Monthly Archives: September 2012
Zanzibar to Dar
I knew I'd have to leave my quiet beach sooner or later, so when the time came, I caught a dala dala to Stone Town. Dala dalas are local buses and there seems to be a few different vehicles types. In Zanzibar the dala dalas are like pick up trucks with an extended bed where … Continue reading
Stay tuned!
Hello out there! Mini Bear and I have had little to no internet access for the past ten days or so but it looks like we’ll be able to put up some new posts this weekend, including what may have been the worst bus journey of my life (I can laugh about it now…!). Thanks … Continue reading
The beach, Zanzibar
My three travel companions have now returned to the states so I returned to the beach in Bwejuu, on the island’s east coast. Here I’ve been swimming in the Indian ocean, eaten my share of fresh tropical fruits (mangos!), watched the Maasai security guards play soccer on the white sand beach in their bright red … Continue reading
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Our flight from Moshi to the island of Zanzibar, formerly an important trading post bridging Africa and the Middle East, was just over an hour long. We spent a couple of quiet days on the beach, still recuperating from the Kilimanjaro climb. Since I was the only one of us who wasn’t going back to … Continue reading
Former slave market, Zanzibar
After Kili, the four of us flew to Zanzibar where we visited the former slave market and Anglican church. Zanzibar was once home to a massive slave trade. From here, most slaves were transported either to Madagascar to work on French sugar plantations or to Middle Eastern countries like Oman. Slaves were kept in tiny … Continue reading
Mt. Kilimanjaro
For your viewing pleasure, a Kilimanjaro trailer!
Kilimanjaro, day 8
Start: Mweka Hut; 3,100 meters End: Gate; 1,700 meters Hiking time: 2:00 It was a short, downhill hike to reach the gate and we said our goodbyes to Kilimanjaro. We had seen an exuberant Italian family a couple of times over the past week. They were always in good spirits, even when our … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 7
Start: Barafu Base Camp; 4,680 meters End: Mweka Hut; 3,100 meters Hiking time: 2:25 We got up from our post-summit naps to have lunch and then hit the trail once more. We had another fifteen hundred meters to descend before the day was done. It was a steady and steep downhill hike that took … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro summit!
Start: Barafu Base Camp; 4,620 meters Summit: Uhuru peak; 5,895 meters Ascent time: 6:20 Descent time: 2:00 At 11:30 pm, the four of us stumbled out of our tents, had a snack, and were on our way towards the highest point in Africa. The moon was out but it was still unbelievably dark and, … Continue reading
Kilimanjaro, day 6
Start: Karanga Valley; 3,930 meters End: Barafu Base Camp; 4,620 meters Hiking time: 2:50 I opened the tent flap this morning fully expecting to see frost covering the ground. Instead I found myself looking upon a silent sea of clouds with pink crests and blue shadows so impressive that I mumbled an instinctive, “Wow,” … Continue reading