Photo Safari

Here are my highlight photos from Tanzania. We went to Tangerie National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and then the Seregeti National Park for 4 nights of camping; to view the wildlife. I woke up 2 nights in Seregenti by lion noises; they were that close in our camp. Learned the animals in Swahili. All a terrific experience for the adventurous. These photos are from Tangerie National Park...there were more animals (e.g. lionesses) that we saw but these photos were the closest and the best from my little sure-shot Olympus camera.

Yes, they get that close to us in the jeeps.









This is the smallest antelope in Africa called 'dikdik'.




Sunrise at the Berunge Camp site where are permanent luxurious tents were pitched on wooden platforms.

More animal pics to follow...only can upload so much a day.

Entry from a Globe Trotter

In case anyone is wondering and still reading here....I am home in Melbourne from a month-long sabbatical. The trip entailed flying to California for the Jane Thornley workshop in San Juan Capistrano, Oxnard condo stay, to flying to Tanzania via Amsterdam to start my African safari. Then I flew back via Amserdam to LAX, stayed overnight then flew back the next evening to Melbourne. It's not world travel; it's globe trotting! I did this before when I lived in the UK: flew back to US to fly to New Zealand only to return back to the States to get back to the UK for work in 2005.

I kept a paper journal of the daily events while in Africa so I will not be rewriting the details here. My photos are not great since I ony have a small Olympus shure-shot camera with just a 3x zoom. Others in my travel group had a 10x zoom or a 200x lens on their digitals. I am not worthy for technology this time around; I used to be queen of technology on such trips. I am loosing my touch or probably more pre-occupied for such priorities. Once I have my photos and others' available, I will be posting them here in another entry. The winner of imagery is between seeing lion cubs in a pride or watching a newborn gazelle takes it first steps, slimy with the birthing on it still. Now I see how the Lion King story was created. There is the 'circle of life' while in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Here is what I have to say about Africa: everyone should take the opportunity to see this developing country to understand how we take EVERYTHING for granted in life. Yes, I know some of you wouldn't want to take such a trip because it's uncomfortable or inconvenient to your king and queen lifestyles. It is a life changing experience to visit with the local African tribe and learn about the differences of our cultures.

As for now...I am very jet lagged and I imagine it will take a full week before I am really back to normal.