Today we are at Tarangire Nationl Park where our friend designed the visitor center. We were comparing animal densities and grasslands with the ranch and nearby WMAs. A lot of talk about grass. And we saw 100s of elephants, zebras, wildebeasts, and impalas.
Afterwards, we went to a cultural boma that is affiliated with AWF. This is a small group of Maasai huts were women make crafts to send their kids to school and allow tourists to visit. The kids were speechless. We were greeted by 10 Maasai women and their kids and goats. They sang for us and invited us to enter their thatched roof, cow dung and mud walled huts. They were completely dark inside and about 20 feet in diameter. The wife and her children live in the hut and the husbands (who have many wives) live in separate huts nearby. All the husbands were out tending their cattle. Needless to say we were compelled to buy things at their nearby "gallery."
Last night we had delicious pizza at an open air restaurant. After dinner, the kids were playing in the garden and saw some vervet monkeys. While Charlie was pointing at one, the monkey picked a fig, threw it at him and hit him in the mouth. Then it laughed. Charlie gave the vervet monkeys at Tarangire a wide berth.
We will add pictures soon. We are out of town with limited computer access.
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7 comments:
Charlie! Why didn't you pick up the fig and throw it back to the monkey--Maybe he wanted to play catch.
Charlie- Marret thought that was hysterical and can't wait to hear more!
Simons, I am Brady Anderson; I was US ambassador to Tanzania during Pres Clinton's first term, Phil Purifoy is my nephew and gave me your blog address. What you've written takes me back to the first time I saw Arusha in 1988. I know it's grown a lot and there are more tourists, but sounds still like Africa which is where our heart remains. I hope y'all have agreat stay. Enjoy the people, the animals, the culture. I'm jealous, Brady
Charlie,
I can't believe that the monkey threw something at you and laughed and hit you on the mouth. Annie, I am sorry that you got sick. I hope you feel better. Have fun in Africa.
Thomas M. (and Jennifer and Ian)
Simons Family! So good to hear about your adventures. I hope you all are doing well! I love your posts...so interesting to hear about your experiences!
Hey, Charlie! I think the monkey was wanting to play catch with you! It was hysterical!! Can't wait to hear more.
Riley
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