Category Archives: 2010

Climbing Kilimanjaro

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And she said…YES!!!

At 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world; it is one of the Seven Summits. The snow-capped peak of Africa is a dormant volcano and can be found inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania.

We left San Diego with Kevin and Ericka for the long flight to Arusha Tanzania. Arusha, the gateway to the popular safari circuit in northern Tanzania. Sitting snugly at the foothills of Mount Meru, the small town is surrounded by some of the most famous national parks in Africa. It’s brash, it’s colourful, it’s full of energy. Some call it a dusty town, while others find it a breath of fresh air, with its green patches and views of Mount Kilimanjaro. We were able to spend several days exploring the town and enjoying the colorful markets before we headed out on our great adventure…climbing Kilimanjaro! Click on thumbnail to view images

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African Safaris-Tanzania

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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. Continue reading →