February 19, 2010
Day 9. Departing
Devika said "... When you've grown up hearing about Tanzania, you begin to look forward to certain aspects, because you've been conditioned to think they're the most important. Building houses, teaching students, bonding with classmates are all experiences we thought we were ready and able to tackle. One thing they dont tell you about? One thing you cant possibly prepare for? Leaving the children. ..."
February 18, 2010
Day 8. Gifts from Grade 9
Fran said "... The room was filled with children trying out new toy cars and putting on bangles and it was obvious how much these small presents meant to each of them..." Get the Flash Player to see this player.
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February 17, 2010
Day 7. The Day Trip
February 16, 2010
Day 6. The New Dormitory
February 15, 2010
Day 5. Back to School
Everyone is straight into teaching. Seems like you can't keep a good man down...
February 14, 2010
Day 4. The Match
At 0630 a small group of us left the Masai Village to climb to the top of the Escarpment. 2 hours later we reached the summit and were rewarded with views over the Great Rift Valley. The steep climb was followed by a difficult descent over scree. After breakfast we walked out across the plain to the Masai Village for our annual football game. Despite plenty of chances early on, the 3/nil result was a fair result.
February 13, 2010
Day 3. Ngorongoro
Sandwiched between the Serengeti and the Maasai mara is the spectalcular Ngorogoro crater. Numerous close encounters with wildlife were captured on Camera. Not quite in the spirit of Hemingway, 4 of the big 5 were bagged on HD and RAW.
February 12, 2010
Day 2. Manyara National Park
Perched on top of the escarpment of the great rift valley, we're sleeping in tents tonight, ready to descend into the Ngorogoro Crater at first light.
Much of today was spent driving, the party divided into five land cruisers specially adapted for the harsh terrain.
The road ended at Mto wa Mbu (translates as the River of Mosquitoes), where we entered the Manyara National Park. In the humid afternoon heat, wildlife encounters were few and far between, although we had sightings of giraffes and elephants.
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February 11, 2010
Day 1. The UN in Arusha
After a longer than anticpated journey, both groups were reunited late last night at Kilimanjaro Airport. We had all arrived safely - although our bags didn't! Most of the remaining luggage arrived on the next flight from Nairobi.
After a few hours sleep, we left Moshi this morning for the UN building in Arusha. After passing security, we made our way to the court room where the Rwandan War Crimes Tribunals are taking place. Needless to say, hearing the prosecution grilling an ex-Military Commander accused of genocide was a sobering experience. We sat on the other side of the plate glass, hearing the live translation as the General attempted to defend the decisions he made in April 1994. The prosecution reminded the court than nearly one million people were killed in a 100-day period.
We head back to the lodge this evening for a desperatley needed nights rest. Everyone is tired but excited to be here - the sun is scorching, the horizon wide... and Mount Kilimanjaro stands magnificent in front of us.
