Jambo from Kenya!

Jambo from Kenya!

Yesterday we made the switch from Tanzania to Kenya. We left the Moyo Hill site at 6.30 in the morning, and then drove for 2 hours to Arusha, where we did some last-minute shopping. We then drove for another 2 hours to the border. There we switched sides and had our first lunch in Kenya in a lodge at the border. We then drove for another 2 hours to the Kilimanjaro Base site. It is called that because we get a great view of Kili from our bandas. I have the same banda-mates as I did in Tanzania, although now we do not bunk beds. The bathrooms are also not attached. We get to walk through dust to get to them, so your feet are never truly clean. The site here is about 4 times as big as in TZ. The wildlife is also more prevalent; one banda is not used because it is in the middle of baboon territory. The baboons are all over and it is very common to see them around camp. Snakes are also common here. There is just dust on the paths so that there are less places for the snakes to hide.

The staff here also seem awesome. While it will take a time for us to like them better that the ones in Tanzania, I am sure we will be sad to see them go also. The night before we left Tanzania, there were many tears. The staff also liked us so much they did a traditional dance for us; the first time they had ever done that for a group.

The internet here is also worse, so you will not be getting as many updates as you have in the past, unfortunately. There also is not power in the bandas, which will also take some getting used to.

Today we had orientation and then we went to a cultural Maasai boma. There were puppies there, which stole the spotlight from the people. We also went into Kimana. It was market day. I had ice cream for the first time in a while, and it was so good.

We get to go on expedition Saturday, and are all looking forward to that. And Thriller was just playing from somewhere.

Kylie

Days 41-45: Oldapi and Siringet

Days 41-45: Oldapi and Siringet

                Four days ago we packed up and left for our camping trip. I was on cook crew, so I got up at 5 to make breakfast for everyone. We left at 7, and were on our way. We arrived at the gate at 12 and ate lunch, then went to Oldapi Gorge. It is commonly miss-called Oldavi Gorge, the Cradle of Mankind. This is where Australopithicus spps. and Homo habilis fossils were found. I studied it in my archeology class, so this was a great treat for me. We then drove to our camp site via a game drive. We were in the Dik Dik Public Campsite. There were bathrooms there and showers, so that was a happy surprise. We had to set up our tents, which turned out fine. Then we had dinner and got to listen to the rules. As we were in the middle of the Serengeti, there were predators about. This was emphasized by the hyena laugh we then heard. And there were hyena everywhere. Our ascari (guards) had huge flashlights that they would shine around the perimeter. Eyes would shine back at you, and sometimes you could see the whole body. They were really close; it was very scary. When we went to the bathroom after dark, we had to take a guard with us for protection. But the stars at night were awesome. The Milky Way was so clear.

                The next morning we left for another game drive at 6.30. We saw so many animals. One interesting one we saw was a cheetah with four cubs. They were in the distance, but they were still so cute. We came back for lunch, and then went to a lecture on the park. It was interesting. We drove around some more and saw a pride of lions under a tree. Then we went back to camp.

                The following morning we left at 6.15 and did a bird exercise. I can now successfully identify and black-winged stilt and a blacksmith plover, among other birds. We then saw a few more lions. We had lunch, and drove around some more. We were supposed to have another lecture, but the guest lecturer did not show up, as he had to round up some lions in a different part of the park.

                Yesterday was had to get up to leave by 6.00. But it was worth it, as we saw a leopard in a tree eating a Thompson’s gazelle. We also go to see the sunrise, which was truly beautiful. We had the lecture we missed, but then got to go to Serena Lodge for lunch. They had a buffet, and the best food we have eaten this whole trip. We also got to swim and watch zebra from the pool. On the way back to our campsite, we saw a serval. It was small and in the grass, but still cute. When we got back to camp, there were a large number of tents set up. It was and S.I.T. group. They are another study abroad group that stays in Tanzania. We were able to talk to them, and a few people from our group knew people in that group. After hearing about their program, I am so glad I am on mine. I turns our Madison does not support SIT, because there a few safety measures. They kids are given vouchers and have to find their own food and housing, and are often sick because of it. Their research is also not as useful as ours, as theirs is all individual but ours is going towards a huge plan. But, it was interesting to talk to a few of them.

                We had to leave this morning, but on the way out saw a male lion on the road. It was great because he was so close. We had a long drive back, and got all covered in dust. And are now taking showers and feeling truly clean for the first time in days.

We saw many more animals than I listed here; I just gave some of the best examples. Also, the Serengeti is called the Siringet, or the vast endless plain in Masaai. And that is what it truly is. A wonderful place with amazing creatures.

Kylie

Days 34-40

Days 34-40

So, a few days ago I had my homestay. The family Laura and I visited had a mother, father, two boys, and a daughter. The aunt and grandmother also showed up during the day. The father used to work at a tourist lodge, so he spoke excellent English, making it easy for us to get along. We spent the morning cooking breakfast and then lunch, but after lunch we got to rest under the mango tree for a short while. An hour later, we got to learn how to sew a shirt. The mama is a tailor, so she got to teach us. She did not speak any English, so that was interesting. I go to learn how to run a sewing machine by foot power. It was really fun.

The next day was also a rest day. I got up to go to mass in the morning, and then in the afternoon we went to a batik store. We were taught to create the batiks, and now I have my own small version that I created. It does not look very good, but at least I had fun.

The five days after that were spent on studying for and taking exams. We had three exams, one yesterday and two today.

And for the next five days we are going to be camping in the Serengeti. We leave tomorrow at 7, but I have cook crew so I get to be up at 5.

Kylie

Days 31-33

Day 31 -33

Two days ago we visited some local areas the incorporated environmentally friendly designs. We saw a school that had its own tree nursery and a house that was using cow manure and turning it into gas for cooking.

After lunch we had our first community service day. We went to the local school and spent time reading to the children, playing games with them, and helping to build a new kitchen for them. The children were really fun and loved holding our hands. We introduced them to duck, duck, coco, ring around the rosy, and a conga line. At the kitchen, we were attaching the doors. This involved adding cement along the seams to hold it in place. I am still picking cement out from under my nails.

Yesterday we went to visit Burunge Wildlife Management Area. It is about an hour and a half drive out there. We talked to the managers and saw how effective the area was. We then climbed a hill to get a good view of the lake. We then tried to have lunch at a lodge, but it costs $1,200-1,800 a night, so they would not let us in. Instead, we went to Mtu-wa-Mbu to go shopping.

Me in Tarangire. Note the clouds comming over the crater.

And today was our work day. We have a poster due today, a paper due tomorrow, and then another paper due in a week. But, tomorrow we have our homestay. I get to spend the day with a Tanzanian family. That should be interesting. The poster is due at midnight tonight. But the professor said that he is not going to stay up that late, but he might but up a motion sensitive camera that they use to photo leopards in the park. We might just have to walk by at night to see if he did. We are also performing the Malaria Dance frequently now. It involves jumping and clapping, aiming for little flying buzzing creatures who somehow have sneaked into our room.

Kylie

Day 26

Day 26

Today, we went to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is one of the few areas of its kind. It allows for livestock grazing and also preserves the animals. Remember driving through Mesa Verde on the winding roads? Now imagine that the roads were unpaved and bumpy, as well as at steep angles, and then you can imagine our ascent and descent into the crater. Before we started, we had to wait at the gate for an hour. There was a problem with one of our cars. As we were waiting, other groups of tourists would talk to us. We also counted how many we saw in safari ourfits. Who knew you needed that many pockets for standing in a car all day? We also had to listen to a lecture by some guy who works there. He told us all about how the area is run. He said that there was no human-wildlife conflict (what we are studying in class), and when we told our professors he said that, they just laughed. But that was the only school work we had to do today, so the rest of the day we got to be tourists.

We got to see zebra, wildebeest, elephants, Thompson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, hippos, hyenas and a rhino, all before lunch. Where we ate, we had to keep the food in the cars, because if the birds saw you with food, they would dive at you and take the food. People have gotten hurt during this. But, we could watch hippos.

After lunch is when the lion-searching began. We found a lioness with a young cub. They were walking along the side of the road and the baby was calling to its mother. It was so cute. We also saw two male lions, and then another lioness. To see the last lioness, our driver pulled a 180 over a rutted track. We were not expecting this as we stood in the back, so now we have nice new bruises to add to our collection. There were also many hyenas, one was sitting in the middle of the road, and was young and very cute. On the way out and over the hill, the land curser had to go in first gear, because we had too much weight to make it up the side. We even went backwards for a bit.

After that, we all slept coming down the other side. Who knew that bumpy trucks could lull you to sleep so easily? We got to an overlook, and our driver woke us all up. He was amazed that we were able to sleep through the ride. This ride was extra fun because I rode with one of my teachers. This teacher is from Germany, so he is an ‘umzungu’ (foreigner) too. And seeing a foreigner driving a vehicle in the parks is rare, so we got a lot of stares. He also did a good job of pointing out animals. Normally the driver is concentrating on driving, but he would just drive along saying ostrich on the right. Warthogs on the left. Three buzzards over there near that tree. And way over there behind the hill and on the other side of that elephant is a hartebeest. It was very amazing. He even knew what birds we were passing. We saw the largest bird able to fly, the Kori bustard.

Unfortunately, my camera lost power at the beginning, so as soon as I acquire photos from other people, I will be able to get them up.

And here is one right now. What do you call Tanzanian traffic?

Zebras and wildebeest who do not want to get off the road.

Kylie

Days 24 and 25

Days 24 and 25

 We got to go to elephant hill yesterday for a travel lecture. This involved and off-road trip in our Land Cruziers, and then they were parked on a steep angle, so we had to stick rocks under the wheels so they would not go downhill. It is very hard to pay attention for two hours when you are on a hill top surrounded by Africa as far as the eye can see. And we saw a scorpion as we were listening to the lecture.

After that, we went to the Ngorongoro Forest, and were told to explore for a while. The Question of the Day was "Kioko, who pooped here?" yelled by one of the students as they stared at a pile of dung. It turns out it was a white mongoose. We also saw a lion ant hole, and ate some acacia sap.

The power/ internet have been out for 23 hours. The Question of Today is "Who gets the point if the volleyball goes through the net?" Oh the joys of third-hand goods. And, I tripped over a hole and cut my knee. And while I was hiking/following my teacher through a thorn fence to see a bird, some thorns got my calf. But, we got to learn about the Maasi and yesterday’s lecture was called The Social Organization of African Lions. And, my roommate has giardia, a parasite in the water. Fun times.

Oh, and if you watch The Amazing Race Season 20 Episode 8, they are in Ngorongoro, Karatu, Mtu wa Mbu, and Lake Manyara, all locations where I have been.

 Zebra

 Me in TANAPA Tarangire

The lion ant hole we saw.
Kylie