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Erin Yenney's Blog From Tanzania
May 24, 2014 | Women's Soccer
May 24, 2014
Have you ever been on a real wildlife safari? Well I highly recommend putting it on your bucket list if you have not. I ended up going on a four day and three night camping safari out there in the real wild. It's no zoo, and that's the coolest part.
I was with a pretty big group going on the adventure. We had three safari trucks with eight people per truck. The guides were our drivers, and my vehicle had the pleasure of having a nice man named Chui as our guide! He was so funny and knowledgeable, and had some secret safari powers we were convinced also (he just KNEW where to find all the animals, or could talk to them).
The first day we began our adventure driving to Lake Manyara. We only saw pieces of the water before sitting to have lunch on a big hill overlooking massive plains and hills that went on forever. Nice little view for a little picnic! We drove around the hills by the lake which was very jungle-esque for the rest of the day and saw many animals. So many baboons!! Which are hilarious to just observe (and add voice overs to :D). And three elephants walked right up to our truck basically at one point - I could leave happy after seeing that, on just the first day.
The next day we began our drive to the Serengeti. We stopped on the way at a Masai village (there were so many in the area and in Masai Mara) where we were welcomed in for a tour and got to ask any questions we wanted. It was such a cool experience to see how they live and see also that they are just like you and me. There are pretty different customs and ways of doing things, but they feel, say and do the same things that we in our 'civilized' society! It gave me a great perspective.
That night we tented up in the middle of the Serengeti. Something I did not have a clue that I would be doing while in Tanzania (I don't think my mom knew either...shh). Luckily no one was eaten by a lion. We got up before sunrise that next day to drive around a see the activity of animals in the morning light until stopping to watch the sun rise on its own. What a gorgeous sight.
We drove around mostly the entire day seeing every animal you can probably imagine! Zebras, giraffes, elephants, wart-hugs, lions, baboons, ostriches, hippos, gazelles, wildebeests, buffalo, even a leopard - you name it! I was given the name of 'dog' in my vehicle because I could never sit down inside - I was constantly standing up with my head out of the top, wind in my face. I just couldn't resist taking in as much as possible what had to have been a dream based on the scenery that I was witnessing.
That evening we drove up around the Ngorogoro Crater (which was the most spectacular drive of my life). Our campsite sat on a hill with the most gorgeous view of it. Our tour guides prepared an amazing dinner which we indulged in after doing head stand contests next to the big Africa tree. That night apparently a buffalo made its way next to our campsite - my tent mate saw it when she walked to the restroom during the night!!
In the morning we drove down into the crater where we saw a huge plethora of many of the animals mentioned above. We got about 10 feet from 4 lions sitting under a shade tree, and even saw a rhino in the distance!! And I can't forget about the pink flamingos either. We saw groups of 3, 4, and 5 different animals hanging out together too (the zebras are the social butterfly did you know?). I didn't want to leave this awe-inspiring place. But after a few hours we made our way back into the busy city of Arusha.
There is no way to describe or even mention ALL of the beautiful, fascinating, and wonderful things that I witnessed on this adventure...you just have to try experience and see it for yourself one day I hope! Hope you also enjoy my SELFIE WITH THE ELPHIES lol ! Go Cards !
