KATHY & ALEX HOFMANN | 2018 | HIKING SAFARI
“One thing first: We don’t do tours. Ever!
We research, we self-drive, we book and we chew up a whole lonely planet in the process.
So why did we make an exemption and even more so why are we glad we did? Well, we did because we had total confidence in Diana and Isa. Off we went, totally underprepared by our standards and for a change we let every pre prepared adventure take us to a new and wonderful place. From the moment we touched down in Dar-Es-Salam until we said a sad farewell we learned so much every day. What was our favorite experience? Of course, the animals! Or rather the encounters with all the friendly and welcoming people? Or the Ali Baba like ancient city of Stone Town on Zanzibar (the name Zanzibar alone evokes memories of being ten years old and dreaming of future magical places to visit)?
Well let’s start we the animals. The lions, of course the lions! Never did we think that we would see them that close right next to our safari vehicle that our driver Peter managed to move closest to the big cats every time outsmarting all the other drivers. We even witnessed a female lion chase a gnu. Fortunately for us and even more so for the gnu it got away. Then there were the mighty elephants especially that lonely old elephant walking away from the herd into the distance most likely to die. The pretty zebras that provide even a mediocre amateur photographer with great shots due to their fantastic patterns. And what about the dik-dik, a standout competitor for the title of cutest animal on the planet that would give Bambi a run for its money. Sticking with the Disney theme the pumbaas (warthogs) with their funny antenna like raised tails provided some of the funniest moments – and we didn’t even have to leave the pool area.
The people were lovely wherever we went. Our guide Peter was a never-ending source of knowledge not just about the animals but anything Tanzanian from the nature to the people, the political and education system. And he delivered everything with such good humor and patience! Of course Di and Isa who made it all possible but especially Isa’s sisters who put on such a mighty feast with local specialties. The food was great everywhere from the five-star rooftop sunset dinner in Stone Town to the village grill in Isa’s hometown where we washed a serve of goat down with an icy cold local brew. A more unexpected and unplanned encounter was the stop at the local school where we were treated to some great singing as well as a round of “heads and shoulders, knees and toes” that we all did together with the beautiful kids. The biggest impact though came from our visit to an orphanage where we could present our gifts to the kids and never forget a little girl named princess swaying excitedly in her new lemon-yellow pleated chiffon skirt. Kathy was so touched that she later decided to join Di in her charity Nina Imani and has since become a director and fund raiser. We also loved the visits to the Maasai village and the bush people as well as the gut-wrenching time at the slave museum.
After weeks of being taken care of we had to be honest and say: We couldn’t have done it without them!”
Kathy & Alex Hofmann | NSW | 2018 Tour
