Not enough can be said about Mount Kilimanjaro, so it's a good thing most
of the content on these web pages are photographs. And, lucky for you,
there are dozens of spectacular images that portray the grandeur
that is Kilimanjaro. At over 19,360 feet, it is the higest peak in Africa,
allowing those who reach the top see for hundreds of miles before throwing
up in the snow. I'm proud to say that the entire group of 14 guests not only
didn't throw up, but each of us made it to
the top, despite the fact that the handicapped escalator was broken.
(I attribute this success rate to Wildernress Travel's itinerary that
allows for climatization.)
So join us, won't you, by entering the various photo galleries presented
on this page, and I promise you a fun, scenic, and an often pathetically
humorous journey to a world where living on top of the clouds is like going
to God's house for brunch. (It's great to be there, and the food's good,
but you really don't want to screw up and take everyone else down with you.)
Where do you go to see dirty, smelly animals? Dead carcasses being devoured
by rabid and hungry omnivores? Wild beasts doing everything from snorting
to fighting to the death over a female? No, not a political convention.
An African Safari! That's right. On the same trip that included the
exhilarating hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro, you can also see an invigorating view
into the natural splendor of wildlife without having to lift heavy objects.
No sooner have your lungs refilled with air after the descent from Uhuru
Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro, does the eager crew challenge your respiratory
skills once again by filling your windpipes with dust, dust and more dust!
Yes, the hot and dry climate of the fabulously scenic and exciting
parks in Tanzania is quickly forgotten as you take in the beautiful
scenery and thrilling action of the Tarangire. This national park is
home to hundreds of different animal and plant species, and is the
part of the trip that allows you to see nature in all its glory: wild
animals killing each other to stay alive, mating with one another (and
sometimes with rangers), eating live and dead animals alike (and sometimes
rangers), and even peacefully sleeping in the lazy summer sunshine.
Just think, you can relax and enjoy yourself, forget about the dog-eat-dog
world of corporate life in the United States, remove yourself from the
violence and moral upheaval that is our Western World, and sit back and
watch other animals rip each other to shreds...
You know, the wholesome way, as nature intended!
Who doesn't love a great sunset? Especially one with an animal silhouetted
in front of the sun. And a really neat indigenous tree that you never see
where you live, reaching towards the sky? Doesn't it make you want
to travel there yourself to see this same gorgeous scene? Well, that's what
I did! And boy, was it hard to find that scene! I mean, Geez! I could
have saved a lot of time and money if I'd just bought a darn postcard and
looked at it in the comfort of my own home. But hey, there's something about
being there on the spot, communing with nature, swatting malaria-laden
mosquitoes away from my face and body, carefully watching for snakes and
lions, all while capturing these precious moments on film.
And, talking about capturing a moment on film, here's one to tell your
grandchildren one day: during my trip to Tanzania, who else but the President
of our United States (who, at the time, was Bill Clinton, in case
you're reading this in the future) happened to go to Tanzania to visit one
of the many McDonalds they proudly provide here. (Only here, they call them
"McMoody's". Don't ask me. I was on vacation.) Anyway, so while traffic was
stopped for hours upon hours, waiting for the presidential procession to
"process", I had nothing better to do than to take pictures of people,
who were hoping to see Mr. Clinton to ask the question that was burning on
all their minds: "Who are you, and why are you stopping traffic here?"
And while I was doing that, his car zipped by, and I missed the whole thing.