Our Man in Mwanza: Smiling Softly

May 18th, 2006 | By Joshua | 6 Comments »

Back on our own, no more luxury lodges or guides or vehicle, we must cross Africa’s largest lake to get to Uganda (via Bukoba), where we will meet up with Tay’s long-lost Great Aunt Linda, granddaughter of the esteemed Dr. Stewart, development worker with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and one of Tay’s inspirations for continued work abroad, even though they have only met once.
(more…)

Tanzania Safari, Part 3: Serengeti to Mwanza

May 17th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

The morning drive along Ngorongoro southwest crater rim is nothing less than a trip through Rohan, the wide, rolling grasslands of Middle Earth. Rolling across the zebra and giraffe-studded hills, among Masai huts and herds, trying to take it all in: what we have seen, what we will see, and what is outside the open windows right now.
(more…)

Tanzania Safari, Part 2: Tarangire to Ngorongoro

May 16th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Day 2 begins with a stunning sunrise game drive, fiery clouds behind silhouetted baobabs, and as a bonus, a short, plump rainbow above Mount Tangire. Back at the lodge, we eat a five-star breakfast alone, refill coffee mugs, then set out on another long drive, twisting and winding our way toward the park’s exit, plenty of animals and the weather shifting between sunny, drizzly, and fantastic shows of light in between; box lunch is eaten at an overlook above the river, lightly raining as we watch some of the park’s 3,500 elephants graze below.
(more…)

Tanzania Safari, Part One: Moshi to Tarangire

May 15th, 2006 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

The safari is Tay’s idea. Her childhood dream of seeing the plains and animals of East Africa was not realized during her two-and-a-half years in West Africa and this is her chance. Me, I’ve never considered it, don’t really know what “safari” even is, except a used and abused Swahili word for “journey.” I’ve mostly associated it with dweeby hats and vests, rich people in luxury camps, and some vague, Hemingway-esque romanticism that probably doesn’t even exist. I also dislike safari’s non-strenuous nature; i.e. you are not allowed to leave your vehicle in most National Parks (because of dangerous animals), and I envision being trapped in a metal box all week, sealed-off from so much Africa around me.

On the other hand, I love big, open spaces, preserved swathes of nature and wildlife; plus, the famous allure of Ngorongoro and the Serengeti is strong and I want to see them for myself. And, more important, how often does a guy have the chance to make his wife’s dreams come true? Her dreams are mine now, I know this, so I might as well enjoy them. And I do.
(more…)

Our Man in Moshi

May 10th, 2006 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Our final night in Zanzibar, the sunset is even more stunning than last evening’s record breaker, and Tay and I unanimously agree to vote it “sunset of the trip,” which is a bold statement considering some of the day’s ends we’ve seen. But the colors, the length, the wide-angle span of it makes it a no-contest, and we celebrate with yet another seafood dinner on the beach. In the morning, in a light drizzle, we pack up and bounce through puddled, potted roads to the airport on the other side of the island, where we board a Precision Air flight to Dar, then another to Northern Tanzania.
(more…)

Zanzibar Part II: Kendwa Rocks and the Sound of El Son

May 9th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Our short time on the white-powder Zanzibari beach coincidentally coincides with (1) a lucky rare break in the low-season rains and (2) a free Friday night performance by Los Jovenes Clasicos del Son, a Cuban musical group near the end of a 40-day African tour, who is staying and playing at Kendwa Rocks, our home for the weekend. The result is an incredible cultural collusion of salsa, sun, and sand which, on the first night, tastes of roasted crab and curry, washed down with a nostril-tingling bottle of “Stoney Tangawizi” ginger beer.
(more…)

Zanzibar Part I: Stepping into Stone Town

May 8th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Seat of the ancient Omani Empire, the islands that make up Zanzibar (Ujunga and Pemba) used to rule the entire Swahili Coast; Arab sultans and Indian princes built their fortunes here, dealing in slaves and spices. Today’s Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous state of mainland Tanzania, whose paradisiacal beaches, rich, historical lure, and post-colonial color (Portuguese and British) are the stuff of any traveler’s dreams.
(more…)

Welcome to Africa: Two Days in Dar

May 6th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Actually, the entire first day is spent in the bed (and bathroom) at the Lion Hotel in Sinza, a scruffy, dirt pot-holed neighborhood removed from the city, the airport, and indeed, everything we’ve ever known; we wake up disoriented in the middle of the afternoon: Where are we? What day is it? Where are we?

The second day, rested, we move to downtown Dar es Salaam, and our urban safari begins.
(more…)

New Year and New Plans

April 11th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

As several of you have observed, there has been a recent addition to our itinerary. I’m speaking of the new countries listed under “Africa” in the “categories” section to your right. As my friend, Khalid (a.k.a. “Manzoor,” from our almost-ill-fated bus trip in Pakistan last summer), you cannot have a proper trip around the world without including Africa. My wife, Tay, who spent nearly three life-changing years in The Gambia, agrees.

I’m an eager first-timer, excited for a glimpse.
(more…)