December 12, 2004 -- A collection of pictures taken at Tarangire River Camp and Tarangire National Park can be found at Maasai Steppe.
We are traveling south today away from Arusha toward the Maasai Steppe, another conservation area designated by the African Wildlife Foundation. However, before we get on the main road we tour downtown Arusha, and make two stops. One to exchange U.S. dollars for Tanzanian shillings and the other at the Cultural Heritage Center to spend that exchanged money. The Center includes a wide selection of fabulous African artifacts including wood carvings, gems, textiles, antiques, and Maasai adornments. We're taking our time today, it is Sunday after all! James finally gets us into the vehicles so that we can get to our destination, Tarangire River Camp, on the edge of Tarangire National Park, Tanzania's fourth largest national park.
Leaving Arusha we drive into a parade of confirmands. Dressed in their Sunday best, the teenagers, boys and girls, are either on their way to or from Church. Regardless, the street is filled with joy and happiness.
Finally we are rolling. Activity is constant on both sides of the road with Maasai traveling on foot or tending to their herds of cows, goats, or donkeys. Newly circumcised Maasai boys, identified by their black Shukas, are waving to have us stop to take their picture. We oblige one group of four. They each get 500 TZ shillings. We make one more stop at the village of Minjingu before reaching the river camp. It is market day here and we mingle with Maasai selling beaded items and adornments. James buys a leg of goat for dinner (it actually was cooked as part of a stew; it was tasty but chewy). We depart from the village with a few more purchases.
Tarangire River Camp sits on a bluff overlooking the Tarangire river valley with splendid views of plains and forests. The main building which houses separate reception and dining areas is built around a gigantic Baobab tree. Actually, the tree is the peak of the hutted part of the structure. We have a late lunch after which we spend time getting to know some of the camp staff: our Maasai askari, Julius, Ngorongoro, Yohana (Ngoilenya), and Lazaro (Lengayai), and head waiter, Martin. We depart for a game drive in Tarangire National Park. The highlights were the numerous elephant herds with several calves and the eland spotted just outside of camp on our return.
After showers, campfire, and a lovely dinner, we retire by 9:30. It has been a complete and full day!
