In Dec, 2003, we went on a safari to Tanzania's Northern Circuit. While any attempt to describe an experience like this will diminish it, we will describe it to the best of our abilities.

                      

Photographic equipment:  Canon EOS Rebel 300, Sony Cybershot P8 and Panasonic Video Camera NV DS35, Kodak Film 400ASA (we are absolute basic photographers!). The pictures are a combination of Digital shots, camera and video clips.

The safari was conducted by JMT African Heart Expeditions Limited.

Places visited: Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park.

 Landed at Kiliminjaro International Airport on Dec1st 2003. Tourist visa' are issued at the airport for USD40pp. We were met by our guide Hassan who drove us to Arusha (1hour). Arusha is one of Tanzania's most developed towns and is the gateway to Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire. Though relatively small, it has nice cafe's, a colorful market, The Arusha Declaration Museum and a Clock Tower. After meeting with Jo from JMT and finalizing details of the safari, we drove to Ilboru Safari Lodge for the night. We spent the evening browsing thru the market and settled for a nice dinner at Jambo Makuti. A good night's sleep before the safari begins........

There are two rainy seasons in Tanzania. The big one is from March till May and a minor one from November till beginning of January. A whole day of rain is rare but in these periods rain will fall every day for a few hours.
The annual average rainfall in Tanzania is about 1500 mm with the extremes in the north west (2000 mm) and the central area (less then 500 mm).
                                  

It is not a place but many places, linked in a vast natural ecosystem where great herds of wildlife have annual migrations, taking care of their feeding needs over the changing seasons. To the north, the Maasai Mara in Kenya; to the west, Lake Victoria; to the east, the soda lakes of the Great Rift Valley; and to the south, the circular ramparts of incredible Ngorongoro Crater and the forest-clad highlands of northern Tanzania.

Few places that I know have the same impact; for us, this area within its vastness represents the most special destination. I reach for words: spectacular, thrilling, awesome, beautiful, extraordinary.