Tarangire to Ngorongoro. Maasai Boma and Mto wa mbu village/market experience.
Breaky, packed boxed lunch and into Troopy by 8:30.
Just down the road in the paddock beside the road a Dazzle of Zebras, next to the paddock of sesame in sheaths. Apart from the sesame seeds they also use the sesame stalks for building. JB pointed out the houses and all with outdoor toilets.
JB spoke to an elderly woman hoeing by the road. Her old house and new house behind her. The children and grandchildren are building the new house for her as thanks for their education and support growing up. This is traditional to provide for the elders.
Driving through farms with crops, sunflowers for oil, sesame, other crops for food and subsistence.
A few critters today
Crowned Lapwing.
We passed a large structure which JB explained was a guesthouse for the locals eg. Truck drivers.
Some donkeys
Malachite Kingfisher pair.
The usual roadside happenings that are just so different to home.
Loo stop at a tourist complex with clean loos and tourist trap shops with a Tanzenite shop as well. Looks great but all in $USD. No purchases.
Onto the Maasai Village. Chief Baraka welcomed us and then his village people welcomed us with a song and dance. They then dressed us up and we danced too. The Maasai wear shawls and dress quite distinctively. I can definitely say that wearing one over our clothing was hot hot hot and they were wearing multiple. The men showed us how they use sticks for fire making and then we visited the kindergarten school which Baraka has established for 2-6yo from his and surrounding villages, prior to attending Primary School. There are two teachers. When we arrived the kids were having millet porridge – a cup full each – it looked stodgy but they seemed pleased. Gladness was the teacher and the kids learn mostly by rote I reckon. They sung and counted for us. Gladness had made all the posters and the kids have no workbooks and only the blackboard to practice writing on.
Then Suzie and I were handed over to Barak’s son Nello for a tour of a Maasai home. A round building made with sticks, straw, dirt and cow poo. In we went, a very small space for a family of four. Basically a kitchen/living area and a flat space bed for all four. There was a fire going in the kitchen/living space that we were sitting in and it was very hot.
The more cows you have as a Maasai man the more wives you can marry, no limit. The village has a lot of cows and goats wandering around the fenced in area between the houses.
There was also a market of local goods made by the local women. A bit of the hard sell, we purchased a small thing and got ripped off but bartered down a little. It was basically a donation to assist with the schooling.
A short drive to a Market in Mto Wa Mbu. A local market walk through with Chris to look at the local goods and fruits, veggies, spices, beans. We also visited a moonshine bar where they make moonshine from white corn and Millett about 2% alcohol. It’s cooked and fermented for five days and heated to drink. It’s a shared drink from one cup for a group of usually men.
Also visited a chicken house. The elderly lady owner had several ‘guard’ dogs lazing in the shade. And the chickens were locked and padlocked inside some old huts and houses. I asked how many chickens and she was coy. That is like asking how much money you have in the bank -oops!!!
The market was really interesting- so many different types of banana. We got to taste Baobab seeds and red bananas – both great.
JB explained the Dog rib house – poor people. He has lived in one growing up. Things are gradually improving.
There were some really pushy men trying to sell us stuff at the car. They followed us a bit bloody annoying.
Back to the car and stopped to get a lookout view of Lake Manyara – which is growing and encroaching on the land, hence the dead trees. JB has mentioned the tectonic plates a couple of times. We figured it might be that the land is subsiding
Iraqow tribe are around the Ngorongo (Goronogoro) Conservation area. (Maasai people live around the crater)
Through the town of Karatu, home of the Iraqow tribe and major centre for the Ngorongoro area.
Arrived at our next lodge Retreat Ngorongoro. It is amazing. Very luxurious in fabulous gardens and we were here at 3pm – a record for us.
Suzie had hair to wash. Mary, Phil and I went for a walk around the gardens. We ran into George, one of the 8 gardeners, by the Lake. He offered to show us the extensive gardens. There was an orchard, vegetable garden, forest with bee boxes, herbs and beautiful flower displays. All through the garden are really quirky quotes and cool statues/sculptures too. George explained how to ripen an avocado. Place in a bucket of wood ash and cover with banana leaf for four days.
The lodge is pretty much self sufficient too. He was totally lovely and so generous with his time and information. He also just exuded happiness and loved his job.
Back to the room for a bit before pre dinner drinks.
Dinner was so good. I will let the photos and menu do the talking.
A fabulous lodge and unfortunately only one night.
Phil and I had a shot of Amarula- like Baileys made from a plant JB showed us a couple of days ago.
A bit of a bugger today I have misplaced my smaller camera lens. Can’t recall where. We haven’t used them for so long. At least it’s not my big one. We have narrowed it down and am hoping it’s in a seat pocket of the vehicle we had on arrival. JB is going to get Ishmail to check it back in Arusha.
And guess what with thanks to Keith and JB we have sorted our flight issues out (fingers crossed) Keith has secured an earlier 6:25pm flight from Arusha to Addis Adaba (replacing our cancelled 2:50am flight) and JB suggested we fly back from the Seronera airport/airstrip to Arusha rather than a 5am departure and many hours in the car. This means an almost 12 hour layover in Addis Ababa – but they provide a free hotel and transport too ( although we might upgrade) So all going well we will get to our Madagascar leg on time and not totally wrecked.
Travel adventures with Nicola & co. 