Jambo from Tanzania!
What a week it has been!
When I arrived in Tanzania last weekend, I had some idea of what the next 12 days might hold. What I hadn’t anticipated was just how quickly those plans would change.
There have been unexpected adventures, spectacular landscapes, wildlife encounters and a few rather long days on the road. I’ve travelled by helicopter, watched flamingos at Lake Natron and found myself in places I could scarcely have imagined a week ago.
And somewhere along the way, I’ve been reminded that sometimes the most memorable travel experiences are the ones you never planned.
So, settle in with a cup of something nice, and let me tell you a little about my first week in Tanzania.
THIS WEEK'S SOJOURN
When plans go up in smoke…
One thing I've learnt over the years is that travel doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes that's frustrating, but occasionally it leads to something quite extraordinary.
Our original itinerary included an ascent by hike or bike to the Shira Plateau to view Mount Kilimanjaro, but wildfires on the mountain meant that our plans had to change.
Instead, we headed up by jeep to the plateau to assess the situation before returning to collect our luggage. We knew there was a surprise planned for later in the day, but nobody was giving anything away.
And what a surprise it turned out to be!
A helicopter was waiting for us, and I was lucky enough to sit in the front.
There's something quite magical about seeing a landscape from the air. As we swooshed over the tops of hills and mountains, I watched the scenery unfold in front of me - ridges, valleys and vast stretches of countryside revealing themselves as we flew.
It was exhilarating, and I couldn't quite believe I was there.
We landed on Mount Meru for a picnic, surrounded by spectacular scenery, before taking to the skies again. This time we flew over Arusha, eventually landing in a secluded glade for lunch.
Later, we continued to Arusha National Park, where we swapped flying for walking and headed off to see a waterfall.
What had begun with uncertainty over the Kilimanjaro fires turned into one of the most extraordinary days of my travels.
And while I would still love to experience Kilimanjaro, I wouldn't have missed that helicopter flight for the world.
From My Bookshelf: The Snows of Kilimanjaro
I'm slowly making my way through Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro, reading a couple of pages every night.
I snuggle up in bed – admittedly with the fan going, as it's still hot at night – and slip into Hemingway's world.
I don't really want to finish it, but at the same time, I do want to know how it ends!
On my desk
Or perhaps I should say, on my memory cards!
After a week in Tanzania, I've accumulated thousands of photographs and hours of video across my cameras, phone, drone and GoPro.
From sweeping mountain landscapes and wildlife encounters to the people I've met along the way, there's an enormous amount to sort through.
I've also been taking notes and gathering stories for future articles. There are already far more ideas than I could possibly fit into one newsletter!
The editing will have to wait until I'm home. For now, I'm concentrating on capturing as much of this extraordinary journey as I can.
Through my lens - Flamingos at Lake Natron
One of the highlights of my week has been watching flamingos at Lake Natron, with the dramatic landscape of the Great Rift Valley stretching out around them.
Lake Natron is an important breeding ground for lesser flamingos in East Africa, and seeing these beautiful birds in their natural habitat was something I'd been particularly looking forward to.
I have rather a lot of photographs to sort through, but this is one of my favourites.
Travel Wisdom
Allow more time than you think you'll need
If there's one thing I've learnt from travelling through northern Tanzania this week, it's that distances on a map don't always reflect how long a journey will take.
Road conditions, unexpected stops and even mechanical problems can turn a relatively straightforward drive into an all-day adventure.
On our way to Lake Natron, a vehicle problem left us waiting at a garage, and we eventually arrived well after dark, missing the sunset we'd hoped to see.
My advice? Build some flexibility into your itinerary, carry plenty of water and snacks, and don't plan anything too tightly on a travel day.
And keep your camera handy. You never know what you might discover along the way!
Something that caught my eye
A roadside encounter with Agness
Sometimes it's the people you meet along the way who leave the biggest impression.
On our journey towards Lake Natron, we stopped to get a bracket fixed on the safari vehicle. Next to the garage was a small roadside café, where I had the chance to chat with Agness, the woman running the business.
In between, cooking the food, serving and giving instructions to her daughter and her mum, we talked about her café and what it's like running a business here in Tanzania.
It's these little encounters that I particularly love about travelling. Away from the famous sights and spectacular landscapes, there are everyday stories waiting to be discovered.
I'm hoping to share more of Agness's story when I've had time to go through my notes and recordings.
Next Stop...
Back to Scotland… and a mountain of photographs!
By this time next week, I'll be back in Scotland, swapping Tanzania's sunshine and spectacular landscapes for autumn in the Scottish Borders.
After nearly two weeks in Tanzania, I'll be heading home with notes galore, voice recordings, memories I'll never forget... and, of course, thousands of photographs to edit!
I'm looking forward to revisiting all these experiences as I start putting the stories together and sharing more of this extraordinary country with you.
There are so many stories I can't wait to share with you, both here in Silver Sunday Sojourn and over on The Silver Nomad.
But first, I still have a few more days in Tanzania, and who knows what adventures are waiting around the corner?
Over to You
When did your travel plans take an unexpected turn?
Have you ever had a trip that didn't quite go according to plan, but turned out to be even better than you'd imagined?
Perhaps a missed connection led to an unexpected discovery, a change of itinerary took you somewhere wonderful, or a chance encounter became the highlight of your holiday.
I'd love to hear your stories! Just hit reply and tell me about your most memorable unexpected travel adventure.
Until next Sunday,
Larch x
