African Safari Local People

In September and October, 2015, we took a 3 week African safari and saw marvelous views of big (and little) game, many national parks including: Serengeti, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Nakuru, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Olduvai (now Oldupai) Gorge .  Various towns and cities including Nairobi, Karatu, Karen Area, Arusha and met a lot of hard working and friendly people.

We visited a fishing village on Lake Victoria and toured the town with the local children who were very friendly and engaging.  The young man in the striped shirt asked me for a pen.  At first I did not understand what he wanted, but when I finally reached into my pocket and brought our my Bic pen, a big smile spread across his face and he immediately took off the pen cap and marked on his hand to be sure it worked.  He carried my pen proudly as he and his friends toured us around their village.  Even though he did not speak much English and I spoke no Swahili, we were able to find common ground by counting to 10 in English and saying the alphabet many times during our tour.  My Bic pen stayed with him in Africa , but I had to leave to go back home to the U.S.A.


Tina and Solomon, our Masai tour guide in the Masai Mara.  Solomon did a great job showing us all the sights in the Mara, and used his cell phone to stay in touch on the "Jungle News Network" to find where the animals could be found for the best viewing every day.


Solomon and David our driver.  They were both great!!  They knew so much about the Mara and its animals and landscape and people and the Kenya tribes.



Solomon with Kopai the guide for our other OAT group in the Masai Mara.





Our guides gave us a wonderful picnic lunch in the Masai Mara as the wildebeest migrated past.



Solomon showing us the Hippo pool.


Click here for a video of these hippos in the river.  Listen for their strong breathing and watch for how they spin their ears like little propellers.
https://youtu.be/Dsd74osrMjs

Our singing welcome at the Lake Elementaita lodge from the friendly staff.  "Jambo, Jambo bwana..."

Here is the video of their welcome song for us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbRmqsvKrYE

Land Cruisers waiting to start our day's adventures.

Making new friends at Lake Elementaita Lodge.  Note the Indiana University sweatshirt.  It was a great conversation starter.

John and Tina modeling our Iraqw robe and wedding skirt, blouse and beads.

Dennis, Carol, John and Tina in our finest Iraqw apparel

Checking out the fabrics at the Iraqw village experience

The local Iraqw girl shows us how it is done!

Tina learns how to balance a big gourd on her head!

Now its Carol's turn

Monthly Flea Market in Karatu, Tanzania

more flea market

We were amazed at the lack of infrastructure for water delivery to the average home in Karatu and many other places on our tour.  People had to cart in their daily water supply from nearby wells.
   

Ibrahim one of our drivers, Severin our tour guide and Peter our other driver at Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Touring local market in Karatu.

Jimek helping Mary and Tina to get the spelling right on their note pads.

Sandals made from old tires                 Village street on the way to Amboseli
  

Coca-Cola was everywhere
 













The Masai love to dance and jump...very high!

Tina milking a goat at the Masai Village

We love those hyraxes and view them as local citizens. They are just sooo cute!

    Masai young men during their ceremonial time of becoming a man.
   We met them walking along the highway near Arusha.

Note that some of these Masai prefer tennis shoes for their long miles of walking.

My Seven Masai wives, who are actually not locals