Jambo Bwana

I'm not sure why blogspot is acting up but I will attempt to tell youna little bit about our safari adventures.... We reached Tarangire National Park two days ago in time to drive a short 2 hour evening game drive. We managed to spot a pack of lines and got within petting distance to a male samba! The girls who were enjoying the sites and sounds of their first safari were thoroughly impressed with the up close and personal sites of the zebras, elephants, wildebeests, giaffes, antelope, dik diks, baboons, and much more! After an eventful drive we headed to the beautiful Sopa Lodge for a quick shower and then a delicious 4 course meal including dessert with ice cream which we had all been missing. Then it was time for bed because we had a busy day ahead of us. We continued in through Tarangire spotting yet some more lions and cheetas and ending our time with a box lunch and a few pictures at the hollow poachers tree. Next it was on to some bargaining shopping at a large souvenir shop and then on to Boganvilla Resort for a one night stay. The resort impressed us all with it's pool, massages, cold beers, and wonderful dinner! An early night was in order again because we were heading out early for the Ngorogoro Crater. It was a short drive to the ascent of the crater and before ascending we stopped at a Maasai village to view some authentic dancing and handmade crafts shopping. Since Marilyn and I had seen it before we decided to bow out of the home viewing and children's school... Needless to say a lot of the tourist trap goes a long way! We were anxious to get into then crater! It was again breathtaking to be surrounded by the beautiful mountains and spot lions, flamingos, hippos, hyenas, zebras, and more among the desolate lands of the crater! It was so much fun seeing Efream spot the lions and hyenas. The only thing missing was spying the few black rhinos that roam the plains of the crater. After another yummy box lunch we began our journey back to Arusha. Along the way another souvenir stop was made and a short stop to give some Maasai boys our leftover lunch food for a snap shot of them in their traditional cercumsition (sp) face paint and attire! We made it safely back to the Impala where our journey in Tanzania first began. The plan this evening is to eat and then do major packing! Tomorrow we are saying goodbye to Amber, Mindy, and Ellen in the early morning as the restnof us don't leave until evening. We will meet back up with them in Kenya before heading for a layover in London and then on to Dallas. The ones who leave later have been invited to fix a late lunch at Efreams home to meet his daughter andnfix his family traditional American food.... Cheeseburgers and cheesy potatoes!!! We have had sooooo much fun! The trip has been a breezy and we have truly enjoyed each others company and all the sites and adventure tanzania has had to offer us! We are anxious to return to family and can't wait to share personal stories and pictures! Look for one more post about our adventures home! Xoxo