 |
I'm not counting arrival night and two jet-lag adjustment nights near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Arusha National Park, with two days of what I expect will be light safari. The real start will be further west in the north of Tanzania in the Serengetti area with two tent safaris of four days each (1 & 2). This is supposed to be a good time for seeing the big migration of wildebeest and zebra etc. and the accompanying predators. Then, seven days of relaxation and snorkeling in the Zanzibar area, three based in Stonetown on the main island (3) and four much further south at Fanjove Island (4). Then, back to the mainland of Tanzania for two more four-day tent safaris in the south in the Selous and Ruaha areas (5 & 6). Finally, the Seychelles further out in the Indian Ocean, with three days on Bird Island, four on Praslin and four on Mahe.
 |
| Numbers 1 to 6 mark our main stops in Tanzania. The Seychelles are 1800 kilometers to the east. |
I will definitely take less clothing than last year, just one soft carry-on satchel/duffel, probably half-full with medicines of various sorts. Our vaccinations from last year are still good. Just an anti-malaria pill will be taken each day in Tanzania and seven days thereafter. I am a little concerned about the tse-tse flies because they are not deterred by Deet and their bite is said to be nasty. (But the odds of getting sleeping sickness from them are relatively low.) I'm taking a nice selection of analgesic bite creams. Probiotics to keep the population of good bacteria up and a variety of antibiotics in case they fail. Ebola is thousands of miles to the east and not a factor.
I will probably take less pictures and eat less food. Some of the biggest dangers of going on a safari are overeating and overdrinking. Also, overphotographing.
The Camelbak ulra-violet-light water purifier will be taken along with the little Canon camera as well as the Mac Air and ipod Touch. As usual, even though I'm unlikely to use it, I have studied the predominant language, in this case, Swahili. I can say, "I don't understand." And "Where is Uhuru Highway?" Also, "I'd like to eat lunch." Lunch is "chakoola chamchana" which sounds very tasty.
This trip will test whether we can achieve the states of being "ausgesafaried" and "ausgesnorkeled."
The trip was planned with the help of Africa Travel Resource, a UK company with impressive experience and a wonderful website full of all the information one can want about Africa plus great photographs. http://www.africatravelresource.com/
Here is a general itinerary for those who may want to know more:
Tue 20 - Jan 15 Newark - Zurich - Nairobi - Kilimanjaro
Wed 21-Jan-15 Kilimanjaro Airport : Kia Lodge
Thu 22-Jan-15 Arusha National Park : Hatari Lodge
Fri 23-Jan-15 Arusha National Park : Hatari Lodge
Sat 24-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kakessio Camp
Sun 25-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kakessio Camp
Mon 26-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kakessio Camp
Tue 27-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kakessio Camp
Wed 28-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kusini Camp
Thu 29-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kusini Camp
Fri 30-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kusini Camp
Sat 31-Jan-15 Southwest Serengeti : Serian Kusini Camp
Sun 01-Feb-15 Zanzibar Stonetown : Mashariki Palace Hotel
Mon 02-Feb-15 Zanzibar Stonetown : Mashariki Palace Hotel
Tue 03-Feb-15 Zanzibar Stonetown : Mashariki Palace Hotel
Wed 04-Feb-15 Kilwa : Fanjove Island
Thu 05-Feb-15 Kilwa : Fanjove Island
Fri 06-Feb-15 Kilwa : Fanjove Island
Sat 07-Feb-15 Kilwa : Fanjove Island
Sun 08-Feb-15 Selous : Selous Impala Camp
Mon 09-Feb-15 Selous : Selous Impala Camp
Tue 10-Feb-15 Selous : Selous Impala Camp
Wed 11-Feb-15 Selous : Selous Impala Camp
Thu 12-Feb-15 Ruaha : Kwihala Camp
Fri 13-Feb-15 Ruaha : Kwihala Camp
Sat 14-Feb-15 Ruaha : Kwihala Camp
Sun 15-Feb-15 Ruaha : Kwihala Camp
Mon 16-Feb-15 Dar es Salaam : Southern Sun
Tue 17-Feb-15 Seychelles : Mahe : The Allamanda Double Tree by Hilton
Wed 18-Feb-15 Seychelles : Bird Island : Bird Island Lodge
Thu 19-Feb-15 Seychelles : Bird Island : Bird Island Lodge
Fri 20-Feb-15 Seychelles : Bird Island : Bird Island Lodge
Sat 21-Feb-15 Seychelles : Praslin East : Raffles Praslin
Sun 22-Feb-15 Seychelles : Praslin East : Raffles Praslin
Mon 23-Feb-15 Seychelles : Praslin East : Raffles Praslin
Tue 24-Feb-15 Seychelles : Praslin East : Raffles Praslin
Wed 25-Feb-15 Seychelles : Mahe : Hilton Northolme
Sun 1- Mar - 15 Mahe - Abu Dhabi - London arriving JFK on 2 Mar.
Good luck to us all.
