Day 9 – Last Day of Safari (Lake Manyara/Arusha/Kilimanjaro)
And so it is…last morning in Africa! Great night sleep and it’s so chilly in the tent, neither Rich or I wanted to get up. Breakfast and goodbyes at 7:30 and we’re in route to Arusha by 8:00am. It’s cool here this morning so the tops are still on the jeep. Driving out I’ve come to terms with leaving and looking forward to a little shopping along the way.
Stopped by a t-shirt shop and another souvenir shop – pretty much got all we were looking for with the exception of that special gift Rich was looking for for Linda. Rich and I both dressed for the long flight home, completely forgetting we had one last driveq through Lake Manyara National Park (a much smaller park) on the way. Ally took the tops back off so we could enjoy our last drive. Park here is much greener because it has under water springs. But that also means it is very wooded so a little more difficult to see the animals.
Lots of monkeys (which are so adorable) and the normal grazing animals. Ally said though there ARE lions here, he hasn’t seen them in 2 years…and I can see why. We stopped by a lunch area there in the park to eat before continuing our drive in to Arusha. What’s in our lunch boxes everyday is always a surprise…Edward sent us left over farewell cake for our last lunch!
MSafari, the security guard that works the gate at the Mt. Meru hotel was there when we drove through today. It was good to see him again and he remembered to ask for his photo I promised to send him. I’ll have it framed and sent through Dawn at ADS. Martius and Timan were waiting at the front of the hotel as we pulled in. I appreciate them both so much for what they did to get me a camera. Both went way beyond for me.
As we all sat and talked about the week it was time to settle up with Ally and say our goodbyes. I thought I was ok until I hugged him good-bye. I don’t know if he fully understands how much this trip has meant to me and how big of a part he played in it being so memorable. Rich and I will never forget you Ally! God bless you and your family.
We had a day room there at the hotel for a few hours; to freshen up and get some lunch before we leave for the airport. Did a little more shopping there in the gift shop and waited for Martius and Timan to pick us back up. Have to admit that on our drive, we actually saw Mt. Kilimanjaro for the first time. The mountain we took pictures of day 1 (which we thought was Kilimanjaro) was actually Mt. Meru. It’s difficult to see it because the peak is normally in the clouds, but we caught just the right angle so the highest peak was visible. Was able to get photos of the snow on the peaks, which was amazing.
They got us to the airport 2.5 hours early, but that’s ok. Allowed us to get through customs, etc. with time to spare. Rich was able to find that special gift for Linda and I picked up a few more things. Good thing we decided to check our luggage this time. Our souvenir bag is getting heavy! Funny story is that they made Rich fill out some declaration form to get through customs, but not me? Not sure why. Rich said it was because I batted my eyes…LOL! I think it was because the customs officer I had didn’t want to mess with it. Who knows. I was also pretty sure Rich was going to have to completely uncloth to get through security…LOL. Provided a great deal of entertainment for not only me, but a few others in the waiting area…LOL! Sorry Rich, it was funny.
1st flight went to Del Sar which is South of Arusha. That one stop added two hours to our already lengthy flight to Amsterdam. So 9.5 hours later we arrived in Amsterdam. Three hour layover there allowed us to see parts of the airport we didn’t get to see when we came through the first time. At that airport, each gate has their own security check point verse one area for the entire airport. Also allowed me to pick up some flower bulbs (Tulips are famous in Amsterdam). Thought if I plant them, every year when they bloom, I will be reminded of this adventure. Rich and I both slept off and on, watched a couple of movies (including Born Free…:)), taught Rich how to play Sudoku and counted down the hours until we would be home. Once we started the journey I couldn’t wait to get there.
Quick stop through Detroit and a short 1-hour flight home. We were in the last seat on the plane so the last people off. Dave picked us up and we were at moms by 5:00. Had to stop by to see my boy and take him his goodies. His favorite gift was the two small pieces of lava rock I picked up at the park before we left (sorry Ally, I know I wasn’t supposed to do that). He said “cool MiMi…thanks”. He had his Tanzania bracelet (like mine) around his ankle. Not sure what he ended up taking to school today for show and tell but I’m sure he took something. Plenty of hot water and water pressure here at home. I actually lost 4lbs during the week, which is unbelievable since all I felt like we did was eat, but I’ll take it. Once last funny story is about my step counter on my phone. Mid way through the 2nd day of our Safari, my achievement sound went off letting me know I had reached my goal of 10,000 steps. Walked 5.23 miles…lol! I guess the jarring of the jeep counted as steps for me. Plus climbing up and down looking out the top must have counted for something.
Crawled into bed, missing my hot water bottle…LOL! Sure could have used it last night. I’m not sure how I slept. Dave said I woke up a couple times, looked around like I wasn’t sure where I was and laid back down. Up at 6:30 which would be 3:30pm in Africa. Not sure how long it will take me to get back on track. Atleast I’m home.
Yes! Finally something about трипскан.
Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to understand so much about this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something.
I think that you just can do with some p.c.
to power the message home a little bit, however other than that, that is great blog.
A great read. I will definitely be back.
I am really grateful to the holder of this website who has shared this impressive article at at this place.
The US president raged at NATO allies over defense spending in meeting with the German chancellor, as Israel ordered its military to ‘advance’ in Lebanon
Exceptional article that covers both the fundamentals and the finer details with equal care, making it useful whether you are approaching the topic for the first time or the tenth.
The attention to detail in this piece is remarkable, small touches like clear subheadings and well-chosen examples make a big difference to how easily the content can be absorbed.
This article does something rare and valuable by making the reader feel smarter after reading it without ever making them feel talked down to, a delicate balance perfectly achieved here.
Brilliant article from beginning to end, the author clearly put a lot of effort into making sure each section was accurate, engaging, and genuinely useful for readers.
Really appreciate the time taken to explain the background context before diving into the main points, it helped me follow the argument much more effectively and confidently.
A comprehensive and engaging exploration of a topic that is often poorly explained elsewhere, this article fills a genuine gap and does so with impressive skill and thoroughness.
Very well organized and clearly written, this article makes it easy to extract the key insights quickly while also rewarding readers who want to engage with the full depth of content.
Thank you so much for putting together such a comprehensive guide, I have been looking for something like this for a while and it delivered beyond my expectations.
Found this article at exactly the right time and it answered every question I had, the thoroughness and attention to detail here is something truly worth commending.
Really thoughtful and well-executed article that takes the reader on a clear journey from introduction to conclusion without ever losing focus on what matters most to the audience.
Awesome stuff, Thank you!
The care taken with word choice and sentence structure in this article makes a real difference to how smoothly it reads, it is polished writing that respects the reader’s time.
The quality of the content in this article is matched by the quality of the writing itself, both work together to create a reading experience that is genuinely informative and enjoyable.
I found myself nodding along throughout this entire article because every point resonated and felt grounded in real understanding rather than recycled information from other sources.
This article does something rare and valuable by making the reader feel smarter after reading it without ever making them feel talked down to, a delicate balance perfectly achieved here.
I have recommended this article to three different people already today because it explains the topic better than anything else I have found on the internet so far.
I am curious to find out what blog system you’re using?
I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog
and I would like to find something more secure.
Do you have any solutions?
Found this article at exactly the right time and it answered every question I had, the thoroughness and attention to detail here is something truly worth commending.
What I appreciated most was the honesty and balance in this article, it does not oversell its ideas but presents them with appropriate nuance and lets the reader draw their own conclusions.
до зарплаты
микрозаем онлайн
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually realize what you’re talking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my web site =).
We could have a link trade contract between us
I have read so many posts regarding the blogger
lovers but this paragraph is actually a good piece of writing, keep it up.
Very well thought out piece that does an excellent job of anticipating the reader’s questions and addressing them before they even arise, a sign of truly skilled writing.
Minha estratégia no Ganesha Gold rendeu o esperado: um Big Win e 10k no PIX.
A well-researched and thoughtfully presented piece that earns the reader’s trust through its honesty, depth, and the obvious care that has gone into every aspect of its creation.
Found this article to be one of the clearest and most useful explanations of the topic I have encountered, the author has a real gift for making complicated ideas feel straightforward.
I come back to this kind of content regularly because it consistently delivers real value, this particular article is a shining example of what good writing looks like.
Such a valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn more about this area, the writing is approachable yet detailed enough to satisfy readers with prior knowledge.
Hi, the whole thing is going sound here and ofcourse every one
is sharing data, that’s actually fine, keep up writing.
This article is a testament to what happens when a knowledgeable writer takes the time to really communicate well, the result is content that informs, engages, and stays with you.
Top! O Gates of Olympus não para de soltar carta boa. Respeita o stop-win.
Exceptionally well-crafted content that strikes the perfect balance between being informative and entertaining, I read every word and walked away genuinely better informed.
This post deserves far more attention than it gets, the quality of the information and the way it is presented puts it head and shoulders above similar content online.
This is the kind of article that reminds you why reading long-form content online is still worthwhile, it delivered genuine insight and value from the very first sentence onwards.
Thank you so much for putting together such a comprehensive guide, I have been looking for something like this for a while and it delivered beyond my expectations.
Really solid piece of writing that left me with a clear understanding of the topic, the logical progression from basic concepts to more advanced ideas was very well handled.
The care taken with word choice and sentence structure in this article makes a real difference to how smoothly it reads, it is polished writing that respects the reader’s time.
I had been struggling to find a good explanation of this topic and this article solved that problem completely, it is now saved in my bookmarks for future reference.
Really glad this article exists because it fills a gap that many other resources leave open, the clarity and completeness here make it an essential read for anyone exploring the topic.
What’s up it’s me, I am also visiting this web site on a regular basis,
this website is actually nice and the visitors are in fact sharing
good thoughts.
A sensação de pedir saque de R$ 300 depois de jogar Ratinho é boa demais.
Loved how this article managed to feel personal and relatable while still delivering serious informational value, that combination is rare and makes for a genuinely satisfying read.
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
This was exactly what I needed today, clear actionable information presented in a format that is easy to digest without sacrificing the depth that experienced readers appreciate.
The research backing this article is evident in every paragraph and gives the writing a credibility that makes it easy to trust and recommend to others without any hesitation.
I always look forward to finding content this good because it genuinely makes a difference to how I think about and approach the subject, a truly valuable addition to the topic.