Itinerary
"Jambo"! The trip starts in Arusha, for most, with a pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport. You will be welcomed by your crew who will look after you during the tour. If time allows, it is possible to visit Arusha; a nice town on the foot of Mount Meru. Great souvenirs can be purchased here, especially Makonde wood carvings and Maasai necklaces which are on offer in abundance.

The next day we board the truck and the adventure begins. We are on 'safari'!

Engaruka We jump in at the deep end when we stop at Mtu Wa mbu and visit the Masaai village of Engaruka. A village tour will teach you about the structure and hierarchy of the Masaai community. Masaai women do practically all the work including building the houses, they can be interchanged between men and they still practice female circumcision - you might conclude that the women in Europe are not so bad off! The Masaai's diet consists of meat, animal fat and tapped blood. We will experience how they keep their meat 'fresh' and how they 'prepare' dinner in case of visitors.

Serengeti Many documentaries about game parks now shown on daily TV are recorded on the Serengeti. Wide plains full of game, golden brown tall grasses, Acacia trees and blue color nuances in the background; the classical image that people have of the African landscape. Camera men spend months on end trying to capture the perfect footage of wildebeests crossing the river, chased by crocodiles.

The name derives from the Maasai word 'Serengit', meaning 'endless plain'. The park borders the Masai Mara in Kenya and together they form the biggest park in east Africa. The park is renowned by the phenomena known as 'the migration'. A population of 1½ million wildebeests and ¼ million zebra's migrates annually from north to south and back again, following the rains and in pursuit of food. We bump over bad roads to the park before our work begins as we now have three days of intense game searching, game driving and the complete bush experience!

We camp in the middle of the park - you can not imagine a more African bush experience. Knowing that 'Mr Lion' on 'Miss Elephant' can walk past your tent at any given time will compel you to listen to your guide, keep the fire going and limit the number of toilet visits. It is a matter of luck whether we get to witness the migration; the animals cover a distance of a mere 2800 km. Whatever the case, the open plains of the Serengeti will guarantee you spectacular photo's to last a long time.

The journey continues towards the Ngorongoro Crater. On the way, we're likely to meet some Maasai, tending to their cattle and watering them at waterholes. Simba campsite is on 2.300 meter height and is often very chilly. Fortunately the campfire and the local brew called konyagi and African tails will keep you warm on cold nights.

Ngorongoro Crater
We need to face the morning chill as the safari jeeps come to collect us early for a descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. It is the largest crater on the planet and one of the biggest attractions in Africa. Except impala and giraffe, most mammals can be found in this area, enclosed in 260 km², inside the 600 meter deep crater.

Morning clouds often linger over the edge of the crater, concealing its beauty. But it usually it clears as it heats up. The Ngorongoro used to be an active volcano, which blew up in a eruption about eight million years ago. Nowadays this small ecosystem harbours a large population of browsers and where many predators can be found. You will leave the crater in the afternoon and the low vegetations will be replaced by rainforest on the surrounding hills. As you descend vistas of plantations await you founded in the days of the colonialists. We exchange the jeeps back for the truck and go backto our next destination, Mtu Wa Mbo.

Mtu Wa Mbo, Lake Manyara
This village with the unpronounceable name Mtu Wa Mbo (say, Mutwambu) is known for the banana plantations and its banana beer. A pleasant stroll will take you through the village and along the market. It is also the starting point for an excursion to Lake Manyara. Manyara a relatively small park and dominated by a salt lake, stretching along the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. The vegetation varies a lot, enabling you to see many different species in short distance, as all animals have their own habitat. The excess road runs through a forest with mahogany and fig trees; a favorite hang out for waterbuck and baboons. Though chances of an actual encounter are small, this forest is renowned for the tree climbing lions. Dependant on the water level, we'll try to visit the hippo pool. Another highlight is the birdlife; plenty of cormorants, storks and other water birds will pass your lense.

Merangu
Merangu is located on the foot of the Kilimanjaro, in a fertile area with lots of tobacco and banana plantations. The local people belong to the Chagga-tribe are known for their perseverance and boldness. Many Chagga spend their younger years working as a guide on Mount Kilimanjaro. Merangu is the spot from where to go for a hike to the first hut up the mountain (optional). After the forms at Merangu gate, at 1800 meters, you can take your time hiking your way up with the guide. The goal is Mandara hut, at 2725 meters. The whole thing there and back should take approximately 5 hours. The route runs through beautiful tropical rainforest, full with ferns, mosses and small orchids. On the way you'll no doubt meet exhausted hikers after their return from the summit.

Hedaru to Dar es Salaam
It's quite a long drive from Merangu to Dar es Salaam so we interrupt this stretch with a night in the Hedaru Mountains. Dar es Salaam is the biggest city in Tanzania with lots of harbour activity. The only reason that operators run through Dar is that it is the stepping stone to Zanzibar. The last tented night is spent here.

Zanzibar
In Dar es Salaam you will say goodbye to the truck and its crew, and the elephants, camp fires and camping is done. In Dar es Salaam you get onto the ferry to Zanzibar, which takes about 2 to 3 hours. At the other side you will be met by a local guide and be taken to your guest house in Stone Town for the next two nights.

Stone Town
The heart of Stone Town is a big labyrinth of narrow alleyways, full with little shops, mosks and ornamented houses adorned with the typical Zanzibar style front doors. The doors are decorated with copper and woodcarvings. The stature of its owners are determined by the size of the door and the complexity of its decoration. Most Arabic houses dating from the 19th century have a simple front; the carved door leading up to an inner court. The Indian houses usually have fronts with ornamented wooden balconies. Crowds mingle through the narrow alleys, with karts and donkeys. The Kakoi cloths make a colourful picture in the street stalls. Men, dressed in long traditional clothes drinks sweet coffee on one of the many little squares of the old city. It is wonderful just to wander around for a while and taste the atmosphere as you try to master the art of bargaining. A visit to the Arabic Fort is a must as well as a stop at 'The House of Wonders', former residency of the sultan. Every night, opposite the fort the 'night market' arises. For those who dare to go for the 'local experience', that's where a seafood dinner can be enjoyed. Another must do is ' The spice Tour'. The tour will not only give you the opportunity to have a closer look at the island, but it will also take you to the ruins of a sultan's palace and to the spice plantations. It's really interesting to see how all those powders in your kitchen cabinet actually grow.

Nungwi
Originally, Nungwi was a little village, living of the fishing industry and the building of boats. It is situated on the northern tip of Zanzibar and incredibly beautiful. This is where travel brochure pictures are taken; bright white beaches, crystal clear water, palm trees and casuari trees. As well as these qualities, Nungwi is also the place to go diving or snorkeling on the nearby reefs. All of this has developed Nungwi into a popular tourist destination and it now has many restaurants, trendy beach bars and guest houses. A short walk along the beach will take you past the village, the light house and the Mnarani Turtle Sanctuary. .

We spend six nights at a simple B&B in Nungwi. Days are swallowed up by diving and/or snorkeling. If you are a non-diver, imagine a lot of relaxing time on a tropical beach, consider deep sea fishing or sailing in a dhow. Nights will be spent behind a cocktail or Tusker, as you study the wonderful seafood menu.

All that remains is the drive to the airport. We hope that the Swahili word for traveling, 'safari', has gained in weight during this adventure through the heart of Africa. And may our paths cross again, somewhere on the reddish, dusty roads of Africa or beneath water level.

"Hakuna matata!"