After finishing our climb of Kilimanjaro it was time to say goodbye to newly engaged Ericka and Kevin. It was sad to say goodbye we we were off on the second stage of our African adventure…two wildlife safaris. Our first stop was Tarangire National Safari Park. We had to fly in a bush plane the Olivers Camp where we met our guide for the next 3 days. This park is famous for elephant viewing and the lodge is a permanent camp and very cool. From there we are flying up to the Mara river near the border with Kenya for 3 more days in a bush camp to watch the wildebeest migration. This camp is more rustic and must be removed at the end of the migration season. Because it is not permanent the wildlife in the area are not habituated to human contact and as a result act more naturally and are much harder to find. The notable exception to this are the wildebeest migration where more than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate in an enormous loop every year.
Arusha
Arusha is a city in north eastern Tanzania and the capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 416,442 plus 323,198 in the surrounding Arusha Rural District (2012 census).[1] Located below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha has a temperate climate. The city is close to the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Meru in the Arusha National Park and is thus considered the safari capital of the world. Click on thumbnail to view images
Olivers Camp
Oliver’s Camp is a lovely little camp, which is deep in the heart of Tarangire, and often absolutely surrounded by huge herds of elephant. Particular highlights here are walking out to a fly camp, and sleeping under the stars, in the middle of nowhere. This is nature in its purest form and the setting of Oliver’s Camp is completely idyllic. Click on thumbnail to view images
Mara Camp
Maasai Mara National Reserve is an area of preserved savannah wilderness in southwestern Kenya, along the Tanzanian border. Its animals include lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos. Wildebeest traverse its plains during their annual migration. The landscape has grassy plains and rolling hills, and is crossed by the Mara and Talek rivers. The area nearby is dotted with villages of Maasai people. Click on thumbnail to view images
