Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

Several weeks have passed since we stood on the tallest mountain in Africa. Yet every time I take a moment and reflect on the experience, the memories are still very vivid. After saying goodbye to all of the sane students and faculty that were not climbing Mt. Kili, the rest of us boarded a bus for the town of Moshi, where we stayed the night in one of “Mama” Zara’s hotels. That night, I tried to savor every instance of comfort, such as a warm shower, running water, good food, and an abundance of oxygen. Despite my attempts at sleep, the morning came quickly, and the much anticipated climb began on June 5.

Our lead guide, Yussef, was incredible. He was “all smiles” and my admiration for him just kept growing throughout our journey. Our first day was probably the easiest in rigor. Our goal was to hike about 4 miles to the Mandara Hut, a journey that took us primarily through the rainforest. As Yussef explained, our trek would take us through several distinct climate zones, including the rainforest, alpine desert, and ice cap. Throughout our trek, Muhammad, an assistant guide that led our group, told us that the theme for the trip was, “Pole, Pole,” which means to go “slow, slow” in Swahili. He warned that at such high elevations, one must not over exert themselves because it can reduce your chances of making it to the summit.

The next day, we hiked to the Horombo Hut (3720 Meters above sea level). As we left Mandara, I began to see the vegetation change from lush rainforest to lower lying plants. I also realized how high we were because the cloud level was below me. It truly felt like I was in another world. When the clouds would break, you would get a peek of the world down below. In addition to changes in vegetation, we got to see the weather change as well. Not only did we see rain and high winds, but also a noticeable drop in temperature. Once we got to Horombo, we stayed here for two nights to acclimate to the altitude. On the third day, we hiked about 3-4 hours up toward the summit and then back down to Horombo. The weather was great, despite being a little chilly, and I finally got to see the summit of Kili. Despite appearing so far away, I must admit that to actually see the summit, at last, was a good feeling.

Surprisingly, the food was excellent during our trek. Every meal included coffee, hot water, and Milo, a form of hot chocolate. Breakfast often included bacon, sausage, oatmeal, eggs, and potatoes. Lunch consisted primarily of boxed lunches. Sometimes, we were served hot lunch though, which was a nice surprise after hiking for several hours. I most looked forward to the dinners because it was a great time to enjoy a comfort meal with the whole group. We also knew that we were done hiking for the day. Meals were always served family style, so you had to be ready to grab your share! Our group consisted of 22 people crowded over a picnic table that comfortably sat about 12 people. Thus, our group became comfortable with each other very quickly. Showers were non-existent. Will Curry saved the day because he packed disposable shower cloths, and had enough to share with me. Since there was no running water on the mountain, I quickly discovered how much I take running, hot water for granted. The lack of access to water made brushing my teeth, cleaning my hands, and washing my face so much more difficult. The experience definitely showed me how well I have it in the U.S.

The next day, we headed to the last hut before the summit, Kibo Hut (4750 meters above sea level). In order to get to Kibo, we had to cross a huge alpine desert that seemed endless. I could literally see the trail for miles because we were heading into a valley before our last push for the summit. The vegetation became nearly non-existent at these elevations. The ground was hard red clay, with a few cactus type plants dotting the landscape. I honestly felt that I was like Jesus spending forty days in the desert because it didn’t seem like I was making any progress in reaching Kibo. However, after about 7 miles of hiking, we made it to Kibo.

Suddenly, as we reached Kibo, the mood in the group became much more serious. Everyone was tired and ready to quit, but the feeling of being at the last hut before the summit convinced everyone that the prize was finally in sight. The most discouraging aspect at this point was that we arrived at Kibo at around 5 PM and would leave for the summit only a few hours later. We would be served dinner, and then try to get about 2 hours of sleep before making the final push to the summit. Thus, we weren’t even going to get a full night of sleep before our final push. At about 10 PM, Yussef and Muhammad came in and woke us up. Oh and by the way, the temperatures were extremely cold. I was completely covered from head to toe in warm clothing. My headlamp was ready to go, and my hand and toe warmers were already cranking! Even though we were very close to the summit, it would still take us about 8 hours in total to reach the summit because it was extremely important for us to go “Pole, Pole.” Even I noticed that the slightest exertion of energy would leave me breathless. At this point in the trek, a few people began turning back due to altitude sickness. We were now well above 15000 feet. People began getting intense headaches and having to throw up. As each hour went by, it felt as if we were going nowhere. I would constantly look up and see no end in sight. However, after about 5 hours of climbing up a steep face of the mountain, we finally reached the rim of Mt. Kilimanjaro, called Gilman’s Point. From here, it would be another 2 ½ hours around the rim before reaching the actual summit. By this time, snow was falling (in June) and the entire landscape became a whiteout. In addition to the now, the wind was whipping at speeds that made you think you would be blown off the mountain. After 2 ½ long hours of slowly moving through the snow, we finally made it to the top! The weather actually began to subside and the sun came out, which made our view spectacular. I cannot even begin to describe how clear the air was up there. Everything was so pure in nature.

Being at the top truly was a surreal moment. Now that I am back to normal life, I sometimes wonder if I took in the moment of being on the tallest mountain in Africa long enough. Even though the trek was only 6 days, they were 6 grueling days. One might tell you that you cannot change in 6 days. Well, I would beg to differ. The experience of climbing Kili was a life changing experience. The experience was a physical challenge, an emotional challenge, and psychological challenge. By making it to the summit, it showed me, along with others, that perseverance and a will to succeed are vital to life. Making it to the summit represented a bigger challenge to many of us. It told many of us that we can achieve great things when we allow our mind to work for us and not against us. The mind is a powerful tool in convincing us that we cannot do certain things. Well, these 6 days showed how an individual can accomplish much more than they ever imagined if they use their mind to work in their favor. We must believe in ourselves before we can even begin to fathom and experience our full potential.

Final Reflections

BAILEY: As the trip ends, it would be safe to say we are all a little nostalgic. We got back at headquarters after our last long road trip from Serengeti yesterday and hung out last night recalling all of our inside jokes and memories. It was quite nice to wake up this morning and not have anything to do except pack for home or for climbing. I have to say this was an experience of a lifetime. I have learned so much about Africa, Tanzania, business, and culture, and wound up with new friends along the way. I found ways to make the best of every situation, making the most of every opportunity (from watching the sunset in Zanzibar to watching a lion take down a wildebeest). My perceptions of Tanzania have been changed in a positive way, as we have come to appreciate and love their lives and their culture. I am ready to come home, but sad to leave everyone and everything behind. So for one last time, I am signing off. I hope you enjoyed reading our blog.

TESS: We were asked to put our final thoughts in a paragraph. With how amazing this experience has been I don't really know how that is possible. One of my favorite quotes (I know has been said in many different ways) is basically "Life is not a journey to the grave with the expectation of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to "skid-in" broadside thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow, What a Ride.'" And this trip has been anything but short of living that, both physically and mentally. As generically as it gets, I've had a great time. I've been challenged to redefine the way I see the world and how I fit in it. One of my favorite new perspectives was from Mr. Mengi, don't be upset when someone less fortunate than you doesn't say thank you for a token you've given them, instead it is you that should be saying thank you that you are able to give it. Among many lessons, this trip has taught me to be thankful for what I have. The people here have not just told me but shown me the kindness and caring in others, in strangers, that I could only hope to emulate as both a leader and a friend in my own life. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to go back and live out the rest of my summer in Athens, but I know it will be completely different than ever living in Athens before. At least I can confidently say the first thing I'll think of standing at the summit (*fingers crossed*) and certainly as our plane is taking off - Wow, what a ride.

SCOTT: Wow, I cannot believe that the program portion of my stay here in Tanzania has already come to a close. Today is Sunday, June 3 and we are tying up all of the loose ends before we head to Moshi in preparation for our climb. As I look back on my arrival to Tanzania, I had not only so many expectations about what Tanzania would be like, but also so many uncertainties. Never before had I stepped foot on the continent. All of my previous travels have been in places where "western" influence could be seen. However, in many ways, parts of Tanzania are still operating as they did hundreds of years ago. Having now been to a place where my world collided head on with the way of life here, I cannot even begin to tell you how much I have learned while being over here. I really do not even know where to begin. My learning and what I am taking back with me to the states comes from so many facets of Tanzanian life. I will be taking back pieces of the culture as well as so many things I have learned about the economy, business environment, the Maasai way of life, a little Swahili, and the people. Never would I have gained this much insight about the business environment here in Tanzania had it not been for our numerous guest speakers and business site visits. I must agree wholeheartedly with the words Dr. Dale gave us from the beginning: "Our cultural experiences here are like drinking from a fire hose." Throughout our trip, we have been flooded with new sights, smells, and experiences. I must admit that the novelty of the experiences was difficult for all of my senses to handle. However, I knew that all of the experiential aspects of the program would serve me so much better than instruction in the classroom. As a result, my "self" and all that it encompasses will be forever changed from my experience here in Tanzania.

WILL: Trying to sum up the trip will be an arduous task in itself. There are so many things that we have learned and will continue to learn from this trip. It has definitely been a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has exceeded any and all expectations that any of us had going in. We were fortunate to meet with business leaders, experience cultural aspects in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar, and see part of the migration in the Serengeti. While all of us miss our comfort foods and our creature comforts that we are used to at home, this trip has given us new perspectives on another culture, global leadership, and friendships. We have spent the majority of the time either in awe of our surroundings or laughing uncontrollably. Needless to say, this has been an incredible experience and one that will stay with me for the rest of my life. By the way, be on the lookout in a week or so for a short description of how the climb goes. Please send some good thoughts our way.

ALEX: This trip has been one of the greatest experiences of my entire life. I feel like I have learned so much and grown as a business student and as a person. The chance to meet so many interesting, wise, and successful individuals as part of our studies has been amazing. Thanks to our fantastic support network here, we have gained incredible access to business leaders and politicians eager to teach us. Our whirlwind trip across the country allowed us to see some many different facets of life. We enjoyed spice farm tours in Zanzibar, reflected at the U.N. Tribunal on Rwanda, and were awed at natural wonders of the Serengeti. The key for me was never taking anything for granted and taking something from every experience we had. My life will forever be changed by the last month in so many ways. Now, it’s my duty to share my memories and knowledge with others at home. Americans and Tanzanians have much to learn from one another. I want to help build the bridge to get there. The next week will hold much on the mountain, and we will return soon thereafter. Wish us luck as we attempt to reach the roof of Africa.

TYLER: The journey through Tanzania over the last three weeks was more than I had ever expected. I am coming home a stronger and better leader as well as a person individually. The leaders I will be following throughout my career will reflect those I have encountered on this journey. We could not have asked for a more connecting group of people to experience this trip with either. I feel that when I get home that the direction I will be taking will be one that will make a difference for others and mean something to me. All of the places we have gone and the people we have met have really opened my mind up. I cannot wait to come home to compare my journey through Tanzania with My Dad’s journeys through this country. Hopefully one day he and I will be able to come back to this unbelievable country together. I have learned a great deal about myself as well as growing as a person. This journey I will take with me for the rest of my life. Tanzania is a place everyone should take the opportunity to experience and I recommend that if you ever have the chance to take up that opportunity it’s a well worth trip.

STUART: As the sun sets on our final day as a group in Tanzania, my mind is enriched with lessons I have learned through my experiences in this beautiful and unique country. Some of us leave to go home today while most of us stay to conquer the snowy peak that looms mysteriously in the horizon. It is safe to say that this has been the most amazing experience I have had yet in my short lifespan, and hopefully not my last. The people we have encountered have been an incredible source of knowledge and exhibited an energy that is hard to describe. Dr. Dale challenged us with the question, “Why would anyone want to be lead by you” and asked us what it was about the speakers that we liked that made us want to rally around them. I gathered from our speakers that good leadership is about finding something that you love and care so much about that it pulses through your veins. It is something that you care so much about that your motives and values are transparent to those around you. And it is this genuine authenticity that people fall in love with and want to be a part of as they wish to join your cause to achieve a greater vision because it is leaders who empower that realize their own hopes and dreams. I will never forget this time in Tanzania. I leave with many new friends and an open mind that is full of questions. I hope to one day return with my entire family so they can relate to my experiences in this wonderful country.

DALE: As we officially bring the ILA Study Abroad to a close, let me share a few closing thoughts on this program. I hope you have enjoyed following the students’ adventures as we have explored the intersections of business, culture and leadership in Tanzania. The trip has been exhausting and exhilarating for all of us. We had a lot of fun and the students were terrific ambassadors for the Terry College and the University of Georgia.

Programs such as this one do not just happen. They are the result of tireless effort by many people. Let me offer a few words of acknowledgement to the people who made the 2007 Tanzania experience such a meaningful one.

To JNash, who has fastidiously worked to ensure that this blog was updated regularly. In addition, Jennifer was responsible for arranging many of the experiences during our visit. Her efforts paid off, as almost everything about this program went off flawlessly.

To Dr. Lioba Moshi and Dr. Jack Houston. As Director of the African Studies Program and University Professor at UGA, Dr. Moshi’s Maymester program in Tanzania provided the partnership for Terry’s involvement in Africa. She was an unbelievable host and “Mama Moshi” to all. Dr. Houston, Professor of Agricultural & Applied Economics at UGA, taught the parallel business class and provided valuable insight from his 12 years in Malawi. They both added richly to our learning.

To Dr. Rob Hoyt and Elena Karahanna. As Interim Dean of the Terry College and Director of International Business Programs, respectively, Rob and Elena supported this program and helped facilitate the creation of this program, Terry’s first in Africa.

To the donors who contributed scholarship support for the students. Your support of this and our other ILA programs enables us to provide these rich experiences that stretch our students as humans and as leaders.

To Bailey, Scott, Tess, Alex, Stuart, Will and Tyler. Over the past three weeks we have challenged you to be open and aware of how you might develop as a leader based upon the Tanzanian business experience. You have risen to the challenge. You’ve played hard and worked hard and will forever remember these weeks together in Tanzania.

Ubuntu.

EDITOR: It has been a privilege to edit the blog and be a part of this life-changing adventure. My favorite quote came from Ambassador Mongella after she had described to us many of the hardships the people of Tanzania have to deal with such as no running water and living on one dollar a day. She said (roughly): "How then do we survive? How do we make it? Because we can laugh, we can sing, and we can dance." That to me sums up the wonderful spirit and people of Tanzania and reflects a lesson we can all learn from.

Stay tuned for one last blog as some of the students have volunteered to update us their last adventure. Check back in a bit...

Lions, Leopards, Elephants... Oh my!

SCOTT: Today began sharply at 6:30 AM with an early game drive. Driven primarily by fear of missing something crazy happening, Will, Stuart, and I decided to sacrifice some sleep and go on the optional drive. We were told that a lot of wildlife could be seen early in the morning. During the drive, we got to see more of the same wildlife, including zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and many birds. In addition, we were fortunate enough to see a pair of lions during the latter part of the safari. Even though nothing extraordinary happened during the drive, I must say that seeing the Serengeti at day break gave off a very calm and serene feel. The stillness could be seen for miles over the vast expanse of plains. Only the sound of the wildlife broke the tranquility of the morning.

The game drive ended at around 8:30 AM. After the drive, we met up with the students that opted to get a little more sleep that morning. We had our breakfast at our lodge, Lobo Wildlife Lodge and then packed our usual box lunch for the day. We then headed out for another game drive in the Serengeti. We saw much of the same wildlife that we had been seeing the previous two days. However, today also ended up being a day of many first-time experiences. Our first excitement involved two elephants. We approached the two, which were about 20 feet from the road. Unlike our other sightings of elephants, these two threatened to charge our land cruisers. They made intimidating noises and trotted around our cars forcefully. One of the elephants really looked like he was about to charge. He made a charge directly at us before changing direction about 15 feet from the car. Alex even has the picture to prove it!

Our other big event came later in the day just before lunch. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see one of the more elusive animals in the Serengeti: the leopard. The leopard is heard more often than seen. It is a very solitary animal that stays out of the spotlight. Personally, it was incredible seeing the exotic animal taking a nap in the tree. It was awesome to finally see an animal that you always dream of seeing as a young boy.

After eating lunch, we headed to our next lodge, the Seronera Wildlife Lodge. We all unpacked our suitcases and then went out for a brief nature walk with Dr. Nagao and Dr. Whitney. Then, we had the option of going on an afternoon game drive. Bailey ended up being the only ILA student that opted to go. Jennifer and Dr. Dale also went. According to their eyewitness accounts, they saw a “Discovery Channel” type event. A lioness pursued and took down a wildebeest right before their eyes. Even though they have no pictures to prove it, supposedly they have it on video. I guess I will give them the benefit of the doubt and believe them. Tomorrow, we depart Seronera for an early morning game drive en route to Arusha. It is hard to think that our program is coming to a close. Tomorrow, most of the day will be allocated to packing. Bailey and Tyler will be heading home on Sunday, while the rest of us will be getting for our final adventure.


EDITOR: It's not a myth... I was there to see the hunt. We also saw a family of elephants, a gorgeous sunset and a double rainbow. It was unbelievable!

Day One in Serengeti

BAILEY: Today we left Ngorongoro Crater and made our way towards Serengeti. We woke up at 6:00AM so we could try and be on the road by 7:30 and quickly grabbed breakfast, grabbed our boxed lunch and loaded in the Land Rovers. Most of us were pretty tired, so we slept, or at least tried to sleep while on the bumpy road. When we left it was cold and rainy. We were up in the mountains near the clouds, and could not see much of anything around us.

As we drove and faded in and out of sleep, we stopped to see different animals early in the morning, the best of which included a few cape buffalo nearby. It seemed like we traveled to the end of the earth to get anywhere we were going, but eventually we arrived at the geographic phenomenon known as shifting sand. Scientists have been tracking this pile of sand for over 40 years now, and have noticed that it moves an average of 17 meters a year in a linear direction. The wind is constantly moving the pile of sand year after year and it stays together because the black sand has magnetic properties keeping it together. We left shifting sands and traveled shortly to a Masaii boma, which is where a small family of Masaii live. Their boma was built up on a hillside with steep, rocky hills behind it to protect their village from attackers. From the front of the boma, I could see for miles the rolling hills of the land in front of me. We talked to the Masaii as best we could and toured ourselves around their home which consisted of a few small huts (you can tell how many wives a man has by the number of huts in the boma), I think five in total, and lots of cow and goat dung. We left and made our way to Old Du Pai, which can be called the “cradle of mankind.” Here Dr. Whitney told us all about the excavations found in the late 1950s of the first hominids among many other large animals fossils and findings. It was interesting, but it was also hot by this point in the blazing sun.

Now we finally made our way to Serengeti, and our afternoon drive consisted of us getting to our hotel, which was about eight kilometers from Kenya. It was a beautiful drive. By this point zebras, wildebeests, and giraffes had pretty much become common place to us, so we drove by herds upon herds of animals, and I felt like I could see for days. As was typical we also saw tons of gazelles, thompson and grant, hippos, among other animals. The highlight of the drive was when we saw a cheetah about 100 meters from us sitting in the bushes. It was hard to see it because all you could really see was its head through the binoculars. It couldn’t have been but another 100 yards from a herd of thompson gazelles, so we were hoping it would attack, but we weren’t that lucky. We kept on until we finally reached our hotel around six. The most eventful thing that happened at the hotel was when a baboon came right by the lobby and stole the rest of someone’s boxed lunch and went up on the roof and ate everything it could. It was quite humorous. By this point most of us were exhausted, so we all napped before dinner, and some didn’t even get up for dinner, but just slept through till the morning. As for myself, I fell asleep at about 9:00PM and slept till 7:30 the next morning.

National Geographic Comes to Life

TYLER: Today began as if we were turning the pages to a National Geographic magazine. We started with an early breakfast at the Highview Hotel and then off to the Ngorongoro Crater. At breakfast this morning Dr. Gauthreaux asked us the question “How did it feel when we came back to MS-TCDC from Dar and Zanzibar”. The overall immediate response from everyone was that it was like coming home from a trip. MS-TCDC is now being considered our new temporary home. The compound was a feeling of security and normality compared to the outside journeys over the last week. I could not believe after being in Arusha for this amount of time I would personally even feel like I was coming home. After we discussed our perspectives on the question we left the mountain side hotel for the beginning of the end of our journey. The morning was a very cool and foggy morning as we drove across the ridge of the Ngorongoro Crater. As we got to the entrance for the descent into the crater it began to clear up to an unbelievable sight. I could not believe how gigantic the open space inside the crater was. Once the descent in our land cruisers began, the wildlife that started out as black dots across the crater started to appear as if I was flipping the pages to a National Geographic magazine. Wildebeests and Zebras were the first to appear in numbers across the crater floor. We took a stop at the crater floor to get out of the car and actually take pictures standing just a few feet away from the Zebras and Wildebeests. After quickly getting back into the land cruiser we began to see all kinds of Thompson and Grant Gazelles scattered across the floor as well. There were just a few water buffaloes off in the distance but not close enough for any pictures. Momma Moshi had a park ranger meet us just near the lake inside the crater to take us on an off road journey that I will never forget. We started out this journey by going to a hippo pool that was full of hippos lounging around to keep cool. What a life these gigantic animals have. After the hippo pool we were taken to see a clan of sleeping lions that were taking a nap around their kill for the day. This was an amazing sight to see. The park ranger at one point drove up almost on top of the lions and woke them up so we could get a better look at them. I probably will never get to see anything like this again in my life. Definitely not from this close a distance from our land cruiser. After all of us thinking that we couldn’t see anything more that would top the day’s adventure we were taken to a single rhino that was just hanging out in the crater by himself. This animal might be one of the largest animals I have ever seen weighing over 2 tons. We then went to a picnic area to eat lunch that was surrounded by a small lake that had a few hippos hanging out in the lake. Who can ever say they ate lunch with hippos just a couple of yards away. After lunch we concluded our day’s safari with seeing some elephants and off in the distance more water buffaloes before we ascended up the crater to the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. The Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge sat at the top of a ridge in the crater that overlooked the entire conservation area. I don’t know if you could have a better view of the area we covered in today’s safari.

Safari, Day One

ALEX: Today we began our safari part of the trip. We loaded our Land Cruisers provided by Mama Zara’s Adventures and hit the road. We made a short stop at Shoprite to pick up any needed supplies before we left Arusha. We drove for around 30-45 minutes before we reached the Masaii Museum and snake park. The Masaii are a semi-nomadic tribe who inhabit the areas of Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti. We toured their museum to see examples of traditional housing, dress, and rituals. A few people even took a camel ride. It was a close look at a culture that holds many traditions from a long time ago; such as polygamy, value of cattle as a sign of power and female circumcision. Many of these practices are so foreign and strange to us visiting, but our guide didn’t understand why we had no cattle. These are serious cultural differences which have to be observed and acknowledged when interacting with these people.

The other half of the complex was a snake and reptile park. There were many examples of indigenous (but exotic to us) snakes such as the Black Mamba, Egyptian Cobra, Forest Cobra, and giant East African Rock Python. There were also some baby crocodiles, giant turtles, and birds. I took the chance to hold one of the snakes to pet, as did half of the group.

This was about the time I started going downhill. The group went to eat lunch while I slept in our Land Cruiser. My temperature was a little high for the rest of the afternoon, but I got started on some antibiotics right away. Needless to say, all the jolting of the car the rest of the day was a bit rough on me. Everyone else was doing okay though.

Our afternoon excursion was to Lake Manyara, one of Tanzania’s many national parks. We did a game drive for a few hours and even our first day proved to be a fruitful safari. Initially entering the park, we saw a few groups of blue monkeys, followed shortly by baboons. We encountered impala, gazelle, antelope, and wildebeests. We visited the hippo pond, but non of the big guys got too close. Some of our best pictures came from three giraffes along the trail and a couple of elephants off the trail a hundred yards or so. It was awesome!!

We arrived at the Highview Hotel, one of Zara’s accommodations, right at sunset. It was an unbelievable hotel that sits only fifteen minutes from the gate of Ngorogoro Crater. We were amazed at our accommodations and the beautiful view of the mountains from our room. There was entertainment after dinner and then our group got together to work on our Global Text Project. I however went to sleep at nine and slept till morning. But the project is coming along well and we have much of the raw material there. It is all about organizing and structuring now. I believe we have the prerequisite understanding of Tanzania to begin to writing our entrepreneurial template. We are all excited to begin the “tourist” part of the trip. A number of people mentioned that this is what they thought about when pondering Africa. It is exciting to be able to see some wildlife that only exists here. I think everyone is praying for lions. We’ll see… Anyway, we will be hitting one for the best wildlife viewing areas tomorrow. We can’t wait to see what the safari will hold. Until then, good night.

EDITOR: I apologize for the delay in blogs. We were without internet during the entire safari trip! A price to pay for being close to the action... thanks for your patience.

Back "Home"

WILL: Once again we students enjoyed a sunrise breakfast on the 4th floor dining room overlooking Stone Town and the Indian Ocean. The view was remarkable and the ocean was a crystal blue. Shortly after breakfast, we packed our belongings into the two buses and headed for the Zanzibar airport. Scotty, referred to as the trouble-maker by Mama Moshi, was privileged to tote her bag while traveling...something that I don't think Scotty minded because of the extensive bonding that had been established during the Zanzibar trip. While most of our day was filled with waiting at airports and two short flights, we did arrive back at what seemed like home - our headquarter compound. We were welcomed by the staff and were able to catch the end of "tea time," which is a staple here. During our afternoon tea break, we found recent student arrivals from Colorado and games of volleyball and soccer ensued. After dinner, we all met for a short briefing of the game parks to come. Needless to say, all of us are really looking forward to seeing the big game that Africa is known for and another journey in the Land Cruisers.

EDITOR: Updated pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8431089@N07/