Guest Blog - Kelly visits the Simons

Hi. This is Kelly Wassell, friend of Angela's, that went to Africa to visit the Simons. When they told me they were going to Africa, I jumped on the chance to go. While I was there, I stayed with them in the first apartment for a few days. What I was most impressed with was how GREAT the kids were. Arusha is nothing like Little Rock, nor anywhere that I have been. But the kids seemed to just take it all in stride. They had been there for 2 weeks, so all the sights I was taking in weren't new to them. So women with tons of things on their heads, Maasai men walking through town, didn't seem to faze them. And Annie and Charlie were great playmates. I can't imagine how Scott and Angela would handle things if they weren't. When we weren't walking through town, I got to play some things with them that I hadn't for 20-30 years, the dot game, fortune tellers, and string things like cat's cradle.

I also went on safari for 4 nights and had a wonderful time. I spent 2 nights at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Before I could get in the conservation area, the Baboons greeted me and the other visitors. Thank goodness, I had the windows closed. They aren't afraid of getting in the vehicles and stealing food. I witnessed 2 grabbing the boxed lunches and making off with a sandwich and banana.

It was amazing to be in the crater and see all the wildlife just right there. Everything lives in the crater except giraffes, and I saw an example of most of it all except the shy leopard. And although I have been told it counts, I only saw the very back of what I was told was a black rhino. I love the zebras who hang out with the wildebeasts. Charlie and Annie especially loved my laughting zebra picture. I promised I would post it.

I then spent 2 nights in Klein's under Canvas, tented lodge. How wonderful to be in a tent right next to the Serengeti. We went on a night game drive after visiting a Maasai boma and then spent the next day in the Serengeti National Park. It just doesn't compare to a zoo, when you don't know what combination of animals was going to be around the next corner. The one thing we were assured of was seeing our fill of wildebeasts. If I saw one, I saw a million. It was part of the great migration. Just imagine the "lion king" scene, but slower. Amazing.

It's hard to describe the experience, but wanted to share a little of it. The national parks of Tanzania are amazing. I would highly recommend going to everyone.

And give the Simon's a shout.

They are there another 4 weeks and with the earthquakes and all, I am sure they would like to get emails from you.

Thanks for reading. And thanks to the Simons for letting me join them for part of their adventure.
Kelly