Jambo!

I know I tend to think that a lot of things in life are great, but I have to honestly say these last two weeks in Africa have been absolutely amazing. It truly was the trip of a lifetime.

Our trip to Tanzania and Kenya was incredible! It was so different from anything I had ever done. We saw more wildlife than I ever dreamed we would and we learned so much about the local cultures and people. We ate the most scrumptious local cuisine and I even learned a bit of Swahili.

We had 10 solid days of game drives in 6 different national parks, including Serengeti National Park. We visited a Maasai Boma village, donated school supplies at a local orphanage, toured the famous archeological site (and museum) of Olduvai, and hung out at our guide's local bar in Arusha. Our adventures included landing on a dirt airstrip in the middle of nowhere in a tiny plane, dining on a traditional dhow boat, feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi, sailing on a outrigger carved out of a log, and swimming in the Indian Ocean. One of my favorite parts of the trip was camping in the middle of nowhere, where the only thing between us and the roaring lions outside was the canvas tent!

Experiencing all the amazing, wonderful things Africa has to offer also includes coming face to face with the staggering poverty that is here too. Especially around Mombassa, on the Kenyan coast, we saw poverty like I have never seen before. It really makes you appreciate what you have and want to share it with those less fortunate.

I will write a more detailed account of our adventures with a few more pictures (you know me!) next week. We are off again! This time to Munich where G has a business meeting that just happens to be at the same time as Oktoberfest -- very convenient! :)

Although, I think I may be in trouble because I now know significantly more Swahili than German… hmmm... I better get studying!