Mivumo River Lodge Selous Game Reserve

... him and playing his part. The rest of Jeremy's family could not be here as well, so we have a few friends who will play their parts as well.' The Americans all laughed. The MC translated into Swahili and some people laughed. Then he said, 'Jeremy has two sisters who also could not be here. Andrea...', Margit stood up and waved, 'and Kelly.'Eileen stood up and waved. The American laughed loud. The MC translated into Swahili and no one laughed. I began to think the ...

... the cushions near the front of the church video taping. A Tanzanian guy also videotaped and had one of the old, intensely bright lights attached to the top of his camera. He seemed oblivious to me as he walked in front of me or positioned his spotlight so it shown right into my eyes and camera. We kept jockeying for position. As one of the choirs sang, the Bishop beckoned me. 'Uh oh', I thought, 'He doesn't want me to videotape.' Instead he ...

... clear that they did not want any raunchy stuff. But we did not know what to expect. The women danced and sang inside the church room. We paraded in to trilling and song. And a blinding light from the videographer who was using old lighting, the kind they pierces your eyes with intensity. Amy and Happy went to front to sit on the "thrones" while Linda and I took out places in the front row. Someone prayed, someone read from the bible ...

... Jeremy in a white robe, gave him a staff and made him a tribal leader. People made speeches that those who understood found both touching and humorous. When the Bishop talked, Happy cried. The bishop and Jeremy introduced each person sitting up front in Swahili. I don't know what he said about me except that I was a rafiki (friend) from America who has climbed Kilimanjaro. Both mothers were especially honored. Jeremy's mom, Jan, got a rousing welcome. I sat sewn into my ...

... away. After dinner escorted back to our tent where there was the usual grunting, snorting and ******* from hippos and a hyena making a right racket. Pat could take no more and shouted SHUT UP AND GO TO BED! A stunned silence fell across the the African bush as the terrified wildlife wondered what new and awful creature had entered their domain. The gecko however was used to all this and had sneaked back in the shower.

... by accident! Way behind schedule and the organisers getting jumpy as they wanted to arrive before dark as nobody in their right mind drives in the dark here. Not only for the normal hazards of trucks with no lights, bikes, carts, people and animals on the road but also bandits. The government had however provided an armed policeman to keep us company. Had lunch on the bus. Managed to drop ...

... unnamed as I don't know their names :) The walking safari lasted about 2hrs. It was ok. I wanted to see a ton of animals but we only say giraffe, baboon, and walked past an elephant but didn't see it. The guide said we just missed the elephant :( The walking safari was good for seeing the nature I guess. He was able to show us the elephant ant and the little things you couldn't see on the driving safari which was nice. We stayed at a nice place for ...

... them vulnerable to countless more horrific things. After ten years the center is starting to see students through college! Many of the students comeback and remain i Ilula to help the younger generations of orphans and the Ilula community. Something very wonderful is happening in Ilula. The program was started by a Norwegian woman named Berit who could no longer deny her calling. She began the center using the pricinples of a ...

... who wants to learn the tongue. Staying there were several missionary families who had moved out to Tanzania to do some Bible translation and were partaking in an intensive language-training course. During dinner we gained some insightful information on the roads we were hoping to take tomorrow. We soon realized the extended rain that was plaguing this region was just too unpredictable and everyone thought we should just stick to the main tar road ...

This is the first installment of the trip that broke all concepts of what my friend Monika deemed as "sketchy." We have now had to recalibrate the Monika Hartsel Sektchiometer to take count for the experiences of this trip. Lindsey, Monika, Anna, and I decided we wanted to go to Lake Victoria and Rubondo Island for part of our independent travel time. We thought it would be a lovely week spent with the girls on the edge of the second ...