From Mwanza it is not really far to Arusha. The problem is that on
the short route, one would have to cross two national parks, Serengeti
and Ngorongoro crater. This means for tourists, that one must pay the
national park fee of 50 dollars per park whether you spot animals from
the bus or not… This makes little sense! So, I decided to take a bus
around all these parks and go south of them towards Arusha.
 |
| Road to Arusha |
Well, I spent 14 hours in the coach, 5 of it on a very bad piste.
When we reached Arusha finally in the evening, we were completely
covered by fine reddish dust, even inside the backpack, which was stored
in the belly of the coach, the dust had spread…. Well, the next day, I
had to give a big laundry to the backpack from in- and outside.
In Arusha I was lucky once more in finding a group of 4 people, who
were about to go on safari and had one more seat in their jeep
available! We went to Lake Manyara, to Ngorongoro Crater and to
Tarangire National Park. Our team was international: a young woman from
Finland, a couple from France and one Japanese. Besides, there was a
local driver-guide and a cook. We spent the two nights near the Manyara
National Parks on a rim overlooking the park.
The first day we drove to Manyara National Park. The specific
features here are the lions climbing trees. Unfortunately, we did not
see one of them, climbing or not. But there were a lot of antelopes,
monkeys, giraffes, elephants and hippos. Beside the salt lake there are
some freshwater lakes, which the animals share for drinking. The water
comes from the slopes of Ngorongoro Crater.
In the evening our cook presented really great food and from the
close village an acrobat's group came for a visit. Quite a bit touristy,
but that’s what the villagers are living on.
The following day, we visited the highlight of the area, Ngorongoro
Crater. Millions of years ago, this must have been a gigantic volcano,
which broke down sometime. Today there is only the edge of the volcano
which is 2200 metres high. The crater is 600 metres down! Also the
weather is different every kilometer. While driving up it becomes colder
and colder and above all foggy! As foggy as Regensburg on a really bad
november day…. Also as cold!
However, once you enter the crater, the wind almost stops. The fog disappears and makes room for the sun with a few clouds.
As there is water the whole year around in the crater, the animals
stay here in contrast to Masai Mara / Serengeti. There is a lot of
zebras, gnus, buffalo, various antelopes, cheetahs, lions, flamingos…..
And all that in a spectacular, very dry scenery, salt lakes, freshwater
pools with hippos, marshlands and brush land. Magnificent scenery and a
really great day!
 |
| Baobab |
The last day of our safari we spent in Tarangire National Park. It is
above all known for its big elephant herds. However, besides there are
also zebras, gnus, giraffes, antelopes, lions and cheetahs. This
national park is well known for its many baobab trees. These trees look
really funny, because they have a very big trunk and extremely lots of
branches. There is a legend in Africa, after which of the baobab wanted
to look absolutely different from the other trees. So he complained
after his creation with God because looked quite just as all the other
trees. As a result God was furious, tore out the baobab and put him back
to front in the earth…..
