From many places we could choose in Africa, we decided on Tanzania. It was a blast. We visited three National Parks: Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti. We paid for a private trip. Our driver and guide was Ema.
In Serengeti, we landed in the middle of the big 800 km migration trail from Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya of wild beasts, zebras, and gazelles. There are around two million of them.
The biggest crowd of flamingos in the world is at Lake Natron. The river feeding the lake has no way out. The balance is kept by the amount of water that evaporates. Unfortunately, if plastic or other garbage comes from the river, there is no way to take it out.
A group of locals saw us and came by, forming a market only for the two of us.
The most unusual place we stayed was a baobab room.
It was built on a wooden platform around an enormous baobab tree. The tree itself formed one wall of the room, while the remaining walls were nothing more than mosquito nets. There were no neighboring cabins, no fences, no signs of civilization—just the African wilderness.
Whenever we wanted to walk to the restaurant anytime, armed guards came to escort us through the forest. On one occasion we had to change our route because an elephant had decided to use the same path.
It was one of the few times in my life when going to dinner felt like a real adventure.
It was built on a wooden platform around an enormous baobab tree. The tree itself formed one wall of the room, while the remaining walls were nothing more than mosquito nets. There were no neighboring cabins, no fences, no signs of civilization—just the African wilderness.
Whenever we wanted to walk to the restaurant anytime, armed guards came to escort us through the forest. On one occasion we had to change our route because an elephant had decided to use the same path.
It was one of the few times in my life when going to dinner felt like a real adventure.
We spent a day with members of the Bush People tribe, following them on one of their traditional hunting trips.
I suspect the hunt was organized with tourists in mind and that the deer had probably been prepared in advance. Even so, it gave us a glimpse into a way of life that has changed little over thousands of years.
One of the hunters showed me how to make fire using only dry grass and the friction of two pieces of wood. After several attempts, smoke appeared, then flames.
I actually did it.
I have to admit, I was ridiculously proud of myself.
When the deer was cooked, they offered me what they considered a delicacy—the eyes. They encouraged me to suck them out.
I politely declined.
What impressed me much more was what happened afterward. The hunters kept the best meat for the women and children before serving themselves. It was a quiet reminder that, despite living such a different life from ours, their priorities were often the same.
I suspect the hunt was organized with tourists in mind and that the deer had probably been prepared in advance. Even so, it gave us a glimpse into a way of life that has changed little over thousands of years.
One of the hunters showed me how to make fire using only dry grass and the friction of two pieces of wood. After several attempts, smoke appeared, then flames.
I actually did it.
I have to admit, I was ridiculously proud of myself.
When the deer was cooked, they offered me what they considered a delicacy—the eyes. They encouraged me to suck them out.
I politely declined.
What impressed me much more was what happened afterward. The hunters kept the best meat for the women and children before serving themselves. It was a quiet reminder that, despite living such a different life from ours, their priorities were often the same.
The next tribe to visit were the Maasai
When we visited the Datoga tribe, the leading woman greeted us with an unexpected question.
"How many cows did you pay for your wife?"
According to their traditional customs, cattle represented a bride price, and a man's wealth determined how many wives he could support.
The problem was that I had absolutely no idea what a respectable answer should be.
She stood there waiting.
Our guide smiled.
Everyone waited.
So I invented my own tradition.
"In our country," I said with a perfectly serious face, "the bride's family pays the husband with goats. I received eight goats."
She nodded, apparently satisfied.
Then I added, "I put the most beautiful goat in the front passenger seat beside me... my wife and the other seven goats rode in the trunk."
Then the leading woman smiled, pleased. I would say very pleased.
She called women from the neighboring huts to hear the story, and soon everyone was laughing, including my wife—much to my relief.
It was, down the road, a very warm welcome. They invited my wife to grind grain between two stones while the women sang around her.
"How many cows did you pay for your wife?"
According to their traditional customs, cattle represented a bride price, and a man's wealth determined how many wives he could support.
The problem was that I had absolutely no idea what a respectable answer should be.
She stood there waiting.
Our guide smiled.
Everyone waited.
So I invented my own tradition.
"In our country," I said with a perfectly serious face, "the bride's family pays the husband with goats. I received eight goats."
She nodded, apparently satisfied.
Then I added, "I put the most beautiful goat in the front passenger seat beside me... my wife and the other seven goats rode in the trunk."
Then the leading woman smiled, pleased. I would say very pleased.
She called women from the neighboring huts to hear the story, and soon everyone was laughing, including my wife—much to my relief.
It was, down the road, a very warm welcome. They invited my wife to grind grain between two stones while the women sang around her.
