The End of Our Adventure

After the safari we didn't arrive back in Arusha until around 9pm, so we stayed In the same hotel we were at before the safari. We used wifi to book a flight to Dar the next morning. 

When we got to Dar we got a taxi and stayed at Q Bar. We stayed in the backpacking room, which is only $12 but you may have to share it with other people. Luckily, no one else came and we had it to ourselves! We explored a bit and ate at an awesome pizza place. 

The next morning we stopped at a grocery store and bought some food to take to Tom's ( my dad's best friends friend). He lives in an amazing apartment. 

 

The first thing we did was take the first hot shower we have had in weeks. Then, we used his kitchen to make eggs for breakfast. It was fun to cook our own food again! 

Tom took us to dinner later on. He had so many amazing stories. He is such a nice guy and we can't wait to visit him again! 

The next day was our last, we were being picked up for the airport at 9 pm so we spent the afternoon enjoying our favorite local beers on the beach. 

We were sad to be leaving, but also excited to get home. There are so many things we take for granted at home that we were really looking forward to. 

When we got to the airport, we were told our flight was delayed 4 hours. That was awful. By the time we finally got on the plane I was feeling sick. It continued to get worse, and after the 24 hour travel time I was officially sick. Luckily Jake was fine, and after a few days of being home I am now much better! We were told that would probably happen so I wasn't surprised. 

Our trip started with disappointment, but it turned into an incredible adventure. I feel so lucky to have experienced so many amazing things with Jake. We really learned so much and met so many interesting people. I hope we can continue to travel and I really hope we can go back to Tanzania. It is a wonderful place! 

Safari

After Nungwi we took a dala dala back to Stone Town, and then a flight to Arusha. We didn't get in until around 8 at night. We met with the guide to our safari and went over the itinerary, grabbed dinner and went to sleep. 

We were picked up at 7am to start the safari! Here is our car, it had padded ceilings which was more then necessary on the roads were drove on. 

We started heading to Ngorongoro Crater. It was about a six hour drive. 

There were three men from Hungry on the safari with us. Let's just say they wouldn't be our first choice of people to spend three days with. Jake and I came up with nicknames we used to describe them.

Ansel Adams: he needed hundreds of pictures of everything, from hundreds of angles. "Could you move up an inch so I can get a picture of this tree. Now move back two inches so I can get it from a slightly different angle. Now can you move up two feet and to the right slightly". Fifteen minutes later, we can move away from the tree. 

HIM (high Internet maintenance): this guy had more electronics than Best Buy. He would switch off charging two devices at a time(only two outlets available in the car, very disappointing he can't charge more at one time). Our favorite moment is when he had out his wireless router and was attempting to get Internet while we are on a safari in the middle of the Serengeti. 

DustBuster: let me start this one by saying that everything in the car was filthy the entire time. So much dirt and dust was always in the car. We were inhaling it, and completely coated in it. When a car would drive past the opposite way there was a cloud within the car of dirt. Well, DustBuster was obsessed with constantly dusting himself off, along with all of his bags. Every time we stopped for any reason he would take off his shirt to shake off the dust. He would take his bags out and dust them off, and would never sit in the car without dusting off his seat first. 

These guys also had just arrived in Africa, and obviously did zero research ahead of time. They bought a bag of apples and were eating them in the car. They never washed a single one. They also thought it was fine to drink the water. Let's just say that they got very sick. Jake and I told them why, and they disagreed. They blamed our chef, Vincent. Vincent was an awesome guy and cook. We were not sick, so it obviously wasn't his cooking. They told Vincent that he made them sick and that he needed to get them bagels to make them feel better since It is his fault. Considering all of the grocery stores in the Serengeti, this was obviously a simple request. They were completely rude. 

Heading into the crater we had to check in, and these baboons were just hanging out in the parking lot. We had to shut the car doors quickly because the baboons would try to jump into your car! It was awesome.

Then, we headed down into the crater. 

The zebras were so cool, they looked painted. 

Wildebeest:  

The hyenas were just like they are portrayed in Lion King, scraggly and gross.  

Pumba! It was like real life Lion King out here. 

See the lions laying? Did you know Simba actually means lion? 

This was the craziest moment of the safari. We were eating breakfast at camp the second morning in the crater. Arron, our guide, came to get us because an elephant was walking into camp! Jake ran to get a camera, and I stayed and watched the elephant. 

This is a picture Jake got, I was standing directly where the elephant is running. He ran straight at me! I ran into the bathroom right there ( the stone building next to the elephant). 

In this picture I am in the bathroom looking at the elephant through a crack in the door. It was insane. 

Turns out, he didn't want to kill me. He was just thirsty. Wile he was getting a drink I snuck away. Jake had seen the entire thing. What an awesome story :)

After the elephant experience, we headed to the Serengeti. 

On the way, the step fell off the car. They couldn't fix it, so eh followed Jake's brilliant advice and just broke it completely off. 

This was our campsite:

Lions! 

Buffalo, sweet hairstyle huh? 

Some thirsty lions we waited for before crossing the stream:

It is hard to tell,but those are a ton of hippos in the water:

Look closely, it's a cheetah! 

On the way out of the Serengeti we got a flat tire:

It was incredible to be so close to so many amazing creatures in their natural habitat. I am so glad we got to experience it! 

Nungwi Part 2

Friday, July 5th - Wednesday July 10th

To get to Nungwi we took an hour and a half daladala to Stone Town, then another hour and a half one to Nungwi. That one was the worst-people literally sitting on top of one another. We learned not to pay ahead of time, they charge way more. We just hop on and say we will pay later. They are always 2000 shillings, which is equivalent to around $1.20. We suppose it is worth the uncomfortable ride :) 

When we were in Kendwa Jake and I walked here to Nungwi to reserve a place at some cheap bungalows on the beach, lots of space here! The owner is also very kind. 

We have spent most of our time laying on the beach and swimming in the ocean. It has been very relaxing. We also got massages for only 20,000 shillings for an hour (about $12). It was incredible. 

When we were here last week, Aga, Kim and I discovered this awesome restaurant that was out on the ocean. Then we had coffee, and Jake and I have been going for their happy hour and playing cards. 

When we were here last week, we all ate dinner at Baraka and fell in love with it. It is on the beach, and you get so much delicious food for very cheap. Everywhere else on the beach is very expensive. We have gone back every night and tried a good portion of the menu :) 

Our German friends from Jambiani also just arrived in Nungwi, so Monday night we went to dinner with them at Baraka then went to a local party at a bar in the village. Ramadan starts Wednesday, so it is the last celebration. They had different groups of dancers at performed. It was really neat to watch and notice so many cultural differences compared to a bar in America. Most people do not drink, and everyone danced. Men and women would not dance together, and there were only a few women because the majority of Nungwi is Muslim, and the Muslim women don't go to the bar. 

On the daladala to Nungwi this time we also met a couple from Europe. The guy is from France, and girl from Finland. They have been traveling the world for an entire year already, and Tanzania is their last stop. We told them where we were staying, so they are staying here as well. We have spent time with them on the beach and at after dinner drinks, and have really enjoyed listening to their stories of their travels. 

We pass this sign everyday that I thought you would enjoy :) 

Tomorrow we will take a daladala back to Stone Town, and then fly to Arusha where we will stay the night. Friday morning we leave on a four day safari. Then, in one week we fly home. Time has gone so fast. See you all soon! 

Jambiani

Tuesday, July 2nd

We took another Dala Dala from Stone Town to Jambiani. When we arrived in town we immediately noticed the beautiful beaches. The water is so many shades of blue and turquoise. Our bungalow is right on the beach which is incredible! 

It amazes me how cheap these places are. Right on the beach and breakfast included for both of us for only $30 a night. 

We did have to kill a few bugs, however, before being comfortable. 

We also had a friendly roommate:

Breakfast has also continued to improve since the first one in Dar I wrote about!

On the first day we walked the beach and explored. We walked all the way to the next village,Paje. We found out later that from our hotel it is 5 kilometers away. There and back was quite the walk! We met many people on the walk that were very friendly. They kept saying 'welcome home'. It is a very quiet and peaceful place. We love it here!

For dinner I ordered a fish curry, which is usually a safe choice with pieces of fish in sauce. Here, it was an entire fish. Head and all. I couldn't do it so jake cut the meat off for me. Since then, I have been asking if the fish comes with or without the head. 

On Wednesday, we spent the day laying on the beach which we basically had to ourselves. In the evening we enjoyed some wine and chocolate chipatti at a cute place on the beach. We had dinner with a couple from Germany that we met on the daladala. It was a great day until dinner, where Jake got food poisoning. He was sick all day Thursday as well. 

Thursday evening we walked the beach, and the tide was so low we could walk out a few hundred meters on a sand bar. It was crazy. 

Jake is feeling better, so back to Nungwi tomorrow!