Hotel Flamingo Arusha

Ahhh local buses! Africa does interesting versions. Cram as many people in as possible and drive like a maniac. We had a 6 hour journey (it was supposed to be 4) from Nairobi airport to Arusha in Tanzania. We weren't able to sit together with Heather scoring a fully veiled young Muslim Mum with a fractious and fidgety child to share with and Avan next to a chap who worked for the United Nations. Halfway through the journey we had to go through the border and the officer demanded $50 US each f...

We awoke in the night to kill a mozzie that had managed to get under our net and vowed that we had to resolve our malaria medication and insect repellent problem before we headed off on safari. And solve it we did. Our pick up at 8.00am ,after a wonderful breakfast at the Flamingo Hotel, took us to the office of Sunny Safaris to pay the balance of our money owed for the safari and our first question was where can find a western style pharmacy? No Problem our driver would take us there on our ...

Caveat: all grammer and spelling errors are to be chalked up to quick typing...not an inability to spell (even if that is the case). Like any good flyer, I felt it was important to check the Air Ethiopia reviews prior to boarding my flight. I really wasn't sure what to expect from the national carrier of a nation that, in general, I have nothing but respect for. I mean, where else can you find beautiful people (Iman has nothing on her compatriots), my favorite coffee beans (thank you Barefoot...

We were on the hunt...for the elusive twiga. Our Toyata 4x4 rumbled along the dirt "roads" of northern Tanzania. River beds? Trees and shrubs? HA! Challenge us back country! I had finally found a use for the 4x4 vehicle - and you can be sure when I get home my derision toward our urban SUV users will increase, a million fold. I now have a new bar for the use of SUVs, and no landscape I know back home will meet it. Think "a hike up Mt. Shasta, not on a trail." Now, do it in a 4x4. Out of no wh...

December 14-15 weekend - back in Arusha for my swahili class Wow - I've been so remiss in writing this week. It's been busy and good. Though the honeymoon is starting to end I still am enjoying myself. I decided to go to the office (nilikwenda ofisi) for one day - Monday (jumatatu) and then spend the rest of the week in Arusha. My office is in Moshono, a little village outside Arusah. My homestay is kind of between the two places. I'm such a consultant at heart - I just work better when I'm m...