TAN: Ride with the Valkyries

We were up early to get some shots around the camp. The weather did not look like it would cooperate so we had breakfast first. As we were finishing up, the clouds gave way to the morning sun. We got more footage of the tents from the hill and then hiked out onto the plain to get a long shot of the camp. Walking along we noticed some rather interesting bright red furry insects that vaguely resembled velvet ants. Tim thought the insects were some type of giant spider mite.

Brought out by the rain, these spider mites covered the ground like little drops of blood.

After we had finished our filming, were we off on a morning game drive. The game was scarce again but we did see some fish eagles, mud and lung fish, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, long-tailed fiscals, golden orioles, and a green parrot.

A fish eagle from a distance. This wildebeest did a pose-a-thon for us, showing us all sides.

Eventually we headed back to camp to gather the rest of our things, settle our accounts and have a spot of tea and cake. The time to meet the Scandinavian bus back to Dar es Salaam was fast approaching so we headed for the main road. The bus was not forthcoming, so our haste was rewarded with a long wait at the side of the highway. Chantal and Sandrine napped while I talked with Tim and photographed a burnt out bus that was on the shoulder just opposite the entrance to the Safari Camp.

The carcass of a burnt out bus just across the road from the entrance to the Safari Camp.

Tim on the lookout for the Scandinavian bus. Chantal and Sandrine having a little nap in the truck.

An hour passed its usual 1 p.m. flyby, the bus arrived. We found one of the members from the Voigt group aboard. She was on her way back to Dar to attend a conference on Developing Nations. Our assigned seats were all filled. After some shuffling we were all seated. Things turned out not to be quite alright. The seat that Sandrine ended up with was soaked with urine. Unfortunately, she realized this only after she had initially put her knee on the seat and then sat on it for a bit. She managed to get a different one, but by then she was soaked.
I read while we hurtled toward Dar at breakneck speed. The underlying theme to the trip seemed to be bodily fluids. In addition to the urine, I observed a young girl that was making a pained full-cheeked chipmunk face that turned out to be a mouthful of vomit. Crashed out in the back was another very ill girl who was drenched in sweat.

Hundreds of mashed insects adorned the front of the bus.

We were all happy to come to a stop in Dar without major mishap. Miriam’s brother was at the station to greet us, or more correctly the paying guest that happened to be on the bus with us. We all piled into a cab and headed toward Micocheni. Maina was not at home so we headed over to Hanif’s to find that Alex and Jeannie Fox had returned. We chatted with them for a bit before Maina arrived up. Back at Maina’s, we freshened up and all went out for a farewell dinner for Sandrine at a nice Italian restaurant. During the entire meal we were serenaded by a Koran thumping Moslem revival blaring out over load speakers in the empty lot in front of the restaurant.