Dusty Day




Today we left Ambroseli and headed to Lake Burunge so that we can visit Tangaire National Park tomorrow. We headed out and did a game drive as we headed toward the border of Tanzania. It took us about two hours to get to what seemed like a main road, but we didn’t mind even despite the dust as we went through Ambroseli National park again and saw wildlife all along the way. We saw the usual elephants and Thompson’s Gazelles and enjoyed watching them a short while but then we hit two lions waiting and watching. One was crouched and waiting but the other wildlife was still pretty far away. The other was hiding in a clump of bush just watching. We drove on and saw the usual zebra and wildebeest and such. Then when we got to a more remote part of the park, we came upon four genuck-the antelope that stand on their back legs to eat from trees. They have long necks similar to giraffes and are pretty skittish so are rare to see. These were by the road and one ran to one side and the other three to the other. Omari told me tonight that there actually was one on its hind legs eating from a tree but it was too hard for us to spot so he didn’t mention it! That sighting was very exciting.

We arrived mid morning at the border crossing. We had to go in to exit Kenya which didn’t take long at all. Then we crossed the border into Tanzania and had to go to the office there. Jim did not read the signs above the window and the man did not think he had a visa so he demanded $100. The rest of us went to other windows-I had mine open to the Tanzania visa so the lady told me no charge and I was done. So when they wanted the money from Jim, we were all gasping. Omari took care of it by explaining to the man that he had a visa, Jim found it and showed it to him and we were on our way.



From there we drove to Arusha which was much bigger than I expected and much busier. We went to lunch at a nice restaurant at a place where handicapped people make beads and things from recycled glass. It is such a nice project and very much needed and worthwhile. At the lunch, we all got so tickled about the desserts . The waiter was so possessive and would not let us go to the table to get it, but brought the cart around. The cake slices were so tiny that they were not even one good bite. And he was very strict with the merrenges too. We just laughed til we cried it was so funny.

We went by the money exchange and the ATM.



The countryside is so different here. The dirt is so fine and the dust is unreal. So many of the roads are unpaved and it amazes me how many maasai there are. You see the bomas everywhere and they are easy to see because of their dress. They take the cattle and goats out to graze each day and the ladies do the building of the houses and other work.

The last 12 miles toward Burunge were not paved and they are working on building the road and oh my, was it dusty. I had brought masks and gave them to everyone and we used them periodically through the day and were grateful for them at this point in the drive. We arrived at the tented camp and we love this one. It is very isolated, not fenced and the tent is lovely and big. They put Jim ande in the first tent and he can use the power all night. This is huge for him. Omari is being very helpful about that. It has mosquito netting for night and each tent is private.

We had a nice dinner and we are the only ones here. Another oat group is coming in tomorrow so we won’t have the camp to ourselves but will be able to visit with them. We can hear the animal noises. Ahhhh this is what it is all about! We charge our batteries up at the