Author Archives: debbie

Giraffe

Tweega, in Swahili. Tall and lanky, sort of like a teenage basketball player, but more graceful. After observing them for some time we are amazed at how well they manage their long neck and skinny legs. They move in an … Continue reading →

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Buffalo

These creatures are big suckers. Off in the distance they look like cattle but when the vehicle pulls up within 3M we have a real appreciation as to their size. We are told they can be down right ornery as … Continue reading →

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Animal Butts

We spend time watching animals walk away from us. Some animals are shy, some are tired of us watching them, some are just moving along. We take pictures anyway. Here is some of our butt collection. Zebra Butt     … Continue reading →

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Kitanga and Kanga

Most ladies in Tanzania wear kangas or kitangas. These are large pieces of material that they wrap around themselves as skirts, shifts, shawls and head coverings. The patterns are wild and the colors are stunning. I notice them right away … Continue reading →

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Wildebeest

AKA Gnu. They resemble a svelte American Bison. They each sport a beard and are slightly hunched back. Their rear hunches are lower than their shoulders. Wildebeest are the largest group of the four animals that participate in the semi-annual … Continue reading →

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DIY Bookings vs Travel Agent Bookings

Murray had a few rants while we were away, so now it is my turn. I feel I need to say something about “do it yourself” airline bookings vs travel agent airlines bookings. So, here it goes. When we were … Continue reading →

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Elephant

Tembo in Sawhili. These giants are gentle beasts. We never tire of watching them. The females’ maternal instincts are evident every time we find a mother and her young one. Our Landcruiser passes between a female and her baby and … Continue reading →

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Budget Analysis (Warning: May put you to sleep!)

After paying for our safaris, flights and most of our hotels, we calculate how much cash we need to take with us to Africa.  We create a fairly in-depth cash budget. It is an excel spreadsheet with each day we … Continue reading →

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Must Haves for a Safari

Here are a few items that we think are essential to pack for a safari. Lens cover to protect against dust – If you have an SLR camera with a large, expensive lens, take some sort of lens cover to … Continue reading →

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Learning Swahili in Tanzania

When we travel to a far off country, we like to learn a handful of words in the local language. Saying phrases like “The check please” and “No thank you” can make a waitress beam or a hawker walk away. … Continue reading →

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