"...and what animals did you see?"

One of the reasons for this trip was of course to see animals in their natural habitat.  We could see many different kinds:  leopards, water buffalos, rhinoceros, cheetahs, different types of antelopes, wildebeests, hyenas, hippos, alligators, vultures,  different birds, spiders, scorpions........

We discovered more then we expected - partly because of luck and partly because of the knowledgable guides.

 Here are some of the many photos I took:

The best was always to see for the first time a new kind of animal and the excitement jumped up. Then after a while the initial enthusiasm disappeared until a different animal appeared.  If we could have taken the time to observe each for a few hours, then the discovery of their different behaviors would probably have deepened the initial excitement and pleasure.  The art of quiet observation is something very calming but not so easy for us impatient Europeans on a photo shooting safari.

www.kaanaelisafaris.com     was our guide and organizer for the 10 days.

From Africa back to Europe

Amazing to be able to fly in 10 hours from Tanzania back to Holland. In our KLM plane every seat was taken and the passengers were mostly satisfied tourists returning. The KLM crew was serving us dinner and after a short night breakfast. We stumbled out of the plane early in the rainy morning to catch the Thalys train to Paris. All went well with just our carry on. We arrived early afternoon back to our home, unpacked and went through the mail ...... our bodies are here BUT our souls are still on their way back from Africa. It will them take a little longer then the flight and train ride!

We are tired and sleep a lot - returning in our dreams to Tarangire, Lake Manyare, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.  Meet the people we saw during our travels and hear them talking in Swahili:
Karibu - Habari - Kwaheri .......  Asante sana!

Back from Tanzania

Adventure trip

On Sunday we will fly 8 hours south to Tanzania - adventures and all the giraffes, lions, elephants, wildebeests and mosquitos, are waiting.

This trip is not a 'spur of the moment' decision but got planned several months ago. In September we started with the different vaccinations: Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A and B, Polio booster and other boosters. With the Malaria pills we started today and will continue to take them through the 10 days of traveling and then 7 days longer when we are back.

Following the list from the tour organization, we have now a wardrobe in light-weight textiles and in earth colors (although known as Safari colors). Sneakers, hats, sunblock, anti-bug spray, binoculars. When we tried our outfits the upcoming trip became very real!

What a great help to have the 28 different stores from 'Aux Vieux Campeur' where we could find everything necessary for adventure travelers like us. (Note for your next trip to Paris: In the 5th next to Musee Cluny you find all the different stores where you can buy whatever is needed for outdoor adventures - and more.)

Our bags are packed and I leave my 'Powerbook' at home but take two cameras and hope to be able to write many posts with photos of wild animals - when I am back.

READY - STEADY - GO!

Les fêtes sont fait - The Holidays are over

It does not look good, but the idea is good that the town is recycling the Christmas trees - without any decoration, please - and collects them in marked areas on street corners. This possibility is given until January 22, 2012!

The empty bottles do not look good either but under normal circumstances the containers for recycling glass, available all year long, are large enough.

But after these happy holidays? "Cheers" with mineral water out of a plastic bottle? Would not be the same even if it would be better for you the next morning.