuman I'm determined to get this trip report completed, just hope it's before you leave. What date are you flying out?
Jul 17th, 2011, 08:19 PM
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Kath - I'm leaving on the 31st July and will spend a couple of nights at the G. manor before heading out to the Masai Mara. Already receiving news that there are tens of thousands of wilderbeast right at our fist camp(Sala's) so I'm very excited!
Jul 18th, 2011, 07:32 AM
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Hanuman -
Sala's - that's where I saw the herds last year! Even if during early-June they kept moving back-n-forth across the Sand River.
Send my best to Sissa, camp manager, who is wonderful and an outstanding cook!
Sala's - that's where I saw the herds last year! Even if during early-June they kept moving back-n-forth across the Sand River.
Send my best to Sissa, camp manager, who is wonderful and an outstanding cook!
Jul 18th, 2011, 09:29 AM
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Only one lion in the Serengeti? Wow, that IS strange! On one safari to the Serengeti, we were trying to find cheetahs and everywhere we looked, there were lions (probably why we didn't find the cheetahs.)
Jul 18th, 2011, 10:02 AM
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My time in the Serengeti was spent around Kirawira, the migration was everywhere but no lions, no cheetahs, no leopard.
Other guests in the camp had spotted a lioness in the distance around a kill. We kept going back to the kill trying to find her with no luck and the kill remained untouched for 2 days. My guide couldn't believe it!
The one we did see was around Seronera on our way to Kirawira.
Other guests in the camp had spotted a lioness in the distance around a kill. We kept going back to the kill trying to find her with no luck and the kill remained untouched for 2 days. My guide couldn't believe it!
The one we did see was around Seronera on our way to Kirawira.
Jul 18th, 2011, 02:24 PM
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Over the years, I haven't seen all that many lions or cheetah in the Serengeti; a leopard once up a tree. But this was during June thru Oct periods. In total, I can count on one hand. Guess, it's luck. But always lots of predators in the Mara and surrounds.
Haven't been during the wildie "calving" season, but from what I've heard and we've all read, lots of predators at Ndutu and South Serengeti, ready to enjoy the vittals!
Some, little simba are often so full, they're dragging bellies on the ground.
Haven't been during the wildie "calving" season, but from what I've heard and we've all read, lots of predators at Ndutu and South Serengeti, ready to enjoy the vittals!
Some, little simba are often so full, they're dragging bellies on the ground.
Jul 20th, 2011, 10:01 PM
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KathBC buys a cow
https://picasaweb.google.com/1115480...eat=directlink
Arriving in Arusha you immediately notice the abundance of tropical plants and magnificent banana trees. Driving from the airport into town there were large herds of cattle and goats tended by little Masai boys most of whom were casually lying on their stomachs, chin propped on their hands, eyes level with the road and looking at you had to wonder what. So adorable! They seemed not to have a care in the world and I so regret not getting a photo although I doubt they would have let me.
Stayed one night in the stunning African Tulip Hotel in a large, modern & spacious room. Grounds and pool area are beautifully landscaped but they have a few minor things to work out like room windows not locking & shower stalls that leak. They were very nice about moving me into another room and I wouldn’t hesitate staying there again. It was heaven being able to refresh here, be out of the dust and stay clean for a 1/2 day before setting off again.
My private safari in Tanzania was handled by Warrior Trails http://www.warriortrails.com/ who came highly recommended by friends and especially their guide Jackson. I was so glad to have taken their advise cause if I was going to be spending 6 days in a vehicle with someone in a country I’d never been to before it was important for me to feel comfortable with that person. The moment I met Jackson I knew my friends were right! He is a very experienced & knowledgeable guide who really cares that you have a fantastic experience. A good conversationalist who took the most excellent care of me and taught me a lot about the wildlife and all the places we visited. And most importantly about a potent moonshine aptly named “Kill me Quickly” made from the sausage tree!
Clamian Kitesho the owner of Warrior Trails is said to be the first Masai Warrior to start his own tour company in Tanzania so when he emailed a month before my departure asking if there was anything else they could do to make my trip memorable I had just the thing for him.
I had always wanted to buy a cow for a family in a third world country in hopes of improving their lives over an extended period of time rather just a quick fix, but most of the organizations who offered this had very expensive cows. I had also read that going to a Masai cattle market could be interesting so asked Clamian if there happened to be one along our route and how much a cow went for in that part of the world and if he could connect me with a Masai widow with children who could really use a cow. Masai widows are not allowed to remarry so with children and no husband, the struggle would be even greater.
I got a lot of LOLs in his first response to my request as I don’t think he quite believed me and am sure he’s never been asked to arrange something like this before. But after learning I grew up on a small farm he seemed to understand and soon found Nalari, a 33 year old widow with 5 children ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old. Sounded like a perfect match to me!
Clamian set off with Jackson and I from Arusha to a village about 45 minutes out of town and had wisely sent a couple of Masai men to the cattle market ahead of us to find just the right cow for just the right price.
After meeting Nalari and her children all scrubbed and clean in their Masai best I was taken into the cattle enclosure to inspect and approve the selected cow. She was a beautiful young sable cow in a lovely tawny colour who I was assured would produce a calf within 18 mths. Excellent! Everyone was thrilled, the cash changed hands and voila Nalari and her family had a new cow and my dream had finally come true! We bought a rope and one of the men led the cow back to Nalari’s boma.
After we walked thru the produce market for a while I wanted to take my new African family out for a treat and asked Clamian where he thought we should go. Back home we’d go for ice cream but what would Masai children consider a treat? Seems that would be goat, rice and Fanta. I opted for just a diet pepsi.
After lunch Nalari wanted me to see her home which was quite a distance from the market area so about 12 of us piled into the land cruiser and with children sitting on laps and some Masai women (we acquired a few more along the way) sitting in the aisle we headed up the road to Nalari’s village. About half way there Lemeshulay, the 2nd youngest at 5 yrs old, started crying while the older children tried to calm him. It was only then I learned that the younger children had never been in a vehicle before and he was quite nervous about the new experience while the 3 oldest, who attended school, were quite excited about their adventure and were assuring him they’d all end up at home a lot faster this way. Lemeshulay just wanted to walk home like they always did and was very very happy when we finally came to a stop in front of his hut.
All the village children came out to see the visitors and greet the new cow and were soon coming up to me with a pointed finger, nearly but not quite touching my arm and then turning to run off giggling. It took me a bit to clue in then Clamian explained the younger ones didn’t see white people very often if at all and if they did it was only when the white people drove by in their vehicles. But never right in their village like today. With that I outstretched both arms and encouraged them to touch away! What a tremendous feeling to be in the midst of all that giggling which then turned to true curiosity! Once they lost interest in my skin it was pictures of themselves on my camera that brought back the squeals.
So after lots of picture taking with the cow and without the cow and receiving necklaces of thank you from Nalari we all sadly said goodbye with promises from Clamian that he would let me know how the family was getting on from time to time and news of any calves being born.
Warrior Trails’ motto is creating unforgettable safaris & lifelong memories and for me this day, they truly did.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1115480...eat=directlink
Arriving in Arusha you immediately notice the abundance of tropical plants and magnificent banana trees. Driving from the airport into town there were large herds of cattle and goats tended by little Masai boys most of whom were casually lying on their stomachs, chin propped on their hands, eyes level with the road and looking at you had to wonder what. So adorable! They seemed not to have a care in the world and I so regret not getting a photo although I doubt they would have let me.
Stayed one night in the stunning African Tulip Hotel in a large, modern & spacious room. Grounds and pool area are beautifully landscaped but they have a few minor things to work out like room windows not locking & shower stalls that leak. They were very nice about moving me into another room and I wouldn’t hesitate staying there again. It was heaven being able to refresh here, be out of the dust and stay clean for a 1/2 day before setting off again.
My private safari in Tanzania was handled by Warrior Trails http://www.warriortrails.com/ who came highly recommended by friends and especially their guide Jackson. I was so glad to have taken their advise cause if I was going to be spending 6 days in a vehicle with someone in a country I’d never been to before it was important for me to feel comfortable with that person. The moment I met Jackson I knew my friends were right! He is a very experienced & knowledgeable guide who really cares that you have a fantastic experience. A good conversationalist who took the most excellent care of me and taught me a lot about the wildlife and all the places we visited. And most importantly about a potent moonshine aptly named “Kill me Quickly” made from the sausage tree!
Clamian Kitesho the owner of Warrior Trails is said to be the first Masai Warrior to start his own tour company in Tanzania so when he emailed a month before my departure asking if there was anything else they could do to make my trip memorable I had just the thing for him.
I had always wanted to buy a cow for a family in a third world country in hopes of improving their lives over an extended period of time rather just a quick fix, but most of the organizations who offered this had very expensive cows. I had also read that going to a Masai cattle market could be interesting so asked Clamian if there happened to be one along our route and how much a cow went for in that part of the world and if he could connect me with a Masai widow with children who could really use a cow. Masai widows are not allowed to remarry so with children and no husband, the struggle would be even greater.
I got a lot of LOLs in his first response to my request as I don’t think he quite believed me and am sure he’s never been asked to arrange something like this before. But after learning I grew up on a small farm he seemed to understand and soon found Nalari, a 33 year old widow with 5 children ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old. Sounded like a perfect match to me!
Clamian set off with Jackson and I from Arusha to a village about 45 minutes out of town and had wisely sent a couple of Masai men to the cattle market ahead of us to find just the right cow for just the right price.
After meeting Nalari and her children all scrubbed and clean in their Masai best I was taken into the cattle enclosure to inspect and approve the selected cow. She was a beautiful young sable cow in a lovely tawny colour who I was assured would produce a calf within 18 mths. Excellent! Everyone was thrilled, the cash changed hands and voila Nalari and her family had a new cow and my dream had finally come true! We bought a rope and one of the men led the cow back to Nalari’s boma.
After we walked thru the produce market for a while I wanted to take my new African family out for a treat and asked Clamian where he thought we should go. Back home we’d go for ice cream but what would Masai children consider a treat? Seems that would be goat, rice and Fanta. I opted for just a diet pepsi.
After lunch Nalari wanted me to see her home which was quite a distance from the market area so about 12 of us piled into the land cruiser and with children sitting on laps and some Masai women (we acquired a few more along the way) sitting in the aisle we headed up the road to Nalari’s village. About half way there Lemeshulay, the 2nd youngest at 5 yrs old, started crying while the older children tried to calm him. It was only then I learned that the younger children had never been in a vehicle before and he was quite nervous about the new experience while the 3 oldest, who attended school, were quite excited about their adventure and were assuring him they’d all end up at home a lot faster this way. Lemeshulay just wanted to walk home like they always did and was very very happy when we finally came to a stop in front of his hut.
All the village children came out to see the visitors and greet the new cow and were soon coming up to me with a pointed finger, nearly but not quite touching my arm and then turning to run off giggling. It took me a bit to clue in then Clamian explained the younger ones didn’t see white people very often if at all and if they did it was only when the white people drove by in their vehicles. But never right in their village like today. With that I outstretched both arms and encouraged them to touch away! What a tremendous feeling to be in the midst of all that giggling which then turned to true curiosity! Once they lost interest in my skin it was pictures of themselves on my camera that brought back the squeals.
So after lots of picture taking with the cow and without the cow and receiving necklaces of thank you from Nalari we all sadly said goodbye with promises from Clamian that he would let me know how the family was getting on from time to time and news of any calves being born.
Warrior Trails’ motto is creating unforgettable safaris & lifelong memories and for me this day, they truly did.
Jul 21st, 2011, 12:47 AM
#52
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What a wonderful, wonderful story. I'm glad you didn't trial the 'Kill Me Quickly' moonshine and were able to fulfil your cow buying destiny. What does a cow cost, roughly? It seems like a lovely thing to do and perhaps you can go back and visit one day and there might be many cows for Nalari's children to care for. The cows all looked very healthy. I particularly liked the photo with all the hands reaching out to touch you.
Jul 21st, 2011, 06:01 AM
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You could not have recounted a better "buy a cow" story. Warrior Trails should incorporate that option into its itinerary. What a wonderful lifelong memory for more than just you. Now for the cow photos.
Jul 21st, 2011, 06:06 AM
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I never heard of Grants wear pants. Clever.
Smiles all around, even the new cow. This is Heifer Project meets Northern Circuit. What a brilliant idea that I believe may inspire others to do the same.
When convenient, could you email me? I use my screen name on hotmail. Thanks.
Smiles all around, even the new cow. This is Heifer Project meets Northern Circuit. What a brilliant idea that I believe may inspire others to do the same.
When convenient, could you email me? I use my screen name on hotmail. Thanks.
Jul 21st, 2011, 08:23 AM
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Lovely idea, KathBC! That might be something I look into next year when I return to Tanzania. I'll pass it by Bill Given, who's planning the safari. I bet that would be a first for him, as well.
Atravelynn, the "Grants wear pants" phrase helps some folks differentiate Grants from Tommies. The Tommies white patch doesn't go over the tail, but the Grants do.
Atravelynn, the "Grants wear pants" phrase helps some folks differentiate Grants from Tommies. The Tommies white patch doesn't go over the tail, but the Grants do.
Jul 21st, 2011, 07:23 PM
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It was an amazing day I won't soon forget!
And it was important for me to be involved in the process, experience the cattle market and meet and learn about who the cow was going to. It just made it all that more special than the usual donating cash to an organization.
I've encouraged Clamian to offer something like this plus goats on his website. The cost varies from $200 to $350 depending on the size of the cow and how good your negotiator is!
And it was important for me to be involved in the process, experience the cattle market and meet and learn about who the cow was going to. It just made it all that more special than the usual donating cash to an organization.
I've encouraged Clamian to offer something like this plus goats on his website. The cost varies from $200 to $350 depending on the size of the cow and how good your negotiator is!
