­­­­­­­­­­­­So we have just joined our overland tour for the next 21 days. We were both a bit nervous as the crowd really makes or breaks these kind of trips....but the good news is we have joined with a really awesome bunch of people and we all get on really well. When the initial intro's were done Sean felt a bit out of place as he realised he was the only over 30 "bullet" on the bus....but the young'ns have allowed him and his zimmer frame to join in most of the time which is very understanding of them...

First stop is Arusha as we head out of Kenya and back into Tanzania. Long day on the truck, but finally we get to our campsite and get a taste of our life for the next 21 days as we set up our tents and start with our communal duties. Sean is on heavy duty which means loading all the bags, collecting water (hasn't learnt to balance it on his head as yet...) and moving tables etc. I am part of a group that rotates duties which could be chopping for meals to help the cook, washing up the cooking stuff or cleaning the bus - think Sean got the better deal!

The next day we set off early and head for the Ngorongoro Crater for sunrise. Sadly we are met by heavy cloud and mist and can't see the floor from the crater rim. We wind our way round the crater rim and eventually start our descent....it really is like something the mind could only dream up - like some form of Jurassic Park scene. Absolutely breathtaking....hopefully in SA we will be able to load some pics for you guys. We spent the morning game driving around and saw loads of game. The crater is basically a grassland savannah in a collapsed crater with alkaline salty lakes in which the flamingos flourish. Cheetah, rhino, spotted hyena and golden jackals to name a few of the animals we encountered. We had a crazy lunch tucked away in the landies - not for fear of any wild game, but for fear of the Black kites who are so beady eyed and skilful that they literally swoop down and take the food out your hand, barely leaving fingers in tact as one guy found out much to his dismay and fright (and much to our amusement as we had been warned).

From there we headed out the crater and towards the Serengeti plains. Just like the Masai Mara they stretch out forever under the magical African skyline. Thunder storms are prevalent as rainy season has started....making the skyline even more dramatic, the air smell even purer and the setting even more spectacular for a lion kill....yes we sat for 45 minutes and witnessed the lions meticulously plan and execute the kill of a zebra (with a little cub in tow to learn)!!!! Absolutely blown away by such a rare and special sighting. Could it get any better....well yes we even had a volcanic eruption in the distance and we could see the smoke billowing into the sky forming a cloud similar to an atom bomb mushroom (not a bad backdrop to watch huge tusker elephants grazing)! We were then treated to the most amazing sunset and as we set up camp in the wild (no fences) we could hear a big male lion calling, announcing his turf and kingdom. Unbelievably we slept like logs…not even concerned about what might have snuck around our camp at dark. One girl was met by a giraffe as she got up in the night to relieve herself...funnily enough she decided to retreat back into her tent and wait for morning.

The next morning started amazingly as we found a big male lion sitting and feeding on a kill, while occasionally getting up to chase off the advancing hyenas who wanted some food themselves. Little jackals picked cheekily, while vultures waited in the trees for their turn. I guess it was him we heard calling all night... Luckily he had a big dinner to keep him busy and prevent him from paying us a visit... The game drive that morning was amazing and we basically met up with the same pride that made the kill the night before...bellies full and cub ever playful. We also saw the rest of the big five...yes even a leopard - it was just amazing. Sadly it all has to end sometime, and after lunch we headed back to our truck. Never been so dirty in my life - we were a state from all the dust in the Savannah as we cruised around with heads out of the land rovers (had removable tops for better game viewing). No better excuse for getting a bit grubby though!

So back to Arusha for another night at the camp, but this time to a big braai put on by the campsite with all the other trucks camped there. Boy did the weather let us know it was rainy season starting here in Africa. It poured most of the night but luckily the tent held out most the water so only a few wet patches. The packing up that day to leave was horrendous as it continued to pour - everything and everyone was soaked to the bone. We were glad to leave Arusha as you get so pestered as a Muzungu (white person) for money and to buy stuff - literally non-stop. But before we left we stocked up on some home comforts....biltong, droe-wors, marmite etc.....yes Sean sniffed out a Shopright in Arusha and true as nuts they had the biltong we have so been craving.

Our next camp was at Pangani as we headed towards Dar es Salaam. We are typing this in Dar before we head off to camp on the beach. Then tomorrow here comes Zanzibar.