On our last day in Nungwi, we headed to Mnemba Island for some snorkeling. There were plenty of fish but not much coral. Afterward, we had lunch on a deserted part of the beach where the sand was soft and fluffy like stepping on a big pillow.
Africa
Day 8: On the Road in Nungwi
This peaceful island has one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. The sun starts descending into the water as the whole sky lights up in various coppery hues. The boats leaving at the sunset for their nightly journey juxtaposed against the vibrant colors create a beautiful scene.
Day 7: On the Road in Zanzibar
Today we left the dusty safari and headed to Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania. Near our hotel is a small fishing village where the local fishermen go out on their dhow every night and come back early in the morning with their catch. As they get closer to shore, the sail is lowered as they prepare to unload their fish to be sold at the nearby fish market.
Day 5: On the Road in Lake Eyasi
There are 216 different tribes in Tanzania, all speaking different languages. We spent the day with a small tribe that lives around Lake Eyasi. Like most tribes, the men and women have separate roles. Generally, the men are responsible for the hunting and providing. They hunt everything from birds to baboons to antelopes. The women, on the other hand, stay home and take care of the children and make jewerlry to sell at the market.
Here, the men are roasting an antelope over the fire. We were invited to taste the meat, which tasted like smoked venison. As honored guests, I even got to wear the crown made from the head of a baboon.
Day 4: On the Road in Ngorongoro
We visited the original Maasai tribe that still lives in the Ngorongoro conservation area. While visiting the tribe, we learned about their culture and their way of life. We were given a tour of their home, the market area and saw their famous jumping contests. It’s interesting to learn about these people who live their life so completely cut off from modern civilization.
Day 2-3: On the Road in Serengeti
The endless plain of Serengeti is filled with wildlife. After spending a few days camping in the national park, we saw everything from gazelles to cheetah. One of my personal favorites was witnessing a pride of lions tearing into their kill. We were about 10 feet away from the scene, where the lioness were fighting over the last piece of the zebra, leaving nothing behind but the rib cage. Nothing is more primal than watching one animal tear into another.
Planning Tanzania
[photo credit: Across Tanzania Expedition]
Photo of the Week: Thorny Climbers
Essaouira, Morocco
On our way to Essaouira, a coastal city in western Morocco, we saw these tree grazing goats. They were sitting in the thorny argan tree chilling out, so we had to stop on the side of the road to take a few pictures.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
Photos of the Week: Grotto
Tangier, Morocco
Tangier is a city located on the North African coast near the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. About a 15 minute drive from this northern city of Morocco is the popular Caves of Hercules. The grotto has two openings, one on land and one out to the sea. Entering from the land opening, you descend into a cavernous area with multiple rooms and alcoves. The caves were expanded considerably over the years by Berber tribes. The opening facing out to the ocean looks like the head of a man. When that same opening is viewed from the sea, it looks like a map of Africa. It is part of the local legend that Hercules stayed here and slept in this cave.
This sleepy seaside town is a great pit stop to grab lunch and admire the grotto. Inside, locals have set up stalls and are selling souvenirs. Outside by the waterfront, there are multiple shops and restaurants. Make sure you don’t plan your trip around Ramadan, when the attraction is shut down for a few weeks.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
Photo of the Week: Symmetry
Casablanca, Morocco
I didn’t know what to expect when I visited Casablanca. Based on the movies I’ve seen and books I’ve read, I expected a vibrant city full of marketplaces and interesting things, but what I saw was a dilapidated city, way past it’s prime. Streets and sidewalks were broken down and every corner was filled with piles of rubble and garbage. However, just when I was about to write off the whole city, we went and visited Hassan II Mosque, one of the most beautiful places in Casablanca.
It is one of the largest mosques in Morocco as well as Africa and 7th largest in the world. The white marble structure rises above the Atlantic Ocean in this forgotten city. Contrasting with the rest of the city, everything here was clean and shiny, the facade glowed under the morning light. Inside, people spoke in hushed tones in deference to the religious significance of the mosque. There was a sense of serenity and quietness that settled over the area.
This picture captured the elaborate doorway facing out to the Atlantic ocean inside the prayer hall. The sunlight filtered through the titanium wrought door and reflected on the marble floor creating an interesting symmetry. Even though this photo was taken in color, the light and shadow resulted in a black and white effect.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
life after 9to5 