Days in Tanzania

Written by Amelia Mitchell - Tanzania 2008 Year Out Volunteer

Hey everyone,

Well, it seems like its been ages, where to start....

Thanks everyone for your e-mails, kate i think you are the best correspondent of your family, maybe you'll get a post card before the rest of them?? (pips b'day card doesn't count), good to hear from you Gabby, Glen i came close to having to use your run faster then the person next to you advice, and glad the rest of you enjoyed the photos.

Saturday morning a group of us went to the Armani (Swahili for peace) orphanage, which was about as different from the joy foundation (the orphanage we visited on our first weekend) as it could get, rather them ragged children and crumbling overcrowded cement buildings we were greeted by an imposing massive boarding like building with its own soccer field and basket ball courts. the children, evidently used to muzungu tourists didn't even blink an eye at our arrival but continued that mornings activity of traditional dance.

That night we had a dress up party, i went as a car (sort of stole your idea helen, thanks for that) was a pretty good car if i may say so myself though i got some funny looks when i went out clubbing in it. Had a fantastic night though i soon discarded the car as it was rather annoying to dance with.

Lunchtime sunday we set out for the new camp, was sad to say good bye as when we got back five of the people at camp wouldn't be there anymore, having finished their two or three month stays, hopefully will see most of them again in europe.

It was a three or four hour drive to the next camp, was good to see a little more of africa flashing past the truck window. Our new camp was between Mt. Meru and Mt. Kili so on a clear day you could see them both rising into the clouds. The landscape was very different, more what most of you would imagine to be typical africa, open savannah grasslands, scattered trees and long grass. The new camp was adequate, we were sleeping in two man tents (i was with Grace) and other then the drop toilets and the shower which didn't close there was nothing to complain about. (except the ticks, the were everywhere and i managed to be the first to get one stuck on me).

Monday morning we went on a game drive, our first sightings of african animals. We saw Impala and wilder beast, water buck, zebra and most excitingly; giraffe and elephants. Was just amazing, really fantastic.

After a late breakfast we were driven to the Massai village to have a look around. The man who owned the village we went to had 20 wives, 60 children, 2,000 cows and a massive amount of sheep and cattle, the women live in little mud brick huts which they build themselves. The oldest is about 50 the youngest 20ish. When a women has a baby she has to stay inside one of those dark little huts for 2 to 4 months. Was quite the cultural shock, was very strange, in the middle of all these traditional people and buildings was a ute and every time you went to take a photo of the husband he would pose with his phone. All the boys reckoned that the massai men had it pretty good, us girls weren't so sure.

Monday afternoon we walked up a massive hill and could see the kenyan boarder as well as mt. meru. was quite a view.

Tuesday we went to massai markets in the morning but didn't buy anything, then went to the tree house, which is a massive tree house next to a watering hole, in the afternoon.

Wednesday we went to the local school which was really great, really nice school, we did a bit of teaching and none of them laughed at my drawings this time which means either i'm improving or the kids were politer (probably the latter.) We went on a game drive in the afternoon and saw lots more animals (no elephants this time.)

Thursday we did a big walk weeding and looking for poachers traps, we found one which was a crude metal thing, We were also almost chased by a bull elephant when we got a little to close to the herd. We had the afternoon off, but it was not without excitement as a puff adder (which apparently kill the most people in africa) was found at camp and captured, to be released further away from camp.

Friday we did an animal servery in the morning (another big tick infested walk during which Phil who was walking infrount of me, almost trod on a smaller puff adder and didn't even notice)

We went back to the market in the afternoon and i bought an avocado which was a good move because dinner was rice and yucky beans. Then last night we went on a night drive which was really awesome, saw some very strange animals like a spring hare which is basically a squirrel that hops, and a jackal, We also got bogged and all had to get out in the middle of the savannah in the middle of the night. Was so much fun, very exciting.

Today we came back, one of the girls (peaches) ipods fell out the truck window when we went over a bump but luckily it was ok. Is good to be back in Moshi which almost feels like home now, can't believe i'm half way tomorrow, time is going so fast.

Lots of people are going out tonight but i don't think i'll go (yes freya i know you would be ashamed of me), might go out to dinner tomorrow night instead before the other half of the group go off to Kadear.

Paid the mama's to do all my washing because there was just to much of it so hopefully it will be done when i get back to camp.

Hope you are all well,
Love
Millie
xoxo