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Travel Blog #20 - Serengeti to Biharamulo

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-21 12:33.

Location

South Africa

2° 37' 27.8472" S, 31° 18' 54.558" E

From the Serengeti we were now on our way to Rwanda via Mwanza. We stopped in Mwanza which is a big town to exchange dollars, fill up with diesel and provisions. From there it was a ferry crossing atKikongo and then on to Biharamulo via Geita.

Ferry crossing which was painless and cost about R50.

On the deck with the vehicles at the bottom and beautiful view of Lake Victoria.

Ferry on Lake Victoria coming from the other side.

Just when you think you are making progress Africa roads bring you back to reality. I pity these truck drivers on these roads. They can get stuck for days.

We are all up tight as we have to get to through but the locals take it in their stride.

The Old Fort camp site in Biharamulo. You actually camp inside the old fort. The Prado is starting to look a bit battered. Fortunately we have only lost a back mud flap so far.

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Travel Blog #19- Ngorongoro to Serengeti

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-21 11:52.

Location

South Africa

2° 25' 52.554" S, 34° 49' 19.29" E

The road from the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti is a bone jarring 100 kms or so but beautiful scenery. Here one passes the millions of wildebeest getting ready for their migration up north.

Ngorongoro to the Serengeti.

Typical savanna type scenery of the Serengeti.

Sunrise over the Serengeti.

The Nyani public camp site we stayed in.

Crocs on the famous Grumeti River which the Wildebeest have to cross during their migration north starting anytime from now.

The Grumeti River.

Giraffe.

Tsetse flies on our vehicle.

Baboons.

Serengeti around the Seronera area.

Thousands of Buffaloes.

Serengeti scenery.

Once out of the Serengeti, we camped on the shores of Lake Victoria not far from the exit of the Park. Beautiful setting but no facilities. Supposed to have but ‘she is all broken’.

After a huge African storm we had to hang everything out in the morning to dry.

So, once again it is debatable if 2 nights camping in the Serengeti was worth the $450. The facilities in the public camp site were atrocious, cold water, Muslim hole in the ground type toilet, (and we didn’t see one Muslim, just Europeans and Yanks), no washing up place for eating utensils, shit roads and Tsetse flies. They have not seen a grader for years. Also what we found frustrating is the 24 hour permits you get from time of enter. You have to be out at the same time on day of exit which is a hassle as you are not near your gate of exit. If you don’t make it, it is another couple of 100 dollars.

The South African Game Parks put the Serengeti to shame by a long way, for a fraction of the price. But the fact that we could experience the scenery and just be there I guess it was worth it.

Travel Blog #18 - Arusha to Ngorongoro

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-21 11:10.

Location

South Africa

3° 11' 30.4764" S, 35° 31' 22.5084" E

We were advised to get a TANAPA, National Parks Card as you can’t enter the Serengeti without it. You can’t pay with cash at the gate anymore. As it turned out, they do accept credit cards and you can pay for the camping in cash.

So it was back into Arusha to buy this lot and finally we were on our way again. Information is not readily available so you just have to ask around and invariably you get different answers.

The scenery approaching the Ngorongoro Crater. Here we saw lots of Masaai walking around.

On the way up to the brim of the crater. You climb up to about 2400 meters to the top.

Finally once you are on top the beautiful view into the crater. The lake inside is filled with pink flamingoes.

View into the crater.

View from our camp site.

Very basic amenities. The weather was very cold but fortunately there was hot water.

The road down into the crater.

‘Wanna-be’ Springbok.

Hyena.

Jackal and the lake Magadi in the back ground.

Buffalo.

Pumba...

Ellie, they are huge with huge tusks and very old. Apparently the reason being they cannot get out of the crater.

Lioness.

Plenty of Zebras.

Two lionesses sleeping.

Lots of wildebeest.

So, it is debatable if it was worth the $400 for one night camping and a couple of hours in the crater. We also had an issue entering the crater. They don’t allow private vehicles into the crater without an official guide. Another $100. Fine print on your permit. They don’t point this out to you when they take your $200 to enter the crater. We asked them where the ‘guide’, a scruffy looking Masaai, was going to sit as the prado was full.

Anyway, after the magic words, ‘Bafana-Bafana’ and a few shiny South African World Cup pens they allowed us in.

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Travel Blog #17- Mombo to Arusha

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-21 11:02.

Location

South Africa

3° 24' 34.2576" S, 36° 29' 30.3936" E

From Mombo we headed for Arusha. We needed to stock up with supplies before Ngorongoro and the Serengeti National Park.

Can you believe it? A Woolies and...

A Shoprite. Nederburg Baronne red wine, Oats-so-easy etc. Like shopping back home.

We camped about 25 kms outside Arusha at the Snake Park Camp Site. It is mainly an Overland Stop for those huge over land trucks full of Yanks, Dutch, Danes, Chinese you name it. Very lively pub and the owners are from Durban.

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Travel Blog #16- Msata to Mombo (Lushoto)

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-21 10:27.

Location

South Africa

4° 48' 1.2348" S, 38° 17' 40.4268" E

Once again we were on a tar road and headed for Korogwe. We decided to head into the Usambara Mountains as camp sites were not up to scratch on the main road.