Tanzania is a country many people don't think about. Did you know that the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, is in northeastern Tanzania? The country lies south of Kenya and Uganda, on the Indian Ocean. We learned that two lakes on Tanzania's borders, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, are home to the African cichlid fish we always see in U.S. pet stores. The famous Serengeti plains are in Tanzania, too.
Things we learned on this safari:
- Maasai guides know everything about the land and the animals.
- It is always hot or very warm in Tanzania. Late summer or early fall is a good time to go if you want to avoid the worst heat and humidity. There is a long rainy season and a short rainy season.
- We were more afraid of wild dog packs than of coming across lions.
- The Swahili words we learned from The Lion King are real.
- You see a lot more animals if you stay near water, like riverbanks and lakes.
- Nobody talks much about clock time. People tell you when something will happen based on where the sun is or when it gets dark, and few people wear watches.
- Almost every African animal you have heard of can be seen on safari in Tanzania. We saw herds of elephants many times, plus lions, wildebeest, zebras, water buffalo, leopards, rhinos (the scariest animals), hippos (from a distance only), cheetahs, giraffes, crocodiles and so many birds. We did not see gorillas, but we did see other primates.
Until next time,
Hasan and Hussain
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