Tanzania 2017

The old part of Zanzibar is known as Stone Town.  Zanzibar was under control of the Sultan of Oman in the 18th and for much of the 19th centuries and Stone Town was the centre of the East African slave trade. We wound our way through a maze of narrow alleys, past vendors of all types while dodging vespers and bicycles.   Chicken with flies Technicolour Pasta Beans and Things Love the cabling The PVC water supply pipes are strung along the alleyways The House of Wonders is falling apart like much of the city. Outside aid is going to restore it. Negotiation The Old Fort  - more a market place  Timber Scaffolding

The range of spices grown in Zanzibar is Amazing.  Our tour of the spice farm included lots of explanation about each spice grown here, a coconut tree climbing demonstration and some souvenirs woven from palm leaves. Red Bananas Pineapple Lipstick Plant Cloves There's always an opportunity to buy Nutmeg Complete with souvenirs

Our flight time was late morning so Marco took for a other quick tour before going to the airport.  When we reached Kogatende airstrip we were amazed at the number of light planes coming and going. We noticed that whoever does plane registrations has a sense of humour after seeing PAY, EGG, BYO, KEG, DEB, FAB and many more.  We took off from Kogatende and had to drop into Lake Manyana before going to Arusha.  The apron was full at Arusha with the airport looking like an airshow was happening. For the next leg yours truely got to sit up with the pilot.  Great experience in the Cessna Grand Caravan.  The pilot didn't need much help from me to get to Zanzibar. The waiting lounge.  Note the only fire appliance on the left Here comes BYO And then there was FAB Followed by 5HARK Not to mention JOE Then there was our plane - KEG On safari in Ngorongoro Crater A Masai Village The apron at Arusha - organi...

After another night in a safari camp under canvas we set out again on the maze of largely unsignposted tracks and trails that cover the Serengetti. We went along beside the Mara River but had missed the wilderbeast migration. The aftermath of the migration were the hundreds of wilderbeast carcasses littering the rocks with many large birds feeding on the remains. Feeding on wilderbeast carcasses Leopard cub Water buffalo - looks likes he's carved in stone Kanga - Helmeted Guinea Fowl Baby elephant saying hello Picnic on the Serengetti Look, more food Eland Mumbi - Male Southern Ground Horn Bill Let me see We went back later to see the leopard cub again Then we saw mum had made a kill and was dragging it back to their home.