Travel stories

Our golden wedding anniversary

Voor ons gouden huwelijksfeest zijn we met Explore Tanzania naar Tanzania geweest.

September 6-8 Dar es Salaam
After the flight from Amsterdam to Dar es Salaam, we stayed at the Mediterraneo Hotel in Dar es Salaam. We had booked an extra night here. Mediterraneo is a nice family hotel outside Dar es Salaam and directly on the sea. (I can recommend it to everyone, your holiday will start very relaxed).

In the Netherlands something went wrong with our malaria pills, but one phone call to Explore Tanzania and a taxi was ready the next morning to take us to get the malaria pills in Dar es Salaam.

September 8-13 Nyerere National Park
We flew to Nyerere National Park in a small propeller plane. A beautiful flight and so much fun, we sat right behind the pilot and were able to follow the landing perfectly.
Right next to the airstrip we immediately saw the first elephants. Immediately after landing (and a sanitary stop) we left for a game drive of a few hours. Only after sunset did we cross the river in a boat, full of crocodiles and hippos.

There is something disorienting about arriving in the dark, but the surprise is even greater in the morning. A great tent with all the trimmings and at night you hear all kinds of things passing by. But the Masaai security is always nearby at night, so nothing to worry about.
In the morning we see tracks of elephants and hippos and fresh elephant dung near the dining area. The fencing at the Selous Wilderness Camp has been knocked over three times by the elephants.

Nyerere National Park was amazing. We saw and did a lot with excellent guide Blessing and driver Ali. We were spoiled during lunches in the Bush and at sundowners; and always a table, cloth, regular plates and cutlery.

September 13 – 17 Ruaha National Park
After breakfast we were taken back to the airstrip for the remainder of our journey. We fly on to the Ruaha National Park. Here too we have another game drive immediately after landing and we are lucky that we immediately see wild dogs.

We stay at the Ruaha River Lodge, which, as the name suggests, is right on the river. A beautiful lodge with beautiful houses with a large veranda, from where you can see all the animals that come to drink.
There are also many crocodiles and hippos in this river, but once again the Masaai security arranged everything well and we never felt unsafe for a moment.

The Ruaha National Park is called The Garden of God by the Tanzanians, and that may be true; it is very big and so different in landscape, beautiful. Because it is so big, you can go on long game drives and not meet anyone. We saw so many animals here, including lions and leopards.
The lions are also near the lodge, so you can sometimes hear them roaring at night. Elephants and hippos also pass by at night.
On our last evening at the Ruaha River Lodge we were treated to song and dance and cake in honor of our 50th wedding anniversary. So incredibly sweet that they did that for us. The manager Christiana Schröder is also very hospitable and attentive to all guests.

September 17 – 21 Zanzibar
We fly on and land with a stopover in Dar es Salaam on the island of Zanzibar. We stay there at the Fumba Beach Lodge, about 30 minutes from Stone Town at the end of the Fumba peninsula, on the most remote beaches. It is a beautiful lodge with monkeys in the trees, a great swimming pool and delicious food.

After a day of lazing at the lodge we take a taxi to Stone Town to buy presents for the family back home.

Last day, we had a night flight to Amsterdam, check out was at 10am. But that turned out to be no problem, because our room with a sea view, which had already been booked again, was exchanged for a garden room where we could stay until 6:30 PM. On this last day we sailed with a traditional dhow to an uninhabited island for snorkeling and a BBQ lunch.

For us this was really a holiday with a golden edge.

Thank you team Explore Tanzania.

Cor and Cora