29 July -- Uganda to Tanzania (by Caroline)

We left Uganda this morning for Tanzania via Nairobi. I left with extremely fond memories. Uganda is amazingly lush and clean despite the immense poverty. Honestly, I did not know what to expect – images of post Idi Amin, hijackings, and machete-wielding guerillas. Of course, it was not any of that. Ugandans are incredibly warm and friendly people, not to mention physically beautiful! The people in the capital of Kampala are especially dark – a gorgeous ebony.

There are over 50 different tribes in this country. The clothing is a rainbow of color. Gasoline is about $12 a gallon ($10 in Kenya). Bill and Hillary are warmly remembered for their visit and aid to Africa. Many things are named after them (pizzas, pavilions, etc.). The African food has been mostly stews, matoke (steamed bananas), dodo (similar to spinach), cassava, sweet potatoes, eggplant or meat in a ground nut sauce, rice, and breads. I got to take photos of a kitchen in Bwindi.

Three airports later, we arrived in Arusha, Tanzania and met our driver Wakara. What I noticed immediately were power lines on the outskirts of Arusha. This country is much more developed than Uganda. The land is flat and dry. It looks like a high desert. I see wheat and sunflower fields all around and many people walking, often carrying amazing things on their heads – a common sight everywhere we have been.

Our drive to Lake Manyara Hotel is 2 hours. The sun is setting and the light is a golden amber. We pass many Maasai men wrapped in their traditional red cloth herding cattle. The sun is behind them and the dust billowing. It is a spectacular National Geographic moment.
We continue our drive through the eastern Rift Valley and I fell asleep. We arrived at our destination and I found myself staring at a large, impressive lodge with massage services. We were at the doorstep of Colonialism, I thought. I took advantage of a massage after dinner and dove into bed which had been turned down with mints and a mosquito net. Tomorrow brings our first safari!