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  Iringa and Ruaha, Tanzania
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Okay, so this entry is encompassing a lot, I'm jumping back and forth between entries, so bear with me.

I left for safari to Ruaha National Park with Quin on Sunday. Along with 9 other Finish people and 4 drivers between 3 cars.

7 hours in the car to Iringa, which was not so bad, since we were North American tyrants, and kicked the Finish people out of the jeep with decent seats. ;) - hey- every woman for herself here. When these people have spent 2.5 months with sporadic water, electricity, and horrible daladala rides, then they might have a case.

Iringa, one word, actually 2, nice & COLD! well chilly anyway

01. Iringa

. It was so nice to spend a night where i actually had to wear a long sleeve out! OH SO NICE!!! Quin and I had this dicussion about why it was so much colder, since we were heading west/south. Wouldn't it be colder farther north. Thank goodness Kristin had explained it us, that HELLO! the equator is north, so that logic gets tossed out the window. If you are in a country that has the equator running through it- there north/south cold/heat idea is bollocks. SO in light of that, Iringa is surrounded by mountains, and that's what keeps it cooler. I would have been happy staying in Iringa for the week, but Iringa was just a pit stop on our way to Ruaha.

So Monday morning we head off another 3 hours to get to Ruaha. As we get closer to the plains, I swear every mile it jumped at least 5 degrees in temperature. So by the time we reach the park, it's a sweltering 100 degrees.

OH Africa, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways...
1. the way you make me sweat in places i didn't think even had pores
2. the fact that my butt and thighs can produce enough sweat to soak through my clothes and seat and cause more embarrassment that a zit on my nose :)
3

02. Ruaha

. how leaving the car window open on a dirt road can cake my face and neck with enough sand and dirt to fill a sand box
4. how you provide Zebras and Elephants to turn into roadkill instead of the usual deer.
(seriously, on our way, there is a national park (Mikumi) that the highway cuts through, and at 3x did we almost turn a zebra into that nights dinner.- CRAZY!!)
5. how you make me realize that 80 degrees is chilly!

you get the idea ;)

so we get into the park, and it looks like a desert. Well duh! It's Africa, but still, take a look at the pictures. Everything is so dry! Talk about a dry season! I think the sum total of green things i saw couldn't even fill enough for house plants.

It was an amazing experience, and I'll let the pictures explain. But I definitely reccommend it, and I plan on coming back during the rainy season. How bout it Dad? anyone else up for it?

It's funny, it felt like the zoo, only i was the one contained in a box being stared at. You have to realize, this is a park, but only because it's contained by nature. Mountains and rivers. There are no park rangers, stun guns, etc to protect you from these animals. This is the wild, people, and there are no second chances, let alone a gurantee that you'll come out alive. It was awesome, such an adrenaline rush, knowing that lions, giraffes, zebras and elephants can attack/chase/charge and scare the poo right out of you, and you're only hope is that the car you are in can outrun a 70mph cheetah

03. Ruaha

.

side note: at one point, a pack of elephants starting charging us, scary as hect, apparently we hung around too long for the male elephants to get sick and tired of us. but thrilling despite the fact. (Remember, i love the thrill of a potential death- so this was the highlight of my trip- i have a video of it- i'll see if i can get it to work)

Go ahead and take a look at the pictures, I've included captions to explain some.... enjoy!!

Much love!

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

04. Ruaha	05. Ruaha	06. Our Safari Getaway Cars	07. Simba and Family
08. Lion Xing	09. Girrafe Xing	10.	11. Herd of Buffalo
12. An unfortunate buffalo	13. Is there any left?	14. Me & Quin	15. Herd/Pack? of Elephants
16. Zebras	17. More elephants	18. Hungry Hungry Elephants	19. Our morning view
20. Me and my elephants	21. Me & Quin

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