Tarangire National Park

The Welcoming Tree

The Boundary Hill Gate is the point of entrance for most safarists to the Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Growing by the gate is this remarkable baobab, an iconic specimen of the African landscape. It is at least a thousand years old.

Some call the baobab "upside down." If you squint your eyes, you can pretend its branches are its roots.

Others call the baobab the "tree of life," probably because of its longevity and the volume of water stored in its trunk. Elephants eat the spongy bark for moisture.

Tarangire Park is famous for its high density of baobobs and elephants. Join us on safari and see for yourself.

Arusha meeting

Arusha meeting

The three of us were sitting at a table, poolside at Ilboru Safari Lodge. Mr Saif had come to review our itinerary, introduce us to our driver, and, of course, carry the news that Vicki would not be molding in her clothes.

Tarangire

Tarangire

Zebras and wildebeests drank the muddy water, flicked their tails, rolled in the dust, and fussed with each other. It may have just been in my head, but somewhere I could hear the soundtrack of "The Lion King" playing.

Taking a safari

Taking a safari

We pitched our duffels and then ourselves into Saidi's knobby-wheeled truck. Saidi found the gear and we lurched forward. Our aim was to encounter the wildness of East Africa, God-willing, in a bloodless way.