Just wanted to let you know that my trip from Sept.1-14th was fantastic, I'm truly hooked now. I'm already thinking of Kenya next time. I've managed to download my 523 digital photos onto my computer and now have to figure out how to post them, although not all 523, just the best of the best. The biggest thing for me is to label what I want to post so you'll know where I was and what I took a photo of. I'm an artist/crafts person, not a computerist (is there such a word ?) so bear with me. First thing to put a smile on my face was the lodgings I had, they were better in person than viewing them on the Internet. For me personally, I'm glad I chose all lodgings and not mixed camping with it, this just suited me fine. The buffets that were prepared were very good and well presented. In fact they were so beautiful that you hated to attack them and help yourself, messing up the artistry in them, however I managed to do so anyway. Staff at these lodgings were great, friendly and helpful, most of them anyway. All my accomodations had AC and ceiling fans, and although not real hot in Sept. it was a welcome thing to come back to after being out pretty much all day. Pools at these lodges were pristine, although not heated, the water in the ones I used were quite bearable. I want to thank all of you for the help, suggestions and support you gave me and hope one day I may be able to do the same for another 1st timer. Ve

Welcome back! Glad you had a great time and looking forward to your photos.

What an interesting perspective from an artistic eye--wishing to leave the buffets intact.

Welcome home and glad it was a Wow for you.

Ve, yes, glad you had a great trip. Am anxious to read a report if one is forthcoming. And, bless you for the effort to label and cull your photos. No only do I really appreciate seeing where pics were taken and in many cases, the identity of critters, I also relish the good taste of the contributor in weeding out the photos that needed weeding. In any case, welcome back!! Dick

Thanks guys, and we're still working on adding a description to the pics. Screwed up the very 1st one and wound up having my small message right across the middle of my photo, guess we're doing something wrong but we'll figure it out eventually. Never done a "share" type thing before with a lot of pics, just usually send out 1 or 2 to friends along with an e-mail, which isn't difficult, but this is a bit different than we usually do. I'll certainly include a trip report with the pics also, just be patient. If all else fails I'll hire someone to come to my house and set it up if necessary. Way too much time and money invested into this adventure to stop now.

Glad to hear you've been "bitten with the bug."

Remind us please where you visited and lodges stayed?

I'm sure you'll get the picture thing figured out.

Welcome home!

Welcome back, Ve!

Ve, welcome back! Your efforts to weed and label make me feel a bit guilty.

Tanzania/Zanzibar itinerary: Sorry it's so long, but here goes.....

Pre-arranged 1 night stay in Arusha at the Kia Lodge with FB. A very nice place to rest up after a long flight. Pick-up time the next morning was switched from 2 p.m. to 9 a.m. leaving no time for touring Arusha and so much for the FB, but this next morning was Day 1 of my tour.

Day 1.. Picked up by the Ranger at 9 a.m. and he took me for a pre-arranged visit to the CCF orphanage, which went very well, then onto the Serena Mtn. Village, where I met the rest of my small group, had a briefing and lunch, nothing mentioned of this in my itinerary and it took a long time. Did meet our Ranger Safari driver/guide (he's another story for another time) and we all left for the L.Manyara Serena lodge for 1 night, viewing many interesting thngs along the way, including my 1st sighting of wildlife, adult and baby Olive Baboons, too bad our driver never slowed down long enough for me to take some photos.

Day 2..Our lodge is outstanding and we had a full day of game drives around L.Manyara, including the Hippo Pond I believe, which had a great variety of wildlife and were able to walk around and take lots of photos. Back to the lodge for lunch and another excursion after. Later that afternoon/evening we left for the Serengeti Sopa Lodge where we'd stay for 2 days.

Day 3/4..This was my favorite place. The lodge was beautiful,my room looked over the Serengeti, it was full of wildlife and took a few game drives during our 2 day stay. Had a picnic lunch at Ngorongoro with a crater tour, where we spotted the last of the Big 5, the Black Rhino, then later on the 4th day we went to the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for one night, another fantastic lodge.

Day 5..Went to the Mto Wa Mbu Village for a cultural tour, had a nice outdoor local lunch and onto the Tarangire Sopa Lodge for the next 2 nights, seeing wildlife along the way. All these have been pretty full days, kept busy and had fun. Arrived at the Tarangire Sopa Lodge later for our 1st overnight stay and dinner.

Day 6..Game drives day/evening around L.Tarangire, need I say more. Another full 2 days.

Day 7..Our last day and left the lodge to return to Arusha and had a wonderful outdoor lunch at the Arusha Coffee Lodge where some of us split up and went our seperate ways. Myself, one other couple, plus a lady that also was a single traveler as I was, flew off to Zanzibar. So very glad to have chosen the Mapenzi Beach Club to stay for the last 4 days of my trip, talk about completely relaxing. This tour didn't go without a few hitches, some being time changes,some direction/plans, but I can't dwell on some of the negative things that happened. My trip planner wanted me to e-mail a report of my trip, both good and bad, and have done so twice, both glowing reports so far, just haven't sent her the negative side to some of this, but I realized early in the game that we have to be flexible sometimes, things don't always go per the itinerary you receive and you have to roll with the punches. Still working on those photos so be patient, at least you can read about my trip, excuse me I meant my adventure, because that's what it really was. Sorry this was so long but had I expressed all that happened, both good and bad, you'd be reading this all day and night....... Thanks to you all for the very good advice some of you gave me, it really helped to get it all together, wasn't so full of "What If's" and just to let you know, the many plane changes I took was mind boggling but never once did my luggage get lost and everything arrived in tact, even me. I'd do it all over again given another chance.

<i>&quot;too bad our driver never slowed down long enough for me to take some photos.&quot;<i>

With this being your first day there were probably a couple factors at work. #1 All the animals were new, exciting, and big deals to you. #2 You may have been reluctant as first time safari-ers to make requests of your driver.

This observation of yours may be helpful to others in emphasizing that you must communicate your wishes to the guide. To him all those commonly seen baboons, etc. were not worth stopping for. To you they were your first glimpses of the African bush. Most drivers want to please you and are happy to stop for whatever your request.

On one trip a friend of mine liked to photograph and eventually sketch unusual trees. After a few days the guide was stopping and pointing out &quot;artistic tree!&quot; around every bend.



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Oops posted too soon.

I'm glad you liked Sopa Lodge. I thought it was just great, including food and staff that sometimes get a few knocks. The views, location, and wildlife and birds on the grounds added to my enjoyment of the place so it's nice you mentioned it.

Atravelynn, you're most probably correct and it was a big deal, not just to me, but for others aboard. This guy had other issues that need to be addressed, so in all fairness I'm e-mailing my trip coordinator with some comments on our driver/guide first. She's the one that wants to hear about my trip, both good and bad, so I've already sent her 2 glowing reports, just haven't sent her the &quot;not so good&quot; comments yet. Thanks for your response....

Ve, welcome back!

How is the old Kodak share coming along?

Ve,

Who did you book your tour with? I think I missed that part.

I am very interested in a Safari/Zanzibar combo trip.

Thanks
Elaine

Atravelynn...Finally figured out how to do the Kodak share and put it up several hours ago. Actually, it was my husband that figured most of it out. Out of my final 484, I posted 250 and think it's ok. Go ahead, have a peak.

ElaineF...My tour company was Go2Africa. Nicky was the young lady that helped me, however, she just e-mailed me and said she's &quot;spreading her wings&quot; and leaving her job at the end of Sept. Go2Africa will lose a great gal and I wish her the best. Go2Africa was great to work with and found they had some good adventures/tours listed on the Internet. I was so glad I had those 4 days in Zanzibar to completely relax after being in Tanzania, it was a good combo to do.

Thanks so much Ve!

I am glad you had a wonderful holiday!