Tanzania

While I am still technically in Tanzania, I have left the mainland behind, so I feel it is time to sing the praises of Tanzania! Please keep in mind that I realize when writing this that I was pampered throughout my week, and I know that contributes greatly to my opinion. But I do believe it was much more than that that contributed to my high praises. However, on our first day, we had woken up in a tent that we put up in an old parking lot in Rwanda and arrived in Tanzania to hot washcloths, a fresh smoothie and a clean, white bedspread with rose petals.

First off, I heard the name of this country pronounced three different ways by the people here, so I’m not certain which is correct:Tan-zuh-nia, Tan-zah-nia and Tan-zay-nia (rhymes with mania).

A lot of our praise needs to go to Tanzania Specialists. Jess had found them through an Instagram ad, and it couldn’t have been a bigger success. They worked with us to plan the perfect safari for us, and while no, it was not cheap, for all that we got, we felt it was incredibly reasonable. There are more safari companies here than you could ever count, but I will say that Tanzania Specialists stood out as the most commonly seen one. So, I can confidently recommend them, not just based on our excellent experience.

They sent us a Swahili guide to practice before we arrived. It came with some incredibly useful phrases like “My name is_,” “Go back, there is an elephant,” “Can I try to carry this bucket on my head,” and “I’m surprised you can sit on a motorcycle with five people.” Sadly, we only mastered a few things like asante sana (thank you, and yes, that’s what Rafiki sang), simba (lion), pumba (warthog), twiga (giraffe), mbu (mosquito), hakuna matata (no worries), mjoa mbili tatu (1, 2, 3) and simama, paka (stop, a cat!). I told Innocent, who picked us up from the airport, that I had been practicing “Simama, paka!” and he laughed a lot. He said, “You know that won’t stop the lion from eating you.” 

Tanzania Specialists also provided us with a beautiful metal water bottle, a map, a detailed itinerary and an in country Happiness Manager. Yes, that’s correct. We were able to text Irene at any time if we were not happy. We never texted her.

Tanzania is dotted with huge sunflowers everywhere you look. These giant yellow flowers seem to be welcoming you, showing you just how bright and cheerful this country is. Sure, they are grown for their cooking oil, but I’d say they’re quite symbolic of the people they represent as well.

Tanzania’s animal is a giraffe. As Lou tells it, this seems to match the personality of their government. Other countries near by have mascots of lions and gorillas. Lou said their governments often get into squabbles and struggle where here, things seem to go smoothly. Tanzania is a country, larger than Texas, with a population of nearly seventy million people. There are one hundred twenty local and tribal languages spoken, but Swahili is spoken by all, uniting them with a mother tongue. They currently have a female president (yes, before we do!). She was the vice president when the president died in office. Her picture is posted everywhere! She is Muslim like a third of the people here.

Our first hotel, Pazuri Inn was a dream, and the most amazing part was, we only thought we were spoiled there. At night, the air filled with the sweet smell of jasmine where the flowers only open after dark releasing their fragrance. The staff were friendly, welcoming and eager to get to know us. Emmy took us on a tour one day so that we could see the fresh garden where lettuces and strawberries were grown and the lush orchard where fruits I had trouble naming grew in plenty. There was guava, papaya, avocado, orange, mango, banana, passion fruit and coconut. The food was delicious and plentiful, and one night we even got to help the young chef celebrate his birthday!

Our next stay was at Mawe Mawe Manyara Lodge. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a room this nice, nor can I imagine doing that in the future. Our room was more like an apartment with an open concept with two large beds, a seating area, a changing room, a full bathroom and three sliding glass doors that opened onto our private balcony overlooking the lake with our own chilly pool and outdoor shower. Our first night there, some adorable creatures scurried about outside while we dipped in the pool. They seemed to yell at us in frustration of being in their space. Lou told us later that they were dwarf mongooses! So cute!

The staff at Mawe Mawe were also exceptional. At night, we had an escort of a Masai armed with a flashlight and a stick. One night, although he did not disturb us, an elephant was spotted mere yards from our room! Meals were high class and delivered with a silver cloche covering each course (this is where we learned to count down).

Our stay in the middle of the Serengeti was called Sueños De Africa Luxury Camp. We were in tents, yes, but these tents were luxurious with steaming hot showers and four poster beds. Here, too, our escorts in the dark were armed with flashlights. Food was not as divine, but for being in the middle of the Serengeti, it was quite delicious and the boxed lunches were some of our best!

Our last stay in Tanzania was at a place called Manyara Best View Lodge, and it lived up to its name! We watched the moon rise over distant mountains above the banana fields below, and watched the sunrise in a similar place the next morning. Food was beautifully presented and equally delicious, while the service was above and beyond.

When you are as fortunate as we were to see so many different parks, you certainly spend your time driving throughout the countryside. Of course, this was a beautiful way to see the country. There were places that were lush and green and full of crops, while others were barren, dry, and stark. As we rode, Lou told us a lot about the Masai people who called this place home. They were easy to identify by their clothing. While some wore clothes that we would deem “regular”, almost all also wore brightly colored checkered fabric. Most often, it was red, and worn perhaps as we would wear a toga. They are the local, indigenous tribe that still call this part of the country, as well as the sister part just across the border in Kenya, home. They live in harmony with the land and the animals. While they eat meat, they only eat the cows, goats, and chickens that they themselves raise. Sort of like the reservations set aside for our Native Americans, while they do follow the laws of the land, there are aspects of their lives that keep them separated, and are not as regulated by the government. They live in small communities with huts, built of sticks and cow dung in a circular pattern surrounded by bushy branches that protect from predators. They are somewhat nomadic, but move by the seasons, or when there is no more food left for their grazing herds. Their cows are their life. Not only are they providers of food and strength, they are representation of wealth. I have a beautiful picture book in my classroom called 14 Cows for America  that highlights the gift of cows given in honor of America after the events of September 11. After seeing these people and the way that they live, I was even more touched by their gift.

If all you learned about Tanzania is that they are a people of giraffes and sunflowers, I feel that is enough to understand them. What a beautiful country!