MOSHI
In Moshi we slept in an Airbnb from a friend of Alan. It was really a nice house with a nice garden (coconut palmtrees). We always had a nice breakfast with (Avocado, Toast, Eggs, Nutella and ofcourse Chapati). One day we get a Chapati course from the nice housemaids. Our crew also explored the city and went by to different marktes. Beside vegetables and fruits one can also buy clothes on the street. One day we went with a small bus to a school from the organization SALTworldInc. It was really nice to see what the organization already build and how happy and proud the children were to go to this school.
MERU CLIMB
Now it was time for preparing the hiking tour to the 4566 high mountain MERU. After a exciting bus tour we finally made it to the Gate. There we met our nice Ranger “Joseph”. It’s forbidden to walk behind the gate without one “Do not walk beyond this point unless accompanied by a ranger!”. We were really lucky to have “Joseph” – he was the best Ranger we could have imagen. After few hours walking I asked Joseph if there are some dangerous animales and he said with his kind of humour: “Mhm… YES”. With him we finally made it before darkness to the first Camp where we slept in rooms up to 4 people.
The next morning started at 7 o’clock with a nice breakfast. After this the crew started to the second Camp “sattle hut”. We reached it in the afternoon and really fast we recognized that the “luxus” life is now over. We didn’t have fluently water this means no shower or toilet flush. After refering our new rooms we get Lunch. Lunchtime was always the best time! But if you now thinking that we chilled the rest of the day… NO. After lunch we wen’t up to the little meru (3820 m) to acclimatize. Acclimatization is really important before sleeping true to the motto “go high – sleep down”. Our crew wen’t immediately after dinner to bed.
Because our day wasn’t over at eleven o’clock we met outside to start our finally hiking tour to the mount meru (4566 m). It was really dark therefore all of us used flashlights. The tour was really nice but at the same time so exhausting. In one point we had to climb a little bit – because it was dark it was really scarry for us. At this time some of our group members decided to go back to the camp. My boyfriend looked at this time really happy and healthy but after hour second meating at the “Cobra Point” (4350 m) I realised something was wrong, really wrong. Also the guide saw it and told us that he has the altitude sickness (high sickness) and all we have to do is go down – NOW!
Everything went fine and my boyfriend felt better after arriving at the second camp and taking a special medicament. One can say that the highsickness can strike everyone. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are with hiking and other sports.
In summary one can say that beside the last view hours of the hiking tour – we were really happy to went up to the mountain MERU! The nature is really beautiful and we also saw much animals and met so nice people. It’s really worth a try and we were all really proud of ourself and the group! But if someone ask me what I would do differently the next time I would say that one definitely need more days. The last day was pretty exhausting also because of lack of sleep. If you are deciding to go up to the Mount Meru always remeber the 3 groundrules:
- walk slowly
- drink water
- stay POSITIVE
On the way back we stopped at a waterfall. We all did not miss the possibility of a shower and enjoyed the cooling of the waterfall. It was sooo… nice! After that we saw a lot of buffalos and went back to the basic camp. Everyone got a certifcate we get one for successfully reaching the Cobra Point.
Coffee plantation
We wen’t to a fairtrade biological coffee plantation from Mr. Gideon. He explained us everything about the cultivation and the treetment of the plants. It was really interesting and afterwards his wife cook one of the best meals i’ve ever had! They also showed us their farm with 3 cows and 3 calves.
Safari
The Safari was unbelievable. We wen’t through different parcs like Tarangire parc or Ngorongoro Parc and we were able to see so many animals. It was one of the best experiences of my life. We slept always in a tent sometimes in the middle of the national parc. But if you gonna do this you really have to put your food outside the tent in some buildings or eat it! Because most of the animals are nocturnal and they shouldn’t smell something inside your tent. Another rule is that one shouldn’t go alone or even by darkness to the toilet. But if you are thinking about this two little rules everything will be fine and one can really enjoy the night!
At our 4 days Safari we saw animals like Giraffes, buffalos, monkeys, elephants, ostrich, zebras, lion, warthogs, hornbills, vultures, hyenas and leopards. Our driver was really nice and explained us a lot about the animals.
Here are some small facts about some animals:
- the bouquet animal is with 90 – 100 km/h the second fastest animal
- dik-diks are living monogamous this means they only have one partner in their life
- the drunk of one elefant holds 7 liter
- giraffes are sleeping while standing
- the male lions eat first, than their children and after that the females
AFRICA 