It's one of the worlds poorest countries, yet it's national parks are the crown jewels of Africa. Tanzania is also rich in tribal culture with around 120 different tribal groups, some closely related to the Masai. Above all they are known for their hospitality. We were going to find out.
Serengeti
This is were the wild things live, and it's where you should travel if you want to see them in greater numbers, we were told. And you don't need to be a wildlife expert to enjoy it. All you need is a love of the nature and a solid "backseat", as traveling here is not really a honeymoon. It can be a tough and sometimes a rough ride. But we were on a mission to spot the big cats, those most noble and dramatic of beasts, and didn't think about such fuzzy details.
Arriving after lunch we got in time for the afternoon game drive. On the seemingly endless and almost treeless plains we were literally surrounded by millions of hoofed animals looking curiously at us. These wildebeests are well known for their annual migration usually early in the dry season and their return in around October. This time of the year it happened to be delivery time on the plain. Observing baby-zebras, small gazelles and lion cubs were breathtaking experiences. When a cheetah played with her young one around our car we truly felt privileged. This was Paradise on earth where animals enjoyed freedom and total harmony with nature. We caught a glimpse of what East Africa must have looked like in the days before the great white hunters.
Well, even for the cars it can be a rough ride. Our car broke down the second day and we had to join another four wheel drive. Thats how we met Leyla from Bosnia who brought good luck with her. We even spotted a leopard in the tree. Lucky for us, the driver managed to repair our car and we enjoyed three more wonderful days in Serengeti.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
An incredible 23 km-wide volcanic crater with it's 600m walls packed with just about every species of wildlife in East Africa and especially black rhinos. The wildlife did not look so impressive as the view from the rim of the crater. But we quickly changed our mind when we got to the bottom. There were more than 20.000 animals in the crater. Among all the gazelles, zebras, hyenas etc we also saw a newborn Hippo baby cuddling with his mother in the pond. But funniest of all was the "wild pig" with his upright tail. Made us think of the movie "The Lion King".
The animals gather here because there's permanent water on the crater floor. The roads here were very muddy and access can be difficult this time of the year. So when the evening showers were approaching we hurried back to the lodge. Perched atop the rim of the spectacular crater we admired the rainbow appearing above the lush green crater. A strikingly beautiful scene, viewed from the huge window from our room.
Lake Manyara
After another day in the Ngorongoro Crater we drove to our last game park, Lake Manyara and also the last stop on our Inner Quest Journey. What better place could we have chosen than the Great Rift Valley, regarded as the birthplace of humanity. This is were the archaeologist believes the evolution of early humans may have taken place. Lake Manyara lodge had a fabulous view over the lake itself dotted with millions of pink flamingo birds.
That night, over dinner on the candlelit terrace we reflected over a long journey that was almost at it's end. But all endings are also beginnings.
In front of us we had a new journey to begin, the journey back to Europe, starting a new job and settle in a new place in France. This one year trip had left us with a greater perspective and a more humble way of looking at life and the world. And deep down inside we knew we were not the same anymore.
We had become poorer in the pockets but definitely richer in our hearts. Richer by our experiences but above all, richer by the friends we made.
It's been like no other holiday on Earth. The Masai's had taught us to be brave and courageous, even in front of a lion!!!!!!
We knew we were capable of doing whatever we set our minds to.
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