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Down a Lazy River to Africa
  • Paul and Nancy. We travel
  • Paul and Nancy. We travel

Down a Lazy River to Africa

A two week African Safari has been on the Bucket List for awhile and since we are going that far, we thought it would be a good idea to add on a river cruise and visit with some friends in France to get us started. Read more
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  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    Ngorongoro crater at sunrise

    June 4, 2025 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Ngorongoro crater is the largest inactive, intact, and unfilled caldera (16-19 km diameter, 400-610 m high walls), formed 2-3 million years ago from a massive volcanic explosion and collapse. Its volcanic soils support lush grasslands and a high density of wildlife, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the dry season begins, grazers move to the lake for food and water and the hunters move for prey.

    We arrived here last night at sunset.

    On a cultural note, the crater’s proximity to Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli, with fossils and hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years is is still an active archeological research centre    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    4 out of 5 in one day

    June 5, 2025 in Tanzania ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    The Big 5 in Africa refers to the top 5 animals to see.

    Today we saw 4 of them

    Lions
    Hippos
    Elephants
    Rhino

    No leopards yet.

    We also got to witness a slice of Africa.

    A Serval stalked and captured a Flamingo. As it rushed its prey back to shore, a group of three Jackals attacked and stole the Flamingo. Within 2 minutes they had ripped the Flamingo to pieces and devoured it, feathers, feet & all. Meanwhile the Serval stood off at a short distance and watched her hard hunting work be devoured. A really beautiful looking cat.

    It was quite a sight. We were 50 meters away.

    The rest of the day was just a parade of wild animals and a very wonderful “bush” lunch.

    Tomorrow . . . The Serengeti beckons    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    Today was B-Day. Pt 1

    June 7, 2025 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Ballon Day!

    One of the reasons we selected this tour was they offered a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti at dawn.

    Today was the day.

    Up at 3:30 and into the vehicles at 4:15 for a one hour drive to the balloon launch site. A nice serving of Tanzanian coffee, a safety briefing from our pilot and just as the sun rose over the Serengeti, the balloons launched.

    It was simply a spectacular awesome incredibly cool experience.

    Because of potential landing issues hitting termite mounds, the 16 passengers in the gondola basket are all ensconced in their own two person mini baskets. We boarded with the main gondola basket turned on its side position, and we all crawled into our own little mini-baskets, laying flat with our backs on the side of the basket, in what they call the “astronaut position”. As soon as the pilot hit the burner and the ballon rose, the basket just slowly righted itself into the vertical position,, and we all simply stood up

    It was quite the launch.

    And because everyone knows Nancy and heights do not get along and was wondering what happened . . . she did spectacularly today absolutely nailed it👏👏👏    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    Today was B-Day. Pt 3

    June 7, 2025 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Flying over the hippo pools was simply wonderful. There is a strong odour (Serengeti Perfume) that comes out of the hippo pools at this time of year so you have a warning that they are coming up. They seem to be everywhere.

    Hippos are extremely territorial and kill more people than any other animal in Africa every year. They live in large social groups centred on a hippo pool or a series of pools that they will defend to the death. In the daytime under the hot African sun they stay mostly submerged. Their skin is very sensitive and they easily sunburn. They come out at night and wander up to 5 km along trails and forage for food returning home to the pools at sunrise.

    During the wet season, the pools are fairly deep at 8 to 10 feet of water and the hippos spend their days sleeping and pooping in the pools. At this time of year at the beginning of the dry season, the pools are really just giant mud baths joined together by short creeks. And since most of the mud is actually poop, they have a very, very potent smell. An eye watering, nasal cringing odor, a.k.a. Serengeti perfume.👍    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    Thoughts on a Safari

    June 9, 2025 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Before we took this trip, the term “going on Safari” in my mind was being out in the bush looking for wild animals. And while that part, doing “Game Drives” is a core party of doing a Safari, it is not the only component.

    Safari has a broader meaning that incorporates the idea of leaving your home and venturing out to explore and experience the world. On this trip, that meant visiting a local Masai village to hear how their ancient pastoralist ways are adapting to the 21st century. And Nancy saw some awesome earrings!

    We also visited a primary school that our tour operator Tauck has a sponsorship agreement with and met the cutest kids who really, really, really wanted to prove they can read and speak English.

    For me, the non animal Safari highlight was a visit to the Olduvai Gorge base camp where Dr. Leakey and his wife conducted their archeological digs that turned up what is now accepted as the original humans. Google Australopithecus.

    Lucy lives on.

    To walk the terrain where humanity first began was an unusual experience

    The lesson of Safari is to leave your comfort zone and let some fresh new experience air fill your lungs.

    You will be better for it, we know our Tanzania Safari experience has expanded our horizons

    Safari on my friends . . .    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    A day of safari

    June 11, 2025 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    For the last 10 days we have been a very happy little impromptu Safari team of 24 guests (22 American/2 Canadian) 4 Driver Guides, 4 nicely tricked out Toyota LandCruiser trucks and 1 Tour Director . . . aka Momma.

    We have been a wonderful adult group of open minded, team playing, funny and just delightful people. Given the current political junk happening back home we had some mild concerns that might cause some issues but there were none at all.

    A typical Safari Day means being up at 6, breakfast and prep for the day and then meet the guides and vehicles in the hotel parking lot at 7:15. Fill up our water bottles, sort out our vehicle seating - we sat 6 per vehicle and we all rotated to a different truck every day and we swapped seats from back to front wihin our assigned truck so everyone shared.

    A couple of hours of Game Driving over “Masai Massage” bumpy dusty roads with many stops for picture taking. Before rolling again the Driver Guide yells out “Sawa Sawa” (ready to roll?”) and we all drop back in our seats from the open roof hatch and respond with a vigorous “Sawa Sawa” and away we would go. Bush lunch about 1:30, more Game Driving in the afternoon then back to our hotel by 4-5ish.

    Quick briefing from Tour Director Momma about the evening’s events and the next day’s agenda and then back for a refreshing “de road dusting” shower followed by an evening party before dinner

    Rinse, repeat, enjoy!    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    The Travel Gods & Friday 13th !

    June 12, 2025 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We left the dry, brown Serengeti and took a 1.5hr flight to the luxuriously green & storied island of Zanzibar. A day of snorkelling and beach lunching, a trip to a spice farm, lots of good bye hugs with our Safari mates and then we all headed off on different flights to homeward destinations.

    Our trip home involved a short haul 1.5hr flight to Nairobi then an 8hr flight to Frankfurt, where we opted to have a 30hr layover instead of slugging it out in one very long trip to get back to Vancouver

    We opted for a hotel in the old historic district of Frankfurt and walked our flight fatigue off on a beautiful sunny summer 25C day that induced a well earned Bingo Beer moment.

    Dinner tonight in Frankfurt, depart tomorrow at 1:30 and praise the Travel gods, us and our luggage will be deposited 10 hrs later in Vancouver, mid afternoon on Friday 13th

    What could possibly go wrong?    Read more

  • Paul and Nancy. We travelDown a Lazy River to AfricaPaul and Nancy. We travel

    And we are home. . . .

    June 13, 2025 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    And now, brought to you by the miracles of jet lag . . . Nancy’s carefully curated Trip Photo Album . . .

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/yhkVjBS2K3VysecGA

    Trip end
    June 13, 2025