Thursday, September 30, 2010

Serengeti to Mwanza

Now in Mwanza, after travelling about 5 hours from the Serengeti. On our way we were lucky to see some baby giraffes and a whole whack of hippos - about 20 together in one area. We also saw a lot of zebra and wildebeest - apparently there are 2.5 million in the Serengeti alone.

We are here in Mwanza for our visit to the school and meeting the 100 girls who will go to our school. Tonight we have our official dinner with 10 of the girls and some officials from Tanzania. I hope we get to spend some time talking with them and learning more about them.

Tomorrow will be pretty special as we visit the school. Maddy will be helping the other young girl here, Hillary, film a commercial for Because I am a Girl, talking with the girls and teaching them about the program. It should be very interesting.

Off to dinner, will be back again tomorrow afternoon/night.

We miss everyone!!!

S&M

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

More Serengeti

Today was our last official safari, with 5 hours spent driving the Serengeti this morning, then relaxign by the neat infiniti pool this afternoon.

On safari, we saw a male lion, gorgeous, walk by our jeep and off to nap under a tree. He had a large scar on his hip, our guide tells us this is likely from a fight the male leaders in his pride would have had, and he lost and therefore has to go out on his own. He was beautiful, with a dark brown mane, indicating his older age.

We also saw more zebra (they really do travel in massive groups like on Madagascar 2 Sam!), giraffe, and 2 cheetah. The cheetah were waiting patiently for gazelles to cross by them but never attacked, our guide was quite surprised. There were also the usual baboons and gazelles that have almost become like cows to us :)

Sadly there was an air balloon accident nearby today but rest assured none of us were on board.

Off to Mwanza tomorrow for the next 3 nights and visiting OUR school and meeting our girls! We are all very excited about the next few days and I am already feeling quite emotional about it. I am certain it will be beyond our expectations.

I am sorry I haven' been able to post photos the connection to do that is'nt working - will add when we get home.

Hoping the internet works in Mwanza, if there is no post for a few days that is why. Back in Dar Es Salaam on Sunday afternoon (Tanzania time).

Good night & Asante sani (thank you very much :)
Sara & Maddy

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

First Serengeti Day

We left the Ngrongoro Crater this morning and headed towards the Serengeti, seeing some spectacular animals en route. Highlights definitely included a pride of 13 lions including 5 adorable cubs. Maddy thought they looked alot like our Luke at home :) One little guy found our tire interesting and came over to lick it - they really do get that close and are not bothered at all by humans and jeeps.

We also saw some elephants up close again, they would often wander on the roads we traveled on. Zebras by the hundreds were also spotted as well as thousands of flamingos which was an amazing sight!

Tonight we are staying at the Serena Serengeti Lodge, it is just spectacular. They escort you to your room as there is no fence and animals have been known to wander by. But no one has been approached so no need to worry Grandma!!!

Our room looks out over the savanna, we got here late though so we will enjoy the view tomorrow. Here for another night then off to Mwanza to meet our girls and their school and residence under construction. Very much looking forward to that!

Good night :)

Monday, September 27, 2010

Elephant encounter

It is 7am and we are about to take off on our second day of Safari, into the Ngrongoro crater, known as the 8th wonder of the world. We had a perfect view of it from our room and it is difficult to describe its beauty. I will upload pictures tonight or tomorrow. Sufice it to say the most beautiful view ever!

On our safari yesterday we were climbing a mountain road and came right up beside an old elephant - about 50 years old our guide guessed. We could have reached through the window and pet him if we wanted he was that close. We got some fantastic photos. What a rush that was!

Other animals seen yesterday were a ton of baboons, giraffe (very close as well), zebra, hippos and warthogs (Pumba!) It is all so surreal. And oddly enough feels just like the Disney World safari ride :) they knew what they were doing!

Off to get breakfast. Maddy is trouping along and having a blast with the other two teens, and an amazing group all together!

Jambo!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

What an amazing day

Today we visited an existing girls school & residence, that is just like the one we are helping to build. It has been there for 3 years and 100 girls live there, with another 100 attending the day school, and another 200 boys.

There are all in secondary school and love to study. Maddy and I sat down with three of the girls to talk about their life and 2 of them told me they want to be doctors. Their hope and optimism about the future was unbelievable, amazing.

In addition to the pupils, the entire village came out to meet us as well as the Grand Commissioner to Tanzania from Canada. They performed some dances and songs and they were beyond moving. The little ones who danced were simply adorable.

It was quite a shock to be watched the way we were and oohed and ahhhed at. The little boys and girls were fascinated by Maddy and one little boy reached out to touch her shoe as we walked by. Many of the boys giggled and smiled at her :)

The trip to and from the school was also an adventure, on mostly dirt roads (bumpy!) with markets on our left and right frequently. All retail outlets seem to be right on the roadsides loaded with people doing their sunday shopping.

Back at the hotel Maddy and I enjoyed a swim with other Plan companions: Doug, Suzanne, Brayden, Hillary, Natalie, Heather, Grant and Lynne. A fantastic group of people, we are lucky to be travelling with them.

Off to bed shortly (its 9pm here) as we head to the airport in the early morning (530am) to catch our flight to Kilimanjaro where we then drive to Arusha for our first safari!!! We are very excited and hope to catch a good glimpse of Kili when landing our flight.

Good night!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

we're here!

We did it! We are in Dar Es Salaam, at the Movenpick hotel - beautiful! Maddy has just had coconut milk straight out of a coconut for breakfast lucky girl :)

Second portion of our flight was LONG but ok. Got to the hotel late last night and crashed immediately to bed. We are about to head off into the "field" to see an existing girls school residence that is just like the one we are helping to build. Can't wait to see it and meet the girls that go there.

Have to go!

(Grandma - we are very safe and well don't worry!)

Friday, September 24, 2010

In Amsterdam

At Schipol airport had a great flight over from Toronto. Very cool airport, it feels just like one big IKEA. Going to try to find some comfy chairs to have a snooze before our next 11 hour flight to Dar Es Salaam.

We sat next to a safari guide on our plane, he is going to Kenya with his group. "A group of ladies who like to drink and have a good time" he said... remind you of anyone? lol.

Maddy is being a trouper I am so proud of her :)

Love to everyone at home. Will update in Dar.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Here We Go! Leaving in 24 hours....

I truly can't believe we are just 24 hours away from heading on our adventure... it has been SO long in coming for us. What seemed like a wild dream 9 months ago is finally here.

I was remembering this morning a conversation I had last December with my great buddy Kathleen. I asked her if we were crazy for taking this kind of fundraising on, with such a high target, and such a far-reaching adventure like this trip. She simply said "you KNOW you can do this, you can do anything girl". And I guess she was right :)

We will try to post one more note tomorrow but then the next will likely be once we land in Dar Es Salaam on Saturday night (their time). They are 7 hours ahead of us.

Here we go....

Friday, September 17, 2010

One week to go!

Hard to believe it is just one week until we take off... so much going through my mind. Discussing the time change with my husband - should be an interesting challenge for both Maddy and I to get used to a 7 hour time change!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Meeting with Plan Canada

Got all the final details at a meeting wtih Plan Canada today. The trip is becoming that much more REAL! Met the amazing people we will be experiencing this adventure with and they are wonderful. Maddy is thrilled that there are two teens coming along!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Welcome to Our Tanzanian Adventure

My daughter and I are headed to Tanzania in a few weeks with Plan Canada. We are honoured to have been invited to see our fundraising efforts in action with the construction of a girls school residence in Tanzania, through the Because I am a Girl campaign at Plan.

Our trip will include 4 days visiting our school residence, meeting the 100 girls who will be attending and visiting other Plan Canada projects in the area of Mwanza.

We will also be visiting the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti to go on Safari, a life-long dream of mine. I can't even imagine the amazing animals and landscape we will see.

I imagine this adventure will be life-changing for Maddy and I. Follow us on our trip and please help us support the Because I am a Girl campaign next year through our race, Markham Womens 5K & Girls 1K, http://www.markhamwomens5k.com/.

Thanks for your support & enjoy our posts & photos!
Sara