7/26 -- Drive to Tarangire National Park

On our way back to the highway and the border crossing, we went back through Amboseli National Park and saw a few interesting things, but it is funny how we now react to giraffes, zebras, gazelles, etc.: "Oh look, there's another one. No need to stop..."

Cape Buffalo looks equally blase

Eland and zebras

Our trip through the park and back to the main road took two hours, and we were at the border. We crossed into Tanzania with only one small problem: our bus for the next 2 hours only had seats for 11 and there are 12 of us, including our trip leader. Turns out one bus was stopped by police (often happens with trumped up charges that lead to bribery requests) and it was not all that clear that he would get through in time. Just as we made a deal with another driver to help,  he showed up  and we divided the group -- way more comfortable.

This cattle herd faced us off on the way to Tanzania.

We stopped for a leisurely lunch and a tour of a workshop that specializes in employing people with physical challenges, then loaded onto our new game drive vehicles and made another stop to learn about Tanzanite before heading southwest to Tarangire National Park.

We saw some interesting sights along the way and finally got to our new tent by 6:30pm. This one is a major upgrade from the last one, which had zippers and had to be locked and unlocked at toe level. It has a wall of windows on the front with a sliding glass door as well as indoor and outdoor showers. Internet is only supposed to be available in the restaurant, bar, and lobby, but our tent is close enough to connect from here. YAY!!!

MangatcheVillage woman on the way to the camp away
from main road

Fancy tent with a front wall of floor to ceiling windows
and a sliding glass door. Big bathroom too with an indoor
and an outdoor shower (too cold for morning use)

Sunrise in Tarangire

We saw some interesting sights along the way and finally got to our new tent by 6:30pm. This one is a major upgrade from the last one, which had zippers and had to be locked and unlocked at toe level. It has a wall of windows on the front with a sliding glass door as well as indoor and outdoor showers. Internet is only supposed to be available in the restaurant, bar, and lobby, but our tent is close enough to connect from here. YAY!!!