Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp, Part 1

Today, a change in pace. We are driving to Lake Eyasi to stay at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp. Today, no animals. On the way, we stop at Crispian's home and I meet his daughter. He delights in my delight at seeing dung beetles in action.


We drive through a flat landscape that looks like green felt. No fences, very very few trees, zillions of dark red rocks poking through the low lush green scrub that gives the look of felt, and it goes to the horizon. And the thatched huts look so incredibly proud in pristinely clean surroundings. I've become uncomfortable photographing poverty, so I have no photos to show you. But I don't see poverty; I see pride and dignity in the attention to the sweeping of the yards. The red soil is hard. It is used to make bricks and walls, sometimes mixed with cement powder.

And then, up a high hill to a higher plane and we are in very arid landscape. Lake Eyasi Tented Camp, where we arrive at 11:30, is much more rustic that the past two lodges. We are on the shore of an alkali lake (all the lakes in the rift valley are alkaline), but here, where we are, there is a natural spring.


The lake is now FAR out as rainy season is just beginning. We are in a kind of oasis. What is nice is that there is space to walk. The host here, Nani, showed me where to walk and it will be good for Bwana to get some exercise.

This morning, there was a high overcast that kept temperatures a little cooler and far, far more bearable. Site seeing does not begin for me today until 4:00. So this is nice change from being in the truck all day. A nice siesta, the box lunch from Kirurumu Tented Camp and then site seeing in the cooler part of the day. And today's agenda is to visit a village of "bush people" of this area.


Tomorrow's agenda is to get up EARLY and go hunting with the bushmen and then picnic with them, sharing the kill (likely baboon or snake). Uh, no thanks. Bwana did not come here to eat the animals.

The three hour drive to here was as interesting and satisfying as seeing animals. I have seen such beautiful landscapes but I just wanted to look and enjoy the ride, so I put my camera away. I am experiencing a state of prolonged bliss. It started the moment I arrived in Arusha and it has not let up. But here is Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp: first my tent.


The former swimming pool. Now a Talapia breeding tank for food here.


Walking through the spring pools (below) to get to where I wanted to walk, but it is 35 degrees again, ,so Bwana stays in the shade.


And here is where I will walk when it is cooler.


To see more birds and cactus like these.