Monday-

We decided not to leave so early to head to Iringa and left here about 9:30am after breakfast. Steve drove my family out to the main road (17km) and dropped us off with our bags to catch a bus as they come along. We were very fortunate that a bus picked us up only after waiting 10 minutes. It was the Scandinavian bus line, which is the nicest bus line in Tanzania. The bus was clean and not over crowded and the driver and assistant were very nice and didn’t try to rip you off. At first they told us they may only be able to take us to Mafinga which was about a 15 minute ride away and that we would have to take another bus there. Once we pulled into the Mafinga bus depot (if you could call it that) the assistant said to stay sitting and he would see if they would take us all the way to Iringa. Turned out that they could so we had a very nice bus ride and I got to visit with a very nice man from here that spoke good English. Chris, Mat, and Hannah had to sit in the back of the bus where the available seats were and I held Bella on my lap in the front seat. We arrived in Iringa in time to get lunch at the Hasty Tasty which was owned by a British family that served good food. The kids ordered French toast and we tried curry with rice and cheese chapattis and chips. The kids thought it was a treat to get that food and we bought sweet dough’s (donut holes essentially) and fresh apples to eat for breakfast the next morning on our way to the game park. Next we walked across the street to Will’s office (the owner of the campground we were going to stay at) and left our bags so we could go see parts of Iringa town and shop. We went to Neema crafts, which is a place that employs the handicapped and teaches them to makes crafts that they sell. They make paper from elephant dung and all kinds of products from that. Just think some of you back home will be receiving elephant dung gifts! It was a neat place to visit and we asked for a tour and that was so nice to meet the people who were doing all the work. They also had cake and ice cream there so we bought 2 pieces of cake for us 5 to share but we took it with us for later. We spent quite some time shopping around and looking at things and I did manage to buy a few items to take home but you have to be careful and know how to barter. It is nothing like Mexico bartering, it is a whole different system over here. Most of the time you leave empty handed. We headed back to Will’s office and got a ride out to the campsite and got there at 5:15pm. He informed us that dinner would be at 6:30pm so the girls and I took advantage of the HOT showers they offered before supper.  I can’t tell you how good that water felt and I actually felt clean when I was done. We had a good supper and then the rest of our group came rolling in from Kibidula. After dinner Will briefed us all on the safari trip and what to expect and what not to do. Then it was off to bed in our tents for a 4:45am wake up with a 5:45am departure. I should mention that it was a gaited campground with security in a really pretty, peaceful spot that had a little river flowing through it.

Tuesday-

Safari day came very early and it was pretty chilly that early in the morning so no one was just jumping to ride in the open air safari truck. So my family along with Jon and the boys and Steve hopped in and froze most the way to the park. Will had mentioned to us the evening before to go light and wear shorts because the park would be hot. He said take a light rain jacket if anything so we didn’t have anything warm to put on for the ride up. The sun was at our backs as it came up so it couldn’t penetrate the sides of the vehicle much. As we finally got close to the park about 2 ½ hours into our trek we started to unthaw and we also started seeing animals so that took our minds off the fact that we were cold. Poor Hannah just froze the whole way up there and had a hard time warming up.

We arrived at the gate by hour number 3 and had to fill out paper work and get a permit to enter the park. The man at the gate was very inebriated and had a hard time thinking and doing our processing. It didn’t help that off to the side you had an armed park ranger standing and staring at you (turned out later that he was very nice) with a huge rifle. Well we finally made it through all that stuff and we were off into the park to see the wild animals of Tanzania. We all really had a good time and saw plenty of animals and birds (too many to list here), unfortunately we saw no buffalo or any of the cats. We were told later that 2 weeks ago there were lions everywhere but that once the rains start they fade back and you don’t see them as much. Oh well, we were so happy for everything we did see and the whole safari experience. There is so much to tell it will have to wait until we get home. After lunch we switched rigs and boy was that nice. The other vehicle was a traditional Land Rover that you could stand up through the openings in the top to see. The view was much better and the breeze kept you much cooler. Mat spotted so many birds up there and all the kids just a fun together spotting animals. We left the park at 5:15pm and flew for home and arrived at the campsite by 8:30pm to a late supper that we all had a hard time eating because we were so tired. Everyone else went right to bed but Chris and I walked up and down the road for about a ½ hour just to stretch our legs and get the blood flowing after sitting all day. We had asked will about a horse back riding trip and he said that we could just go out to his brothers farm and go riding so we said okay for the next day.

Wednesday-

We actually slept well and woke up by 7am to get going for the day. We packed up everything and a rig came to collect us to go riding about 9:15am and took us out to meet Victoria. The rest of the group headed up to Iringa town to do their shopping and we would meet up later (sort of). Well the entire horse adventure is one my girls will talk about for a long time. Mat didn’t want to ride and so we told him he could bird watch on their property. They owned over 1200 acres and it was just beautiful and the birds were everywhere. Meanwhile Chris and I and the girls went with Victoria to catch our horses up out in the pasture. The girls horses seemed okay and they were able to lead them by themselves but my horse immediately started biting the lead line and then would stand stiff like a mule and not move. I could see we had a few things to iron out right away or the ride might not be that good. I turned around as Chris came leading his mare up and I said “Chris, she has her hears pinned tight and she is trying to bite you”! So he turned around and tried to correct her but she spun and kicked out at him fast and missed him by 12 inches. His eyes were pretty big and I told V what she had done so she took over the leading bit and mentioned the mare was terrible on the ground but great to ride. Does that make anyone want to ride her? We led them all up to the paddock area and began brushing them out and picking there feet. The she said she would not ride and would lead both the girls’ horses, which made me start to think that maybe they weren’t kids horses after all? Then she began telling me all about the spirited 6 year old gelding I was going to be riding and what a clown he was and that set off some reasoning in my mind about what was really transpiring here. So I went up to her and said that I didn’t feel comfortable with her trying to lead both my girls and said I would lead one and put  Jupiter (that clown of a horse) back to pasture and I know I made the right decision. I have learned over the years that what some people deem as a good riding horse I would never consider one at all. Since it was a thrill for the girl’s to ride the Australian stock horses I felt it was safer for each child to have an adult on hand to lead and to help. Chris got to ride the mean mare and did fairly well on her but she had many bad habits and tested him over and over again for the entire ride. Hannah ended up being able to ride Papillion alone with V just walking beside her at most of the time and I led Bella on Apollo probably 2/3 of the way and she was able to ride him with me walking beside for the last 1/3 back. Hannah really did a good job handling that horse and I had to iron out a few kinks with Apollo, like him trying repeatedly to bite the person leading him or at times he would walk into me. After several rope slaps and pushing him back I was getting pretty tired of his disrespectful behavior. Then V announced that they could trot the horses and Bella said that she wanted me to keep him on line so I said okay. I had just coaxed Apollo into a trot when I felt my hair being pulled and realized that he was trying to bite me but just got my hair (all slobbered up) but that was the last straw and I nailed that horse good. Once he understood what I meant he was like a dog in my pocket, I was able to take her off lead and he would follow me wherever I went but of course he stayed out of my space. There was one fiasco with the siafu ants that sent the horses into a frenzied freak out session. Try to picture Bella’s horse prancing  around me all the while stomping and kicking out while crow hopping his rear up and down to get those ants off. I was able to keep his head turned toward me and I reached up and jerked Bella off and told her to get far away as the horse continued this show. I was trying to swat the ants off as I could because they do bite very hard and they won’t let go! Then I realized that Hannah’s horse was having an even worse fit and as Apollo kept up the frenzy around me I was telling Hannah to take her horse in a circle because that horse looked like she was either going to throw her off or take off running, so I kept telling her over and over to keep that horse circling and not give reign. Finally V was able to get close enough to grab the horse and Hannah bailed off fast and moved away. We were able to get the horses calmed down and got all the ants off and the rest of the ride went very smoothly. Hannah handled herself so well, especially since they all were riding English.

We finally made it up to Iringa by 1pm and did a couple things before heading out to Kibidula. We actually met up with the rest of our group for a few minutes and then we parted again to get things done. We made it back to the Kibidula road at 4pm and Bill came to get us and we ran back to Mafinga for a short time. So we are tired and getting packed up for Lake Malawi and leave at 5am in the morning here. I have no idea if you get internet reception at the lake or not. So once again, if you don’t hear from me for a few days that will be the reason.

Our Safari rig, one of them and me and the kids just getting through check in at the gate area.

Isabel riding Apollo by herself and feeling pretty proud.

Hannah giving Papillion a good work out. She would ride ahead then circle back behind us.