Honeymoon in Tanzania

July 6, 2015

Honeymoon in Tanzania

Jambo , jambo!

(Jambo is “Hello” in Swahili)

There was no way in seven hells (Game of Thrones reference for my fellow ASOIAF geeks) I was going to do a lame, normal, average, run of the mill, beach honeymoon somewhere in the Caribbean. Sorry to all my friends and family who did, but then again, not sorry. Yall know who I am. I can’t do anything “normal”. Journey into the heart of malaria and Tsetse flies, herds of elephants and millions of wildebeests we go! Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Africa was where I spent my first weeks of newlywed bliss with Brody.

We booked our Safari with Access 2 Tanzania and were fortunate to be guided by Fulgence. We customized every detail, from visiting Ngorongoro Crater to seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration, to relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar. It was perfect!

I'm OBSESSED with glamping! We stayed at Planet Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania in a yurt-styled house. — Stayed at Planet Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania in a yurt-styled house.

There are 120 tribes in Tanzania. Each tribe uses the local abundant food source to make a signature beer. Yes, that means there are 120 different types of tribal beer in one country. And you wondered why we chose to go to Tanzania…

We visited a Chaga tribe outside of Mount Kilimanjaro to learn how to make their staple Banana Beer! Here is Tanzanian millet and the different stages of beer making. The bananas are harvested while still green and stored in a hut until ripened… to keep them away from elephants, baboons and hyenas! Here I am sharing a communal unfiltered, unprocessed, local Chaga banana beer. It’s passed around a circle of friends and family and you must blow the millet seeds before drinking.

Safari Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. — Safari Game Drive

A little "Safari Traffic Jam" with a herd of Maasai cows inside Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. — A little “Safari Traffic Jam” with a herd of Maasai cows inside Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Fulgence made us the best meal of the safari- Avocado Sandwiches! Lunch inside Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, Africa. — Fulgence made us the best lunch of the safari- Avocado Sandwiches!

So many flamingos inside Ngorongoro Crater!

L1000341 — 7:00 am, greeted by a serene male Lion right outside of our hotel (Rhino Lodge) on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater.

The Great Migration occurs annually as approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, following about 400k zebras move throughout the Serengeti & Maasai Mara.

Imagine seeing this view... 360 degrees around you. As in, imagine being completely surrounded by a herd of at least 60 elephants! Pure happiness. — This baby elephant slipped in the mud and his buddy behind him had to push his butt up the grass.

Surrounded by over 60 elephants at once = Bucket list... Check! — After a brief afternoon rain shower, we were surrounded by over 60 elephants at once. Bucket list of being in the midst of the most majestic animals ever??… Check!

The entire reason we visited Tanzania in the month of June was to see the millions of wildebeest migrate in the Serengeti.

Hippos are the funniest sounding and beings! Watching them roll in the water is one of my favorite moments. — Hippos are the funniest sounding and beings! Watching them roll 360 in the water had my abs sore from laughter.

Literally THE BEST SAFARI moment right here. Driving home, a stray elephant walking in the road directly into our car. We slammed on our brakes, switched off the engine and sat still holding our breaths. The large male elephant was sandwiched between two cars and nervously side stepped around us. If he had freaked out, I probably wouldn't be here to share this! — Literally THE BEST SAFARI moment right here. Driving home, a stray elephant was walking in the road directly towards our car. We slammed on the brakes, switched off the engine and sat still holding our breaths. The large male elephant was sandwiched between two cars and nervously side stepped around us. If he had freaked out, I probably wouldn’t be here to share this!

Acacia trees acting as the perfect frame for this feeding giraffe. (Did you know that giraffe legs are too long for their mouths to reach the ground? They have to spread their legs awkwardly to eat off the floor. It’s hilarious.)

glamping — Glamping inside Serengeti National Park at Kati Kati Camp where our alarm clocks were the sounds of hyenas!

maasai kids — Maasai kids and kids (baby goats) are the CUTEST!

Fulgence was our ideal safari guide- knowledgeable and kind! The company did a wonderful job matching us up with him.

After a week of safari in Northern Tanzania, we boarded a few tiny airplanes and landed on an island off the east coast of Africa- Zanzibar! If you’re a fan of ABC’s Scandal, this is roughly where Olivia Pope and Jake Ballard escaped Washington, D.C. (hey, familiar story!).

We were welcomed with the ever famous "Hakuna Matata" in the honeymoon suite in Zanzibar. — We were welcomed with the ever famous saying “Hakuna Matata” (it means no worries)

Traditional Zanzibari sailboat called a dhow.

DCIM103GOPROG1284017. — Snorkeling the Indian Ocean and having a hard time NOT swimming into the abundant fish

Lunch at The Rock, a restaurant in the Indian Ocean accessible by foot at low tide and boat at high tide.

Seafood platter at The Rock Restaurant... American prices in Africa but the size of the prawn and the Cagil (type of rock lobster) was worth it! — Seafood platter at The Rock Restaurant… American prices in Africa but the size of the prawn and the Cagil (type of rock lobster) was worth it!

Ahhh... soaking in the African glory. Do I HAVE to leave??? [Dongwe Ocean View Hotel] — Ahhh… soaking in the African glory. Do I HAVE to leave??? [Dongwe Ocean View Hotel]

Thank you to the most beautiful continent of Africa, gracious host of a country Tanzania, Access 2 Tanzania safari company, Fulgence and my new lovely husband Brody for the honeymoon and trip of a lifetime.

(Traveling to Tanzania and have questions? Need help planning? Send me a message in the Contact form and I am more than happy to consult!)

Thanks for sharing my memories,

Mel