REVIEW OF TRIP JULY 2014
Tanzania to Zanzibar July. Review of trip
We arrived 2 days early, to get over jet lag. We expressed an interest in guided walk around Lake Duluti when we arrived. We were woken by a phone call next morning at 7-30am asking us if we wanted to go--- so we thought, well you woke us so we might as well go, very good 2 hour walk around lake with guide, definitely need a guide, path very narrow and not properly defined, you have to pay the park ranger anyway. Disregard anything you read on the forum about doing this walk without a guide or different prices.
Hired a guide at hotel next day to take us to Arusha National park, a half hour drive away. Beautiful lush green grassland and heavily forested or bushes. You will not see anything like this on the rest of the tour. Specially famous for colobus monkeys-- we did not see one. Also famous for Forest elephants but they are hardly ever spotted. Many zebras, buffalo, baboons, giraffe--- we saw one group of 20. Blue monkeys, warthogs, gazelles,lots of birds. Extra walking safari within park, we took a 2 plus hour walk past lots of buffalo and warthogs etc. Up quite a steep hill, stoney and to a waterfall. Guide identified many different trees, bushes and plants.Very worthwhile day, the contrast to environments you will see later on in the tour is well worth it.
The whole of the Safari part of the tour was excellent--we have done the Kenya and Tanzania tour before, so we knew what to expect, it did not disappoint.
Safari vehicles--these were a different design than we had on our Kenya and Tanzania tour 7 year a ago. Then, the roof raised up, creating shelter but it was difficult for everyone to fit through and the upright bars in the corners got in the way of sight and camera lenses. This time, there were 3 different areas in the roof that were squared away and much more room for a full jeep of people to get great views, no shelter but much better system. You can stand on the seats but you must remove your shoes. If you remain standing when the vehicle is moving. Take care, you will be shaken about. When the vehicle stops for game viewing, the driver will turn off the engine so there is no shake when you take photos.
We used American dollars everywhere, no problem, did not take any Tanzania money with us and did not see even what a Tanzania note looked like.
All the food in the hotels can be eaten safely. Ice in the hotels is safe, it is made with bottled water, you won't be given huge amounts like in the US but that is normal in many countries.
School visit was very interesting, we spoke to an American volunteer teacher there and she said if you take books it is much better to take children's books with an African theme rather than something like Nancy Drew that they have been given and cannot really relate to. She gave me the name of a good book store in Arusha you could visit for books (will add name when I find where I put it) I thought most people would take pens and pencils so we took frisbies and small balls that I heard could be given as prizes for good work. I had seen someone mention here before that soccer balls were a big hit, so thought they would be overloaded, but don't know if that is the case.( Tanzanians in general are obsessed with soccer.) I did not notice many people in our group give anything.
In addition we visited a Medical center called FAME just down the road, a small hospital set up by an American Doctor and his wife a few years ago. The facility was really impressive and I believe they have treated 27,000 people so far, we were aware of this charity and had donated money to it recently.
The People of Tanzania are some of the nicest people you could meet anywhere, kind, helpful, polite.
Maasi Village--- I believe several are visited on rotation. Dancing, singing and a look inside a home. Plenty of nice beaded crafts to barter for, it's tough to barter, harder than last time. You will be encouraged to buy from the person who's home you visited but you can buy from anyone there. We knew what we were looking for, talking sticks and neck cuffs. We gave fair prices and our Maasi man was extremely grateful and thanked us for supporting his village. Their main need is water. They pay for a tanker to come and they fill every available container with water, so that is where most of the money goes. The day we did this trip, it was particularly windy and dirt was blowing everywhere,I used my buff over my nose and mouth and it helps to have sunglasses or regular glasses on to keep the grit out of your eyes. We enjoyed the experience very much as we did on the K and T tour.
Oldupai Gorge, been here before. Gift shop improved, plenty of choice in crafts. It is here you will figure out whether you got a good price with the Maasi villagers or not. If you do not buy at village, this is a good place for more limited choices
The jeep guide/drivers--- these 4 men comprise of at least 50 percent of the enjoyment of the tour for us. They will take great care to maneuver the vehicles so that everyone can get a good position for photographing the animals and scenery, they know what they are doing so trust them.
Balloon ride--our first balloon ride, the one on K and T tour was cancelled. Our balloon had room for 16 people. The basket was sectioned off into 8 compartments, so 2 people on each. We got in 'Astronaut style'-- the balloon on its side, we launched ourselves in, bottom and top levels, hooked our harnesses onto the basket, sat down and held onto the rope handles until the basket righted itself when the balloon took off. Very smooth flight. Lasted an hour and smooth landing. The pilot was competent and cute, any fears I had were allayed and the time was up really quickly. The champagne breakfast was good and nicely served by guys in uniform and turbans. In fact there seemed to be a chance to have champagne at every opportunity, breakfast most days and other times. I could get used to this lifestyle!
Clothing, your shoes and clothing will get very dusty and dirty. Closed toed shoes essential. No need to dress up for any of Safari lodges. We did have time every night to shower and change before dinner, but we put on clean safari clothes. Did not even see men in a dress shirt and forget jacket and ties. One group of women put on casual dresses, everyone else kept to safari type clothing for dinner.
Laundry is cheap and fast. We used it several times. Our luggage did not make it for 24 hours from Amsterdam due to our flight from Newark being delayed 3 hours, but we made the plane and used our emergency spare outfit in our carry on luggage.
You will see the most guaranteed animal sitings in Ngorongoro, followed by Tarangire, a second in beauty to Arusha park in my opinion. Far less animal sitings in Serengeti-this is end of big migration, but we knew this from past visit so not disappointing.
Something new for us was the policy to carry all our valuables with us at all times, so passports, iPads, money, jewelry had to go with you on the game drives because of the remote areas and if we had to get out quickly for some kind of emergency.
Tsetse flies were a minor problem at times, they definitely hurt and sting right through your clothing, it really helps to avoid blue and black, the toes of my socks were blue one day and that's where they got me first. Repellent does not deter them.
Mosquitoes, several people bitten at Kirawira campsite in their tent rooms. The amount of bites seemed to escalate by the end of the trip for some people.
Small plane to Zanzibar, single engine, twelve seater, we used two. Flew directly to Zanzibar, not to Arusha first. No bathrooms on board, 21/4 hour flight. Flew at 13 to 14,000 feet, unpressurized, I felt breathless at times, coped by doing a mixture of slow steady breathing and then catching up with my oxygen by doing some quicker breaths in between. Tour director told me later she had difficulty breathing on her flight too.
ZANZIBAR Huge contrast to mainland East Africa, Stone Town very old buildings that look dirty, or unfinished or falling down, really narrow streets and alleys. Lovely carved doors.
Day out on Dhow-- you will need your swimsuit and water shoes as we have a potential paddle out to boat in thigh high water on coral depending on the tides. Some water shoes are available for loan. No bathroom on boat, but will be some when you get to the island with beach for your BBQ lunch which was very good. Opportunity to snorkel, mask and fins provided.
Spice tour on final day is extremely interesting and worthwhile. The local guide Said is knowledgeable and hilarious. He is the guide of choice for all VIP visitors like Prince Charles in the past.
Shopping, Tanzanite, stores near to hotel, did not check them out. Other stores, jewelry, paintings, carvings, spices. You have to barter like on the mainland. Like many tour directors will tell you, if you think it is a bargain then you paid the right price!
Final day, review of clothing. We took a lot of clothes and wore almost all but an emergency outfit each. We had some laundry done at the beginning of tour while we were unsure whether our bags would turn up and one outfit each in the middle and did a few 'smalls' by hand. I took clothes to cover me well for Muslim Zanzibar especially as it was during Ramadan, I did not want to look like an ignorant Brit or American.
Flights -my husband upgraded us to business class a few weeks before the trip, what a treat. We flew Delta from Newark, then KLM form Amsterdam. The business class lounge was primitive at Dar Es Salaam. Just as we sat down a cockroach scuttled away. Tea coffee and drinks were available but the food offering was dire, horrible looking over cooked samosas and similar things inside heated glass display. We did not partake. In contrast the lounge at Amsterdam where I am sitting now is wonderful.
