On safari...

After distributing thousands of mosquito nets at two successful malaria clinics in both Zanzibar and Ikwiriri, the team had earned a couple of well deserved days of R&R... After returning for a quick overnight in Dar Es Salaam, we drove to Mikumi National Park for two days on safari. After arriving at the park and checking in at the main gate, we went up to the lodge for lunch at our tented camp, Vuma Hills.

After stowing our bags in our tents (complete with hardwood floors, electricity, full bathroom, two queen beds, and a veranda) we piled into two safari vehicles for an afternoon game drive.


Game drive- meaning driving around in open safari vehicles looking for wild animals...



We saw the usual suspects- zebra, cape buffalo, impala, baboons, giraffe (my favorite!), and more. Then we headed over to the hippo pool where we hit elephant pay dirt! We arrived to find a large family of elephants frolicking in the pool. We spent at least 45 minutes enthralled by their antics before they ambled off into the bush. We were then able to get out of the vehicles near the pool to see the hippos and crocodiles.

After more driving in hopes of seeing lions (which we did not see) we were blessed with a gorgeous sunset. We stopped the vehicles so that everyone could get some pics, then returned to the tented camp for dinner- another great meal...




We spent the evening sitting around the campfire while team members reflected on the trip and our experiences. While we were sharing we started hearing some low, growling noises behind us... I was mildly concerned (thinking about the lions we hadn't seen yet). The growling continued- at one point escalating so loud that one of the team members jumped out of her seat! It was then that we saw what was making all the ruckus- four HUGE badgers were scavenging for food below the stone patio where we were sitting. Later we also saw a bush baby in the tree next to us...

We were escorted to our tents by a masai guard before the power went off (the camp runs on generators which are shut off at night). The night sky was amazing from the deck of our tent- with no towns or lights and the stars were brilliant and bright.

The majority of the team got up early the next morning and embarked on another game drive in hopes of seeing a lion. (I stayed in bed and spent the morning sipping coffee on the patio- having seen lions in Ngorongoro Crater on our last trip). They were rewarding for their quest- seeing a young male hunting just after sunrise.

It was a great ending to an amazing trip!

-LeeAnn