Just came back from 4 Day Safari with Viva Africa Tours, Jan 4-7, 2014. We visited Tarangire Park, a Masaii Village, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Reserve. One sees these things on television or movies, but until you expereince it yourself, it's hard to explain. The numbers of animals, the wildness of it all and the way the Masaii people live. The village experience was outstanding. The roads and the dust were brutal but to see lions sitting in a tree ...

Had New Year's Eve dinner with Alfred's friends Chris and Susie and other guides and people in the industry who brought clients or friends. Before they came, we played a rousing game of 'slingshot'! This women with me in the picture is Mikala. She is coming on Safari with me this Saturday - yeah! After dinner, we went to C Africa across from Rafiki for a New Year's celebration and dancing. Very fun however I missed my "traditions" with my family and friends....

A big Happy New Year to all my Family and Friends. This has been a huge awakening for me and I look forward to more to come next year. May you all have a peaceful and happy 2014! XOXOX Leah PS So this wasn't posted - I thought it was! - still learning about this blog!! Please forgive all the posts becuase my internet is intermittant here, I have to post in small quantities so it gets posted. Updates for Serengeti pics and Ngorongoro Crater to come so...

Up late getting everything ready so slept in a bit. Alfred drove me to next hotel - Springlands, which is very nice but in the middle of nowhere in Moshi. I had a nice 30 min swim cause I haven't done anything for a couple of days and feeling a little antsy! You can hear the Muslim Mosque service loud and clear, The hotel compound is gated cause you wouldn't want to venture out on your own...Yikes! Had Kili orientation, and met my rather solemn bunch of mate...

Arrived at Springlands hotel. The company I booked through (Ultimate Kilimanjaro) is just an internet site out of Chicago for ZARA tours, who actually runs the trips in Tanzania. This hotel is on the outskirts of Moshi is a sketchy part of town - they have you trapped cause there is no where else to go, safely. Added to the fun is the loudspeaker from the Mosque next door who wails for 1/2 hour starting at 5:00am and again at 6:30pm. The water is hot and the ...