Saturday, January 7, 2012

JAMBO!

Photo by Chris Stejskal.  Social interaction between two giraffes at Arusha National Park


Photo by Alyssa Wlosinski. A rare sighting of a Beesley’s Lark scouting the Engikaret Lark Plains



Photo Mel Cleary. Elizabeth, one of the Olitisi children waiting for her turn to get off the bus to see the view in Arusha National Park



Photo by Mel Cleary. Stephen Pope searching for wildlife in Arusha National Park with Elizabeth, one of the Olitisi orphaned children



Despite the jet lag we all woke up excited to begin our first day in Tanzania. After breakfast, the photography students spent the day with a group of orphans making bracelets and wire sculptures; their talent blew us away. We also visited Shanga, a remarkable facility where people with disabilities blow glass out of recycled beer and wine bottles to earn a living. Part of their profits from the beads and other products go to an organization, which benefits disabled children. Aileen Hearn was lucky enough to blow glass herself. The wildlife group went to the Engikaret Lark Plains in hopes of seeing the endangered Beesley’s Lark, the most rare bird in Tanzania. These birds are being protected through the practice of community-based conservation, which is funded by visitors like us. We were lucky to see six of these birds, in addition to over 100 other bird species by travelling in open trucks and exploring the landscape by foot.  The diversity of species was humbling.  The next day, we went to Arusha National Park with twelve of the orphans saw zebras, giraffes, buffalo, and olive baboons, two of which were white (which is awesome)! We left Arusha the following day with our cameras and binoculars ready for an eight hour safari (Swahili for journey) to the Maasai Steppe. In the final hour we drove through a torrential downpour until we reached our destination where we were greeted by the warm, welcoming faces of our Maasai hosts. Check back for more adventures to come!


33 comments:

  1. The giraffe photo is super, and it must have been amazing to see the other wildlife you mentioned! How great it is that you spent time with the orphans! We're excited to hear about your time with the Maasai! Continue to have a safe and adventurous journey....
    Love to Kelsey from Mom, Dad, Wes, and of course, Chester and Penelope

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  2. What amazing photos! It is exciting to read about your adventures and we can't wait for the next update. Enjoy the stay with your Maasai hosts.
    Love to Meg from Mom & Dad
    p.s. the Lions lost...:(

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  3. Great photos Mel! The updates are priceless and it sounds like you all are having an amazing time.
    Love to Mel from Mom and Dad xoxoxo

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  4. Liz, Great pictures. Hope you are having a wonderful time and learning a lot. Ashley says Hi! I hope you are doing well. Enjoy every single moment.
    Love Dad, Mom, Mike & Ashley

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  5. 6 Beesley Larks and white olive baboons! What an amazing experience. I am so excited for you....Sam your cat is terrorizing us! Miss you!

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  6. Morgan, this trip looks and sounds amazing.....perhaps life changing! The pictures are great and look forward to hearing and seeing more of your adventure. Maybe even an award-winning photo.....lol! We love and miss you. Please be careful as you continue your trip....Love, Dad, Mom, Phil and Elena xoxoxoxo

    PS - Send our love to Erin!

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  7. Work it gurlfriend! Looks like you are in for the time of your life, enjoy every second.

    Love ya! Uncle TimBo

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  8. Hi Matt,

    Wow what an experience. It sounds like you're making the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity. You must love getting to observe all the different species of birds (with those sweeeeet new binoculars) Great picture of the giraffes. Can't wait to see and read more.

    Love -- Mom, Carlo, Dad Carol & Lin

    P.S. The sales people at REI called. They miss you.

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  9. What an exciting start to your trip! Looking forward to many more exciting pictures.
    Love you Becca! Enjoy this whole experience!

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  10. Glad you made it safe Erin...sounds like you're already having fun and I can't wait for more photos! Miss you already...Have an amazing trip and safe travels!

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  11. Amazing, what an experience! Love the photos and can't wait to see more. Miss you Erin and hope you are having the time of your life. Stay safe!

    Love ya, Mom & Dad

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  12. Those photos are absolutely incredible! Such an amazing opportunity! Love every minute of it! Much love to Emma! I miss you lots!

    Love,
    Caitlin

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  13. Pictures are amazing and you are experience something you can only experience once in a lifetime. Enjoy every minute!

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  14. Gram said:

    Hi Lys,
    Great pic you posted! Hope you are having a great time! It must de awesome seeing the animals in the "wild"! I can't wait to hear about everything. I just thought of something elkse I should have gotten you @ Christmas... a sm. tape recorder. gotta run for now. Please know we love and miss you LOL Gram & G-p0p

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  15. Love you Holly! Have a wonderful adventure! love, miz

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  16. Erin & Morgan. Can't wait to drink guiness with you when you're back. Lots of love, Dean Schmidt

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  17. Liz,
    What an amazing adventure. Keep enjoying the sights, sounds and interesting people - so much to learn!
    Mrs. Bailey

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  18. I love the photos!! It makes the whole thing so much more real to those of us following your travels from home. It's hard to believe you're actually seeing the things you're seeing and doing the things you're doing. Love to you, Emma, and cheers to the whole group. Thanks for the news and wonderful pictures.

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  20. Hey Jen and LIz

    Looks like UDEL is seeing the best of Tanzania! It sounds like such an adventure! Hope to see more photos and hear more great stories! Enjoy it all and take lots of pictures!

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  21. Amelia,
    Amazing photos of what you are all seeing. Everyone back home is excited for you and is following along. Looking forward to more updates.
    Love,
    Dad

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  22. Hi Carly,
    How exciting! Tanzania looks and sounds amazing! Take some great pictures and have fun! What a wonderful experience. We miss you and love you...Mom, Dad, Connor, Justin & Bridget xoxo

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  24. I meant to include in my previous post that as we are following your journey, my biology classes are asking lots of questions and are excited and curious to see more photos about the spectacular descriptions of your adventure, especially after your last amazing post, prompting me to request more photos (it's probably not easy to download a chunk of photos with a solar-powered satellite!!!).......however, it is so great to share this experience with our students. The more real life connections that are made, the more interested they become in wildlife conservation and our role in the environment. We do appreciate the effort you are making to share this experience. Thanks again!! We look forward to more photos and updates!! Take care.

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  25. Hey Morgan and Erin! Glad to see you made it there safe and your having a good time! I hope your having an amazing experience! Miss you guys :)
    Love you, Amanda

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  26. Awesome!!! Can not wait to see and hear more!!!

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  27. Hello Holly,
    The pics are amazing. What an adventure!! So happy for all of you, happy and safe travels to all.

    XOXOXXOX
    Mom, Kev, Gran, Poppy and Roxy

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  28. Awesome pictures of the giraffes and Beesley Lark. It would be great to post a group photo of you all with the tribes!! :-) Special hello to Megan. We love you!!

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  29. Do you know the song by Sting, "I'll be Watching You"? We call it the stalker song, right Meg? I confess, I am a stalker when it comes to this blog. I obsessively check it several times a day hoping for another fantastic chapter or more amazing photos. I suspect, from the warm and funny comments that have been posted by everyone's friends and family, that I am not the only stalker among us. We know you are incredibly busy and access to Internet is sporadic at best, but truly, we cannot hear enough about your fantastic journey. Safe travels to all and lots of love to Meg. I'll be watching the blog :)

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  30. Hi Morgan~ Great to see everything seems to be going well! Looks and sounds amazing! Say hello to Erin. Have fun and be safe!
    Love ya, Aunt Pam, Uncle Steve, Steven and Andrew:)

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  31. Aileen,
    How wonderful to get your email and know you're having a blast! Hope you got my reply and congrats on the glass blowing! Love Mom.

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  32. Day 1

    Nick and Becca...things have changed since you left. Changed...drastically. Yesterday, on my way down Main St, I got behind this really slow group of people that were dragging their feet, strange right? Not as strange as when one turned around and looked at me...there was no life in his eyes, yet he continued to move. It's true N&B...there are zombies back at school.

    Luckily, we still have water, and our internet hasn't seemed to disconnect yet. We've fortified the house, yet they're everywhere outside, so we can't leave. We're dwindling down on our supplies, yet we haven't figured out what the next move is. We'll update this as much as we can, and don't worry, our forces include CJ, Errica, Chris, Brian and the Jons.

    Alive for now,
    Lizzy and Holley

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  33. Sam, Great pictures. The Beesley Larks are magnificent. I understand they taste like chicken. Shall I send recipes?

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