Sunday, July 18, 2010

On Safari in Tanzania


My nephew Patrick recently returned home from a dream adventure of visiting the country of Tanzania in Africa where he climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro!  He had been training for over a year to accomplish this task and we are all so proud and happy of him. He gave me permission to show some of his fabulous photos on my blog, so today I thought I'd show the safari he went on in Arusha National Park, one of the fourteen Tanzania National Parks, for "Mosaic Monday" on Mary's The Little Red House blog.


The 212 square mile Arusha National Park is close to Arusha and the Kilimanjaro International Airport and therefore was an easy day trip for my nephew to take before his mountain climb.

According to this web site: "the park contains a diverse resident population of herbivores, primates and predators including black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, hippos, leopards, hyenas, waterbucks, wart hogs and a wide range of antelope species. No lions in the park although you can see leopards if you are lucky."

All photos can be clicked on to enlarge.

There were many monkeys climbing an ancient Boabab tree, also known as Adansonia. Some species of baobab trees can live for a thousand years, potentially reaching a stunning height of 80 feet (25 meters) and a diameter of 40 feet (12 meters). The African baobab tree is capable of storing life-saving water during the draught season which is vital to local nomadic people who may not have any other means of obtaining water. Large baobab trees are said to contain more than 30,000 gallons of water!


 He saw many herds of elephants seeking water.....

...and many Wildebeests, gazelles and giraffes.....

...and large herds of zebras.


There were also many giant ant hills, such as this one, throughout the park!

Wildlife conservation is an important issue in Africa, as it is all continents, and Tanzania has done much to create wild life preserves where its native animals can remain free and protected from hunters and poachers. You can read more about this issue here.


Come back to see my next blog post when I'll show you some of the incredible photos of Patrick's climb to Uhuru Peak of the world's highest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro!



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45 comments:

pam said...

Okay, the ant hill was a little creepy...I just turned on the TV and it was on some channel that was playing a mock worthy GIANT ANT movie. All I saw was a giant ant coming out of something like that before I turned it off...LOL Great pictures...thanks for sharing with us.

steviewren said...

Pat, please tell your nephew thank you for sharing his trip with us! I loved seeing his photos. That tree was amazing. When I first read the post title, I thought your were in Tanzania. I'll be back to see more of his photos for sure.

Betty said...

That would be a dream vacation for just about anyone. He's got some wonderful photos and memories.

Old Kitty said...

Oh wow!! Well done your nephew!! I can't wait to read about his actual climb - how AWESOME is that?!?!?
Thanks for sharing these fabulous pics of a wonderful country! It's a big but necessary step to be able to find a happy compromise between the needs of the people and the conservation of these precous wildlife and environment - so the work of organizations like the WCS are so so so vital!
Those baobab trees are amazing! I just can't imagine a world without them or the elephants or even those anthills!

Oh but Mt Kilimanjaro beckons..!

Yay for your nephew!!

Take care
x

Jojo said...

WoW!!! Those are great pictures and I can't get over the ant hill!!! We have trouble with fire ants in our area and all I could think was OUCH!!

La Petite Gallery said...

Awesome shots. I love Kudo's I just painted on. That was some trip.

yvonne

black eyed susans kitchen said...

These pictures are both amazing and breathtaking! Just unbelievable!Thanks so much to you and your nephew for this.
♥, Susan

A Garden of Threads said...

Wonderful photos of his trip. Thanks for the tour. Take care.

Claudia said...

You had to know that title would draw me in immediately! What an accomplishment! Thanks to Patrick for sharing his experience. The wonders in our world never cease to amaze me. The photos stun in the best, possible way.

Mary said...

Wow, that must have been an amazing trip! Thank your nephew for sharing his wonderful pictures. I can't wait to see more! thanks for sharing at MM. :)

Snap said...

Thank your nephew for sharing his trip with us. Wonderful, stunning mosaics. Congratulations to him, also, on his climb.

EG CameraGirl said...

What an awesome trip. How nice you got permission to share these photos with us!

Vee said...

That ant hill is scary. That tree is awesome. What a great trip for your nephew. Please thank him for me for allowing you to use his photos. It's the only way I'll ever be on a safari.

Sarah said...

Pat, what an incredible experience for your nephew. I look forward to seeing more of his photos. To have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro is quite an accomplishment. Thanks for sharing these photos. ~ Sarah

Anonymous said...

I'm like Stevie when I first read your title I thought you had been to Tanzania. Thanks for sharing this beautiful trip through your nephew. My granddaughter just went on honeymoon in South Africa. Unbelievable photos and videos they made. Will keep on the look out for the climb.
QMM

Kat said...

What an amazing adventure! The photos are wonderful, it must have been so thrilling to see all of those beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. I love the baobab tree, what a magnificent sight. Can't wait to see the pictures of the mountain climb. Thank you nephew for allowing you to share these with us! Kat

Joyce said...

Great shots and thanks to your nephew for sharing. Can't wait to see your next post.
Joyce

Sheila said...

What fantastic photos ! Your nephew must have had a wonderful experience and reading about his climb will be great. Thanks for convincing him to share his adventure with us!

Unknown said...

Beautiful Pat, it's as if I am looking at a National geographic pictrues..it's truly inspiring to be able to with nature :) Happy week ahead and hugs....love/M

Traci said...

Incredible shots!! Most adventurous mosaic!

Carol said...

Thanks for sharing Patrick's trip! That is some adventure! Amazing! Loved the photo's!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow Pat.... What an incredible opportunity for your nephew. I have read about Kilimanjaro all of my life.. It's great to see the photos of someone who actually climbed it.... WOW---I'm so impressed...

Love seeing the Boabab trees....30,000 gallons of water, huh???? Woooo....

Also loved seeing all of the exotic animals (elephants, zebras, giraffes, etc.... Can't wait to see more!!!!

Thanks for sharing... AND thanks to Patrick.
Hugs,
Betsy

http://jackieinsurrey.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

Hi Pat, thank you and your nephew for sharing his experience. I am looking forward to the photographs of the actual climb, what a great adventure for him. Jackie in UK.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, fantastic photos! An african safari is a dream trip of mine. I love all the animals. The tree is cool.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Wonderful!!! Just wonderful!! Look forward to the next pics...Cathy

Regina said...

Wow such wonderful and amazing adventure.
Thank you for sharing Pat.

Happy new week.

diane b said...

What an exciting adventure for him, especially to see those wild animals roaming free.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

What an adventure. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos.

Tara said...

Hey PAt

What great shots from his trip!

I loved the piece you did on th Marble cemetery--who knew? NYC has so many interesting things stuck in every nook and cranny!

Hope all is well! I am enjoying a restful summer! :0)

Pondside said...

Beautiful, just beautiful! Every photos is like a professional post card. I loved the monkeys!

Marg said...

Thank-you for sharing your nephew's journey's. It brought me back to my memories of my recent travels to the SD Zoo....I was intrigued by the African Wild Life, and better yet...you are sharing his experience.
We will be watching for the climb.
Amazing.

nanny said...

Oh what beautiful pictures!!! The zebras have to be my favorite....
I would love to go to make pictures (not climb the Mt./ha)

GailO said...

A little different than Manhattan! Love the trip! thanks to your nephew...

CatHerder said...

OH WOW that is AMAZING!!...im jealous

My name is Riet said...

Wow, that must have been a wonderful trip.And so wonderful you got to use some of his pictures Pat. You made beautiful mosaics, so special the little photo's on the larger ones. Have a good week.!

Sniff said...

Lucky guy! I so wish to go on safari in Africa myself!

nanny said...

Oh yes, I read all about you meeting Rocco and I so wished that I was with you on that trip....it must have been so wonderful!!!!

Brenda said...

Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos, Pat! (Can't wait to hear about Patrick's climb!)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

What marvelous sights your nephew must have seen. Tell him thanks for sharing these amazing photos with us!!!

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People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Wow that was awesome, Pat!!! He took wonderful shots. The anthill is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Anonymous said...

OMGoodness! What an adventure of a lifetime! thanks so much for sharing this....

I love all of the safari photos...the elephants especially!

have a great night!

ciao bella
creative carmelina

Unknown said...

What an amazing adventure. Those photographs of the animals are spectacular. Your nephew is brilliant for capturing life while he is young and fit. I can't wait to see the next chapter Pat. I always learn something when I visit you.
Karen

Vagabonde said...

What great photographs! That certainly was a dream trip. Thanks for sharing.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Just amazing...each and every photo! ♥