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A safari.
Traveling all the way to Tanzania was not for museums, markets or the beautiful Arusha hotel, however much we enjoyed them. Though we appreciated our short stay in Arusha and many things that it had to offer, it was time to go. Time for the real deal.
Since I was a child, watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, I had been fascinated by the places and animals that its host, Marlon Perkins encountered each week. I was particularly enthralled by Africa, a land so colorful and filled with people and creatures that were such a contrast to what my young eyes beheld every day. Though I was from a small town, and travel was not part of our every day lives, I knew that one day, I would manage to make the long journey and set my feet upon this vast continent’s ground.
Life as a flight attendant offers many opportunities to see the world. Any occasion that I was able to secure, to see every city that my airline offered, I took. I particularly enjoyed my travels to Africa. Ghana was my first foray and I loved the people, the culture, the food and the landscape. It was succeeded by trips to Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria and South Africa. Though I was able to go to the famed Lion Park in Johannesburg, play with the baby cubs and drive through their sanctuary and even do a game drive in Senegal at the private Bandia reserve, eastern Africa eluded me. A safari where I stayed in the parks, able to watch the wildlife from the lodges was what I wanted to do.
For my landmark 50th birthday, I promised myself that a safari trip was what I wanted most. Booking the adventure took place seven months ahead and the wait was almost unbearable, but eventually I found myself in Kenya and then Tanzania.
Leaving early from our hotel, we made our way to the Arusha Airport. An extremely small airport with mostly small aircraft, it was surprising to hear that a couple of our travel companions had arrived here from Amsterdam on a Boeing 777. Wow!
After our arrival and making our way through security, we stood alongside the runway awaiting our aircraft assignments.
Soon, we were boarding one of Shine Aviation’s Cessnas and rocketing down the runway. Arusha’s dense landscape spread out before us giving way to mountains and gorges. Although we were told that on some days, Kilimanjaro is visible, unfortunately, we did not have the pleasure. We settled in for the hour flight and before long, the landscape became more barren. I was mesmerized by the Maasai villages that were discernible here and there along our flight path.
As we descended, small animals dotted the landscape and the landing field appeared before us. Lower and lower, our aircraft dropped until we were bumping along the Seronera airstrip. Finally, I had made it.
The Seregeti!
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Arusha Regional Airport
Shine Aviation
Seronera Airstrip