Post safari bliss

Back in Arusha, enjoying a rest day before heading to Zanzibar tomorrow.  Still feeling moved by the sights, sounds and experiences on the Serengeti and in the Ngorogoro Crater.  Wildebeest and zebra as far as you can see in any direction.  The sounds of zebra tails swishing in the grass, vast herds of wildebeest grunting in harmony, the huffing and puffing and deep breathing of the hippos.  The pure entertainment provided by a cheetah using a line of jeeps as cover while scanning the plain looking for prey, while tourists snapped photos furiously above his head.  The young male lion sleeping under the only acacia tree in sight, lazily opening one eye to give us a look.  The elegant giraffes loping across the road.  It was heaven.

Saying good-bye to our guide Habib was hard.  We teared up, he teared up.  We had shared such a great few days together, we all felt lucky to have ended up together.  It's challenging feeling so privileged and connecting with someone who in material ways at least has so much less than us.  But as Susan says, he is a rich man in many ways.  His work is in these beautiful places.  He has five children and a wife he adores.  He is skilled and well regarded in his jobs.  He has super human eyes, able to spot and name animals that we have trouble seeing with binoculars.  "African eyes" they're called.

Will post more when we have a chance.