One year ago today: Oct 10, 2005 (Baobab trees and the end of our safari)

[Note: original post from the trip is posted here]

Alas, all things must come to an end, and so it was with our Tanzanian safari. Kim had gotten sick the previous night, so I went out by myself (with Felix, of course) for our final game drive of our safari. Tarangire National Park is famous for its baobab trees, and I spent most of the time photographing these soulful giants. Here is a FilmLoop full screen slideshow of mostly baobabs with a few birds thrown in for good measure.

We were also lucky enough to have another leopard sighting, this one much better than the first.



After the game drive, we headed back to Arusha where we would spend one more night. No longer under the care of the safari company, we were once again on our own, which meant cheap accomodations and the stress of ordinary decision-making (e.g. deciphering maps, figuring out where to eat, transport, etc.). For dinner, we ate at McMoody's a funny local rip-off of McDonald's; walking back to the hotel that night in the dark, unlit, crowded streets of Arusha was one of the more nerve-racking moments of our trip.

As it so happened, we opted for a cheapo hotel (around $10 or so), which ended up being the worst accomodations during our trip. Disgusting toilet without a seat, ceiling that dripped water on our heads, constant construction, and right across the street from the minrate with its blaring loudspeakers calling worshippers to prayer way-too-early in the morning. We probably should have shelled out another $30 for something nicer.



Next up: the exotic island of Zanzibar.