Zanzibar

A Trip to Zanzibar was exotic.

The carved wooden doors were amazing in Stone Town.

The ornate carvings were exotic.

The carved and painted bed was beautiful.

The door handle seemed exotic.

The hotel was like stepping back in time.

The ceiling in the stair well.

The Monsoon Restaurant served amazing Swahili food. 

 Because of a heavy shower of rain, Babu, Mama Mosi and Dr Anne had to go indoors.  

This was a truly traditional setting.

A Puncture

The roads were pretty good in the Ruaha National Park.  

However, we had a puncture.  It was changed in 20 minutes with no sweat.

A large stone had torn the wheel and there was a gaping hole.

 Babu soon had the wheel unscrewed.

The Land Rover was jacked up in no time at all.

Babu was closely supervised by Mama Mosi.

Visit to Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park forms the core of a wild and extended ecosystem covering about 40000 sq km  and provides home of one of Tanzania's largest elephant population.

Babu, Mama Mosi and Dr Anne headed for the park from Morogoro taking around 9 hours.  They took their own land rover and hired a guide for the day.

About to set off, Babu and the guide wait for the ladies.

The first zebra wasn't black and white, more sand coloured than white.

The giraffes were particularly in evidence.  The guide told us they can weigh up to 4 tons. 

The kudu were difficult to pick out and headed away whenever possible.

There were large flocks of impala and some diki diki.

The first view of the elephants.  They were taking some shade from the sun.

Towards late afternoon the guide took the group to the watering hole.

The hippo can weigh up to 3 tons.

If the vulture is around the lions must be nearby.  Sure enough they were there but quite in the distance.

This bird is particular to Ruaha. November - February is an excellent time to see the bits.

The crocodiles were at the watering hole enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.

At the end of an amazing day.

The Family

The Family

Dr Anne went with her friends Babu and Mama Mosi to their home in Morogoro, Tanzania. 

She had the most amazing time with them and Mama Mosi's family.

Babu and Mama Mosi

Chiku's niece Sikina, her husband and her mother.

Batuli, Sikina's daughter, her cousin Zamda and their friend Bernard

Batuli was Dr Anne's teacher and personal assistant.

Batuli's elder sister.

Mama Mosi's youngest great grandchild.

A family photo.

The family group.

Matthiesssen, P. (1972). The Tree Where Man Was Born

Matthiesssen, P. (1972). The Tree Where Man Was Born. London: The Harvill Press.

The book describes the physical geography of the area.

It tells the history of the area from Sudan - Tanzania. 
It describes the tribal systems - their customs. 
It tells some of the myths.
It tells of the animals to be found in the different areas, their hierarchy and 'ways'.

Written in the late sixties and published in 1972 it is of course dated but it has excellent references. 

A great read 7/10 

Gurnah, A. (1994). Paradise.

Gurnah, A. (1994). Paradise. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd.

The book was set at the turn of the 20th century when Tanzania was occupied by the Germans.

Yusuf is taken captive by a merchant to pay for his father's debts.  He is taken to the coast and works in one of the merchant's shops.  Eventually he goes with the merchant on his travels into the hinterland buying and selling goods.  He is involved in adventures as they meet different tribes up country.  Some steal, some fight, some kill and some are friendly.  On his return he is around the merchant's house.  The merchant's first wife fancied him and he fancied the second wife.  Such is it that he eventually runs off to enlist in the German army.  

Dr Anne awards 6/10.

Travels in Africa

Babu, Mama Mosi and Dr Anne travelled to Tanzania on 17 November.  

The flight from London took 9 hours.  

This is the first view of Tanzania from the plane.

Mount Kilimanjaro