Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017
We didn’t have to get up too early because Deb1 had a meeting with the RC & DC at 8 this morning, a follow-up from yesterday. We had a leisurely breakfast and packed up our suitcases. We are headed to the game parks now. The graduates were supposed to come with us, but the cost was just too much with housing, meals, and transportation. The game park didn’t have their hostel done either. So the money for the game park trip went towards their graduation dresses. Instead, Asia, the DC, is coming with us on our game park trip. She was going to bring her security team with but we weren’t sure if there would be enough rooms to handle all of them, too. So she decided to go without the security.
We were supposed to leave at 10:00 but we left at 12:00. We picked up a woman in Iringa and we found out that she was Asia’s security person (instead of a carload of men). Deb1 and Edward rode in her air-conditioned vehicle. They led the way. When we crossed into her district, they had to stop and put up the flag on her vehicle that designates a dignitary was on board. We learned later that because we were caravaning with her, with didn’t have to stop at any of the security check points along the road. Michael said it would have taken us about an hour longer if we had to stop. Drove through the mountains with beautiful views all around. We descended 1800 feet according to our driver, Michael. The weather got much warmer and the vegetation changed greatly. We crossed the Great Ruaha River. The land became green and lush for awhile and then dried out again. The first wildlife we saw were yellow bellied baboons. We loved the baobab trees. They call them upside-down trees because it looks like the roots are up in the air. They are dormant now in the dry season
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| Mountain views on our trek |
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| The Great Ruaha River |
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| Fields of baobab trees |
We got to the Mikumi Game Park about 3:30 or 4. We all gave our passport numbers and Russ paid for us altogether since it would take too long to split the bill and they wanted us to get to see a lion who was currently feeding on a dead carcass. They popped the tops up on our Rovers so they were safari ready and off we went.
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| We arrived at Mikumi |
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| One of our Rovers with the top popped |
Not more than a half mile down the highway, we stopped and the stench of the dead carcass was awful. Deb2 had to cover her nose to keep from vomiting. We did see a big male lion! He wasn’t eating, just resting. I took about 30 photos of him.
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| The mighty king |
Then we drove back into the park and saw lots of elephants. One mama and baby were right beside the road just munching away. We saw a wildebeest, jackals, impalas, and more yellow baboons.
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| Mom and baby elephant |
Then we got to our bandas (cabins). Our room has 2 beds and a toilet that flushes at least. The power wasn’t working when we first got there, but they promised it would come on soon and it did after about 15 minutes. (I kind of wonder if they just turn it on once people get there.) We had only one towel for the two of us. The door was very hard to lock and unlock, so Deb2 had to leave that job to me. We walked down to the bar to view a beautiful African sunset (and have a drink). Deb1 bought a bottle of wine that was too sweet for her so she gave it to me. I said it tasted like communion wine. I looked at the label and it was called “Altar Wine.” It was too sweet for me, too. Some cleaning person got a nice gift the next day.
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| Our banda |
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| Another beautiful sunset |
While we were sitting there, 2 giraffes wandered right up near us. It was getting dark, so I used the night setting on my camera and got a couple good photos. They just wandered off through the bandas after a little while. We had pre-ordered our supper and set the time for 7:30. We were there on time but got served much later. I couldn’t eat much of the chicken-dark meat-yuck. I ate all of the chips (French fries). Some had ordered fish and got the whole fish - head, tail and bones. Mary got mashed potatoes by mistake and they were served cold. But she said they were really good. While we were waiting, Edward told us about 2 incidents of beatings that inspired him to lead a life of fighting that way of life. .At 9:30 we were finally done with supper. Got back to our room and got all the mosquito netting around my bed and tucked in for the night. The power went out at midnight and didn’t come on until 6:00 am. So no CPAP and the charging of all electronics wasn’t complete. I laid awake hot and sweaty most of the night.
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Giraffe visiting our camp site
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| Inside our banda |
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