Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire and all the sights between

Safari Day 8 - Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire

Good morning Crater

It was a beautiful, foggy morning at the Crater, which evidently is mostly the norm, and once again a new adventure lay before us. Today we would travel to Tarangire National Park - known for it's many elephants and birds.

Before we get there though, we'd get the chance to see local life in Africa once again and share a few moments in a well-known, Maasai, weekly market. 

Kathy grabbing some rare wifi time before
our journey today

Due to the number of photos today I decided only today's journey will be in this blog entry. On Safari, you're somewhat in a bubble removed from real African life. The beauty of today was once again, we'd have a glimpse into normal day to day life in Africa, as we did before the Safari. Part of the day to day life here are the markets that happen in the various towns and villages on a weekly basis. Today, just happens to be the day for one of the biggest Maasai, weekly markets and we were going to try and get some avocados.

Hauling water

My initial observations of daily life in Tanzania we have experienced are that the lack of infrastructure causes a great deal of unnecessary labor which eats away hours of time each day. This has a direct repercussion on the amount of time available to learn something or go to school, for adults especially. This system basically perpetuates the status quo and the cycle continues day after day. Don't get me wrong, many children are going to school but I'm not sure how many break out after their primary school due to the immense daily chores required to live. As they get older they need to assume these chores. The chores that seem to consume the time mainly are:

Typical Curio shop

• Going to get water at a water source - this can be very far away and as many as 5 trips a day can be normal
• Gathering wood to burn in some sort of stove device
• washing the clothes which is probably a weekly chore but they must be taken to the river, watering hole, etc..
• taking care of and shepherding the livestock - goats, sheep, cattle

Having no sewer and limited electrical power options, in many of the home areas, kind of drives this system. This is what I mean by basic infrastructure.

Beautiful Jackaranda trees everywhere

That being said, Kathy and I generally saw happy people, especially the children. They seemed to be smiling and laughing and skipping along together and I found it quite a contrast with our country. 

Alright, I've gone on long enough but I really did want to share some of my first impressions. So let's get to the photos and the good stuff. :-) By the way, if I didn't say it already, if you want to see a picture bigger, just click on it and you'll get a larger version.

Need a bed?

Hauling water

Silly Baboons, don't you know not to play by the road

Avocados anyone?

Red Bananas - who knew - they're very yummy!

It's all about the water....

Here's the beginning of the Maasai, Thursday market we checked out. Just like our farmers markets without the polish. Let me tell you though, the fruits and vegetables looked fantastic. Consequently, I never got my avocados because the avocado lady hadn't gotten there yet. :-)

Cute!

Check out that head of cabbage - their tossing them to each other as they set up their display

These Maasai on the way to the market
we just left.. this was a common sight

That object hanging from the tree is a beehive

Sticks for the fire and cooking

Seriously - all about the water

Hey, if you have donkeys, make them carry the water

We were often chased by young kids wanting a hand-out when
they saw our safari vehicle

We made it to Tarangire and we have our priorities

Elephant skull - Tarangire known for it's large elephant
population

I assured Kathy her head was smaller than an elephants but
she wanted proof

The "Upside Down Tree" - first
time we've seen these so far. They're very populous in Tarangire 

Impala

It's all about the water....

Warthogs are just pigs basically - bunch of wallowers

Wildebeest

Beautiful Lilac Breasted Roller

It's so awkward getting a drink

Elans, Impalas, Giraffes oh my

Black Headed Heron

Hammerkop

Hammerkop

Okay.. I need help with this one. What is it?

Black Headed Heron 

Up close and personal ... you can almost hear him, can't ya.

Waterbuck

Woodland Kingfisher

Tawny Eagle

Dik Dik ... smallest of the African antelope

Lilac Breasted Roller

Lilac Breasted Roller in flight

Ahhhh.... home sweet home for the next two nights. This is a sister camp to the other two we've already stayed at. It's called Kichuguu Camp.

Yes, the rooms are very nice and we were spoiled the whole time. However, you're still in a tent in the middle of the African wildlife as we would find out tonight....