Habari gani and swahili counting

Jambo, jambo bwana. Habari gani? Mzuri sana.

Moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano, sita, saba, nane, tisa, kumi!

Father's Day Camping - Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Longai

For Father's Day weekend we decided to head to northern Tanzania to Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Longai area. It was our family, the Banks family and Paul and Fini (of 'pet' zebra fame). Lake Natron is a highly alkaline lake ('they' say it can be as harsh as ammonia when the water level is low) and it's the only breeding ground for the lesser flamingo. Ol Doinyo Longai is a volcano that has erupted as recently as 2008. Both were gorgeous.

Since it's been so cold in Arusha, I had the kids pack lots of fleece and warm pj's, etc, but it turns out that this area is hot and dry still. I can't remember camping (sleeping) in weather this warm since my NY days. We all slept in t-shirts on top of our bags. The drive was long - Matt estimated 4 hours before we left, so I translated from Africa/Matt time into an estimated reality time and came up with 7 hours. Matt says that he wins since it was only 6 hrs and 15 min. It was father's day, so I guess his rules prevail. Sort of like The Price is Right since I overbid. It was a gorgeous drive, but it was very windy, dry, and dusty the entire way. A big change from our cool weather here.

We found a campsite that was near the hike in to the waterfall. The first night was very crowded and noisy at all hours from the hikers that left in the middle of the night to hike Ol Doinyo Longai. The 2nd night (Sunday) was much quieter and almost empty. It was very nice to be near the river, so the kids could play and we could all cool off. The kids all made bow and arrows, we did a great hike (and swim!) in the waterfall, we saw the flamingos of Lake Natron and had sundowners overlooking the lake and Ol Doinyo Longai. The kids found old flamingo eggs buried in the mud and Anderson managed to fall/slide into a big puddle and get covered in filthy, sticky mud. We did have a couple of tire punctures along the way (David on the way out and Paul on the way back and then David woke up to another flat this morning).

Ashy wants to tell all the animals we saw: baboons, zebra, giraffe, kori bustard (large bird), wildebeest, gazelle, cows, sheep, and flamingos. (There were also a ton of other cool birds which are very noisy starting at about 6 am).

Random bus that we passed that I actually managed to get a pic of.

First flat with maasai woman and baby watching

Almost to our campsite (I really wish I got a pic of the 'bathroom' there)

Start of waterfall hike. At the beginning we were still trying to not get too wet.

Then we realized that we were going to get very wet.
(we never would have done a hike like this in the US with the kids)

Birch and Tierney were often in the lead with our maasai guide. T even gave up on staying dry after while and let her fancy father's day skirt get all wet.

Ashy being helped into the water where it was a bit slippery

We made it! There is a whole canyon of waterfalls beyond that turn, but the camera didn't make it that far.

Swimming and playing under and around waterfall

Much needed father's day nap after the hike

Bow and arrow practice

Anderson playing in the 'sprinkler'

Awwwww.

Another beautiful sundowner spot.

with views of Lake Natron

"Beer is so yummy for me"

We had to kick out the baboons to get this view of Ol Doinyo Longai

Whose idea was it to let the kids ride on the roof rack on the way home?

(Fini in case you were really wondering)

They were giggling the whole way.

Where are the kids?

"Up there"

Flamingos of Lake Natron

Ol Doinyo Longai (ash at the top, not snow)

T, me and Anders (showing off his flamingo egg)

T and Ol Doinyo Longai

Cole, Tierney and Ash

Gorgeous view of Lake NatronOur guide

Sunset view

The camping gang (minus Anderson who was very mad at me because I wouldn't let him play with the maasai arrow tipped arrows...our campmade ones were really just sticks)

Maasai bomas with Ol Doinyo Longai....

this is just after the rainy season - they probably won't see rain again for 5 more months

A very harsh life.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Matt's 40th birthday celebration

After almost 2 weeks "in the bush", Matt made it home in time to celebrate his 40th birthday. (Sounded like an amazing trip in Northern Kenya, so maybe I can get him to document it). Thanks to Joey (watching the kids) we were able to get out for a 2 hour mountain bike ride right from our house. We had no route/direction in mind, so we just started riding. We started out riding through some small village areas where it seemed as if everyone was dressed and on their way to church. The children always yell 'mzungu' or 'wazungu' (basically white person/people) as we ride by...not in a derogatory sense either. About half of the time this is followed by "give me money", but often they are just happy to wave and say "hello. how are you? I am fine" (all said quickly in succession). They are so cute. We rode through some beautifully green rolling hills and through a dried river bed. It's so nice to be able to go for a mountain bike ride right from the house. Yet another reason we are so happy to have chosen a house on the far west side of town. We ended the day with a good 'ol fashion American bbq with friends at the house. Pulled bbq chicken sandwiches, potato salad, coleslaw and chocolate cake...of course with beer, wine and a Tanzanian attempt at mango margaritas. Overall a very successful day. Happy 40th, Matt! I love you.

And because they are so cute:

Samuel (new gardener) and Mama Jackie trying their best to teach me Kiswahili noun classes and verb conjugation - ugh!

Baby Chicks!

We finally have some chicks! After 3 weeks of waiting, the eggs started hatching this morning. They were still hatching after school, so the kids got to see at least one coming out of it's shell. Really fun. They were so excited. Unfortunately, 2 were trampled by their surrogate mom, but we still had 3 eggs that were unhatched when we last checked before dinner. 13 baby chicks in all so far. Anderson is the most aggressive in getting them, but not the most gentle holding them. Tierney is the exact opposite. Ash is curious and will only hold them for a short time, but loves being in the coop with them to watch it all. A very fun day (I think I was as excited to get the kids home from school as they were when I told them what was waiting). They are all mostly a butter yellow - a few have black spot and one is all black (Ash wants to know if it will grow up to be a penguin). In about a month, we'll know which ones are the boys and then we should have another couple of months to decide what to do about the noisy roosters (sell, slaughter, etc). I don't know who is having more fun with all of this. Now hopefully, the hens will start laying eggs again. (The eggs with the chicks we marked with an 'x', so we knew which to take for eating and which ones to leave).
[Next morning update: 16 chicks in total - wow!]

A couple of weeks ago we had another wild animal visitor to the Broyle/Banks compound. We think it was a striped polecate/zorilla (thanks to Tio Mike with his research on that one). The dogs caught it and the gardener rescued it (at least temporarily). Apparently they are fairly common, but infrequently spotted since they are nocturnal. That was a fun afternoon for the kids, too.

I realize I haven't blogged about my mom's visit yet. It was an amazing trip and I think she thought so, too. I think it's so fun to watch others take in the sights here. I remember my first trip and it's fun to get that feeling back through other people. We did two big safaris: Kambi ya tembo and Karatu/Ngorongoro Crater. We went to Kambi ya Tembo for a one night. A luxury tented camp on the north side of Kilimanjaro. We woke up to views of snowcapped Kili watching giraffe from the porch of our tents. I was also surprised by the amount of wildlife we were able to see on the game drive: giraffe (lots and lots), wildebeest, zebra, ostrich, dikdik, but no elephant despite the camp's name (Tembo is swahili for elephant). But we were lucky enough to come home with zebra, wildebeest, and even an elephant skull which are now on the front patio acting as giant doggy chew toys. We have to figure out a way to get these (legally?) back to the US. We also had a very friendly maasai guide who came around with us (traditionally dressed). The kids took to him right away and it was very interesting to watch the younger maasai children that we came across bow in respect to him as he touched their head.

For Mom's big 65th birthday weekend, we went to Ngorongoro Farm House for a couple of nights and made a stop at Lake Manyara National Park on the way and the actual birthday in the Ngorongoro Crater. Amazing. Lake Manyara was beautiful. We saw a lot of wildlife with some amazing close-up of elephants as well as amazing views of giraffe with the lake and mountains in the background. Ngorongoro is just amazing and we were able to see several lions as well as just hang out in the middle of a herd of wildebeest as we watched the head male try to keep his flock in line. We ate lunch next to a hippo's water hole where several (6 or 7) kept popping in and out of the water.

The girls last day of school is Friday - and, while the are very excited, I am wondering what we are going to do to fill up the next two months in a chilly, Arusha winter. One trip to the Usambara mountains and Pangani beach is already planned. I'm sure we can fit in something else, too.

Matt has been out in the field for almost 2 weeks and we're excited to have him home tomorrow night just in time to celebrate his 40th birthday on Sunday. We'll have some friends over to help us celebrate. Happy 40th birthday Matt and Elizabeth.