The day started at Mount Meru Hotel, the view from the window was of the second highest mountain (14,968 fy) in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro., (16,100 ft).
Packed up, loaded and ready to go, the Land Cruisers would prove their mettle in the days to come.
Last walk at the hotel, so lush, so landscaped. We are escaping into the untamed hinterlands of Africa.
Where's Numbe 13?
On the way out of Arusha we passed by the landmarks that are left for the next visit.
School is session and the kids look great in uniforms, I pray they get the opportunitie any student deserves.
Arush Airport.
The highway out of Arusha towards Lake Manyara.
Signs of great rainfall which has cut small canyons on the plain.
Maasai with their herds of cattle, we will get acquainted with their culture in the coming days.
The agave plant. Renewable energy, organic plastics, sugars, biofuels and car accessories are some examples of new ways in which the agave is being used. Also called Sisal, it is being used in textile, construction and engineering.
We passed by the South Saharan steppe is the transitional region between the Sahara's very arid center to the north and the wetter Sahellan Acacia savanna region to the south.(Wikipedia: Southe Saharan steppe and woodlands)
Leopard Tours on the road.
The Tree of Life, the baobab tree. The most ancient baobab tree in Tanzania dated back roughtly 1150 years. They can grow up to 25m tall and have spacious interiors and sausage shaped fruit.
Karibu
The first safari road we experienced. The trails go through forests shrublands and marsh, before reaching the shore of the lake.
The Blue Monkey in Lake Manyara.
A buffalo skull marks an important intersection.
Baboons
The trail into the park is effectively a loop that can be traversed by jeep within a few hours.
Baboon community life.
The baby is exploring his world, trying to go a little past the safe limit....
But someone is keeping a close eye on the young one.
At the shore of Lake Manyara. It is a shallow alkaline lake, part of which is included in the Lake Manyara National Park. Water is only lost by evaporation because there is no outflow.
Southern ground hornbill.
We weren't ready for such luxury, a safari with boxed lunches and cold drinks? Wow. Shabani, our guide was so kind.
an adult male impala with splendid horns.
Saddle-bill storkbit.ly/manyarabirds
A baby vervet monkey climbing back to his mother.
To the west of Lake Manyara the steep Rift Valley Escarpment. It rises almost 2000 ft, mostly inside the National Park. It is covered by a groundwater forest and is home to a big population of animals including leopards and visited by hundreds of varieties of birds.
An impala, an ewe has no horns.
More impalas.
Vervet monkeys.
Elephants are wise from an early age, the elder cousin was urging the baby across the fallen tree trunk, and we cheered when the baby made it.
At the end of the day, we noticed many more vervet monkeys.
A new born is cared for by siblings. The little one soon scampered off at lightning speed but didn't go too far.
Who wouldn't lke a belly-rub by such soft gentle vervet fingers?
Approaching our lodge for the Lake Manyara safari. The bumpy road leading up to the lodge gave us no clue to what we found there :-)
This is the path leading to the main lodge.
Conversation corner, the weather was perfect.
Although newly constructed, the lodge reminds me of historical establishments created for British royalty in other parts of the world. It was our turn to feel special and lucky to experience all this.
An infinity pool was definitely not something the "royalty" ever experienced, we're more fortunate.
Our simple little hut - neither simple, nor little. An ultramodern construction with a traditional African design.
The indoor-outdoor bedroom, two walls of glass panels that slide out of the way, the only ourdoor experience missing at night would be the stars.
A panorama of the view from our patio, Lake Manyara National Park is on the opposite side of the mountain ridge and enjoys the sunset, as you will see, we go the sunrise, a sunrise like I have never seen before.
At the blue hour, the air was still and the armosphere was magical. On our way to dinner in the great hall of the lodge.
Half an hour before sunrise.
"Every cloud has a silver lining" Well, I say the mountains in Africa have a golden lining.I have never experienced a sunrise similar to this, I am so grateful to have this opportunity to visit Tanzania.
Finally, the valley bathed in warm light from the creeping explosion of the rising sun.
Breakfast with a view of the pool and the valley below it. Soon we will load into the Safari vehicles and be off to Ngorongoro.
