Subject: [Tweeters] Tanzania trip report - Part 2
Date: Oct 31 06:09:03 2005
From: Jack Stephens - jstephens62 at comcast.net


September 13th
The first two nights we stay at Maasai Safari Lodge in Arusha. This is
very small place, tucked behind a residential area on the outskirts of
town. The electricity and hot water are iffy, but the rooms are pleasant
and large, and there is small garden that attracts a nice variety of
birds. After that first morning walk and breakfast, Anthony and Geitan
arrive to take us on our first full day. We tick off VARIABLE SUNBIRD,
AMYTHEST SUNDBIRD, COMMON BULBUL, and AFRICAN BLACK SWIFT, and then head
off to Arusha National Park, just an hour away from town.
Many of the standard tours skip this park, which is a shame. It has a
mixture of montane forest, grassland and lakes, and proved a great
kick-off location for our trip. After a short drive, we enter the park
and within minutes come to a clearing loaded with Giraffe, Zebra,
Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, and Warthog. It seems like a scene from the g
Garden of Eden. Even though we will see these species many times again,
that first view is magical.
While we are watching the mammals, the birds are coming fast, including
fly-by LIZARD BUZZARD and SILVERY-CHEEKED HORNBILL.
Arusha is the only park we will visit that allows walks with an armed
ranger. So for $20 we are accompanied for the next two hours by Roger in
his green fatigue uniform and
AK-47. I think that the AK is a bit much, until we spook a Cape Buffalo
just 30 yards away hunkered done in some brush. Roger says that they
usually run away like this one did, but at least once he has had one run
at the group. A few rounds in the air and it turned tail, but suddenly I
am happy Roger and his gun are there.
We see our first AUGER BUZZARD soaring overhead, and get great views of
a BROAD-BILLED ROLLER in the scope. After a visit to a waterfall and a
walk through the woods, we return to the car, thank Roger, and head off.
We score some good mammals, including Red Duiker, Sykes Monkey and
Black-and-White Colobus Monkey. A visit to two lakes yields SOUTHERN
POCHARD, HOTTENTOT TEAL (don't you just love that name?), INTERMEDIATE
EGRET, LITTLE GREBE, LONG-TAILED COMORANT, and GREAT CORMORANT.
At the end of the day we stopped by an orphanage for a visit. We had
asked Anthony ahead of our trip how we could best give back to the
people of Tanzania, and he had suggested this orphanage, and an
elementary school that we would visit later. We brought some school
supplies, soccer balls, vitamins, and candy with us, and expected to
just drop it off and then leave. It turned out that they had a much more
formal visit in mind. We sat down and heard about the history of the
orphanage from the director, met with the assistant director, the staff
member who keeps their books, and then toured the facility. It is
basically a three room building with 40 children in two bedrooms, about
6 children to a double-sized bunk bed. We then sat down as the older
children performed several songs and synchronized dances. There were
some great singers in the group, and the songs were real toe-tappers. I
was quite surprised to learn from Anthony that all the songs warned of
the dangers of AIDS. After the performance it was time for us to
distribute the treats, as well as some impromptu soccer practice with
Dan and the children.
That evening we enjoyed an authentic African meal at Maasai Safari Lodge
with our host Cornelius. He is a retired veterinarian who worked for 15
years with the game animals on the Serengeti, mainly doing research. It
is hard to imagine treadmill tests on elephants, but he assures us that
it can be done. You do need a really big treadmill, however.

Best Bird of the Day (as defined by my non-birding compatriots)
WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER. We had stunning scope looks on our walk in
Arusha NP.
Hardest to Find Bird of the Day (as defined by Anthony, based on
location and time of
the year)
BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE. Seen on our walk in the forest.
Biggest Miss of the Day (as defined by me, usually the ones Anthony saw
and I didn't)
HARTLAUB'S TURACO. Anthony saw one in trees during our walk and one run
across the road in Arusha NP, they were gone by the time I looked.
Highlights of the day (as defined by us all)
The first view of wildlife in Arusha NP
The visit to the orphanage