At The BOUGAINVILLEA Safari Lodge

August 30, 2016

After a hectic day of travelling the night was upon us we reached The Bougainvillea Lodge and this was all an hospitable affair.

As my Land Rover screeched in front of the reception area, a porter jumped and opened the door to take my luggage and give me a helping hand.

The Bush and You and the capable god damned best in class 4 X 4 – from Tata of India through England !!

I trudged towards the counter to full fill out all the formalities. We were welcomed with drinks and a cold towel , quickly ushered into my room. A splendid double bed room with bathroom and a hot shower was waiting. Continue Reading "At The BOUGAINVILLEA Safari Lodge"

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Tarangire National Park, a Pond and a Lion’s Pride!

August 29, 2016

Arusha was cool being at the edge of Kilimanjaro the temperatures here hover around 15 degrees . We moved towards the warmer and more arid land of the Tarangire National Park.

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This is a smaller Park then Serengeti but is still significant and after paying Norman in advance for the entire trip we moved into an aged LandRover and cruised towards our animal safari.

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Before we entered the park a picnic lunch was served , with check in and a few formalities later we moved in. Continue Reading "Tarangire National Park, a Pond and a Lion’s Pride!"

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Dara Salam to Moshi, Kilimanjaro, some coffee and the waterfall!

August 27, 2016

I had gotten into Dar-es-Salam and the plan was to see the wildlife this side of the African landscape having seen one side at Kenya already. I had tied up with a local tour guide through people I knew at Africa from earlier and as I was now getting to know travelling through the continent, covering countries.

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Norman was to be my my guide cum taxi driver and on the first day he arrived two hours late to the hotel. I had been up all night writing and had just slept a few winks. It was frustrating to say the least but I got along with him to the car with my bags. We were headed towards Moshi, the foothills of the Kilimanjaro.

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We stopped at a local shop for water and samosas which were as always ever present at Africa and then headed on the road. Continue Reading "Dara Salam to Moshi, Kilimanjaro, some coffee and the waterfall!"

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Salam and Thank you for Smoking

August 25, 2016

Maputo, Mozambique had been interesting but the traveller in me was moving ahead into Africa and now I was now headed to Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania – literally in Arabic – the abode of peace, the land of Serengeti and the Kilimanjaro and ZanZibar.

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I wanted to explore these exotic african landscapes. I was booked on a Kenyan Airways Flight to Dar-es-Salam with stops at Nairobi and hopping through Kilimanjaro!

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It takes around two hours with a 15 min stop over at Kilimanjaro. At the Nairobi airport I wanted to smoke and the nearest smoking room was a ten min walk away. I decided to bribe the janitor and he allowed me to smoke in the women’s loo which was empty at that time. This is not the first time i have smoked in a no smoking zone and I recalled I had at the Khajuraho airport and such customs rarely change across geographies and bribing the janitor does the trick most of the time. Often they manage to arrange for a lighter also. So this is for the traveller smokers out their and a trick when the urge arises in you to smoke at airports! Continue Reading "Salam and Thank you for Smoking"

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A Lady Named Rosa

August 23, 2016

Roaming the port town of Maputo and letting the place sink in – I knew I was getting dead bored and I needed some respite. That was Rosa, the beautiful receptionist at the hotel and who I had been trying to hook up with for some time. After a few days of persuasion I walked out and gifted her a box of Ferrero Roche chocolates. After days of diligently making excuses, she finally relented for a dinner date with me. We spent time in the evening hopping around the street downtown Maputo, enjoying ourselves dancing on the road and making funny faces at people. Finally we arrived at a Italian restaurant for some beer and Pizza.

To my horror she asked me if she could invite her sister over too? ” Well I thought it was our date darling , your sister is only going to be a disruption in our time together .” She gave me the sweetest smile any one had ever given me and finally I relented, hoping to enjoy the company of two nice young African women. Continue Reading "A Lady Named Rosa"

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Hans & I in Magical Maputo

August 20, 2016

After some great adventures, romance and animals at Kenya reached Maputo in the land of Mozambique.

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This is a country that has an AK47 in it’s flag and stuff can get exciting here a bit! I checked into the Villa Das Mangas situated in the town centre.

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It is a sea port of significance and was a Portuguese colony granted freedom in the early 1970s. Continue Reading "Hans & I in Magical Maputo "

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Caroline and the African Hair Cut!

August 16, 2016

I think I have done Kenya a bit now and wanted to head out further and visas had been applied for and a few came in and my next stop was Mozambique. It was my last night at Nairobi and I was determined to have some fun. But first I needed a haircut and so I ventured into an African hair cutting salon. Continue Reading "Caroline and the African Hair Cut!"

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Damn I Am a Dad Now!

August 15, 2016

Maasai Mara had been great. No two ways about that and I enjoyed it to the fullest. I went back to Nairobi after that for a two day tour of the city. I parked myself in a hotel aptly called After 40 for two nights at $100 a night. My friend back from school at Welham Boys, Yah Krishna sent a car for me and I was off to see a really loving place called the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

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The organisation was founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E, in honour of her late husband, an Englishman, a famous naturalist and the founding warden of Tsavo East National Park, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE. It is a famous landmark in Nairobi and housed here are orphaned animals like elephants, mambas and rhinos.

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They have a show beginning at 11:00 am everyday where baby elephants that are under the age of four are showcased to a cheering crowd. I saw school children watching the show and playing with these orphaned elephants. Continue Reading "Damn I Am a Dad Now!"

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Dining with Lions and Leopards – Maasai Mara

August 10, 2016

One of the last part of my journey through Kenya was the Maasai Mara National Reserve (aka Masai Mara or simply The Mara) a massive 1500 sq km game reserve in the Narok County at Kenya. It is right next to, adjacent with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

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The Maasai are the historical inhabitants of the area. Tall and hardy they are a colourful tribe in the way they dress and their simple lives – still making fire the very old fashioned way!

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I was staying in a camp just outside the game reserve and it is a jungle camp right in the middle of the Mara land. I have a tent to myself for the four nights I planned to be here. The tents are spread Continue Reading "Dining with Lions and Leopards – Maasai Mara"

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