Nyumba ya Mungu: Trip XVI

Some Masaai kids fishing. 

This past weekend we took two of our friends to Nyumba ya Mungu ((Trip I, II, III, IV, V & VI, VII, Trip VIII, Trip IX, Trip X, Trip XI, Trip XII, Trip XIII, Trip IV, Trip XV). We were especially looking forward to this trip because we had introduced them to the world of birding a little over a year ago and they were hooked. Unfortunately, they then moved to the south of Tanzania and we haven't been able to see them since. So we were happy to have them come for a visit so we could show them Nyumba ya Mungu and do a little birding as well.

We left around 7:15am and we were slightly worried that we would get rained on. The rains had started two days ago and since Nyumba ya Mungu is actually a reservoir, we knew all the water would be flowing down into it. The road itself is kinda of a flash flood river basin and the sand can quickly turn to a sticky mud. However, I was pretty confident that we wouldn't get stuck, or if we did, then one of the big trucks hauling sand would pull us out.

The ride to Nyumba ya Mungu was great as the clouds provided some relief from the sun and kept the temperatures cool. The rain had settled the dust but didn't quite make it muddy and thus it was actually ideal driving conditions. There were a few big dips in the road that had accumulated water but we knew from years past that the bottom was solid so it was quite fun to plow through massive puddles.

When we reached Nyumba ya Mungu we were slightly disappointed to see the water had made it difficult to pass where most of the bird life was. Our friends weren't disappointed though since it was their first time and it really is a beautiful place. The rains had cleared the air and the Pare Mountains were visible in the distance while the lake teemed with birdlife and reflected the sky above, though the water was muddy from the recent rains.

Because our friends had to get back to Moshi by 2pm we had to leave a bit early. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as Ana and I typically push it a bit more than we should and are usually exhausted by the end of the day. All in all it was a totally successful Nyumba ya Mungu day, rich with good company, lots of birds, and not too much heat!

Ana with the telescope. 

These Black Herons create shade that attracts the fish and then hunts them. Very cool to watch. 

Birding!

TPC Birding

The pools with the Blue Mountains in the background. 

In February we had a couple of trips to TPC (TPC I, TPC II, TPC III, Trip IV). We love TPC as a local birding spot because depending on what part we go to it's only a 30-45 minute drive for us making it the nearest spot we can go for a walk.

Tanganyika Planting Company (TPC) has over 8,000 ha (20,000 acres) of sugar cane, though the area of land it manages is so large that multiple villages are within the vast expanse. There are also fallow patches, reservoir that attract birds,  and a river that runs along the west border, which allows for some pretty decent birding and short hikes. We know most of the "spots" that one can either walk or birdwatch and we've recently befriended someone that is a new birder and has lived there for 15 years. She's showed us a ton of new places that we didn't know of and we've helped her on bird identification.

One of the most awesome birds we have gotten to see there is called the Darter. A typically elusive bird, we have found a reservoir with nine of them living in a tree. They have long necks and they hunt for fish by diving and spearing them with their beak. They are also known as the "snake bird" because when they swim their entire body is submerged and only their neck is visible.

African Darter, flying

African Darter with a fish!

We continue to enjoy TPC for the birding and we're also happy to have a friend to join us on our excursions. Now that we know ALL the spots we have many options; walking along the north river, walking along the south river, visiting different reservoirs, hiking/driving the conservation area, or visit the pools in the south. I'm sure there will be many more visits to TPC!

Zebra Waxbill

European Bee-eater

Carmine Bee-eater

Tarangire National Park: Trip IV

Everyone loves a super cute baby elephant.

Two of my co-workers have been here in Tanzania for six months and they haven't gone to a national park yet. I thought back to when we first arrived and how inaccessible and difficult it appeared to go on a self-guided safari. The alternative to that was a hired safari which carried a hefty cost in both time and money that most people working in the non-profit world can't readily afford. This weekend we arranged for a one day trip to Tarangire National Park (Trip I, Trip III).

To force Tarangire into a normal weekend takes some effort but it's totally doable. You can leave Moshi at 5pm and make it to Makuyuni, a tiny junction way-point with one of the best "local" guesthouses we've stayed it, by 8:30pm. Although the drive seems long and navigating through Arusha traffic can be a challenge, I still think it allows you to get a good nights rest. From there it's only a 15 minute drive to the park gate and if you get in early enough the registration process goes quickly.

Everything was very smooth for us as we arrived at Tarangire at 8:30am. It seemed pretty crowded with a few large buses full of Tanzanians mixed in with the typical safari cars and tourists. We registered quickly and hit the river circuit.

Going with first-timers was really a great experience from the beginning. One tends to forget their first moments; when your eyes scan wildly for any type of movement in anticipation of..well, anything. Any log starts to take the appearance of a sleeping lion, or long branch an elephant's trunk. The sight of a warthog half obscured by grass 50 ft away gets you scrambling for your camera and giddy with excitement.

We spotted some relatively common ungulates in the first hour in the park with some great views of waterbuck, gazelles, and zebra. But the real excitement began when we explored a river. We were lucky enough to find two large groups of elephants with some giraffes and zebra nearby. There weren't any other safari cars nearby and it was the quintessential setting with great views over the plains and intimate views of the animals.

The rest of the day was likewise full of good wildlife spottings, though we only saw a solitary lion lazily relaxing under a tree. No cheetahs or leopards but the other wildlife was numerous and densely located along the routes we drove. One of the real highlights was seeing a  dead elephant corpse and hundreds of vultures coming in for the feed. The numbers of vultures in Africa has been decreasing rapidly so it's always a treat to see a large group.

We exited the park around 430pm and made it back to Moshi by 8pm. It was a very successful trip but doing it one day can be tiring! Totally worth it though.

Ana checking out some birds with a big elephant in the background. 

Riverbed. 

Iconic baobab tree. 

Ungulates.