Safari Adventure

As my journey to Africa nears its end, I decided to take one last trip through the Horn of Africa to the lovely country of Tanzania and the Island of Zanzibar.  After brief stops in Addis, Ethiopia, and Nairobi, Kenya, we flew by Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits. It is considered the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, with Uhuru Peak rising to an altitude of 15,100 feet from base to summit.  Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago, when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone.  Two of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct while Kibo (the highest peak) is dormant and could erupt again.  The last major eruption has been dated to 360,000 years ago, while the most recent activity was recorded just 200 years ago.  Kilimanjaro has .85 miles of glacial ice and is losing it quickly due to climate change.  The glaciers have shrunk 82% since 1912 and declined 33% since 1989.  It might be ice free within 20 years, dramatically affecting local drinking water and crop irrigation. 

Our plane landed at Kilimanjaro Airport and my final adventure in Africa begins.

After flying into Kilimanjaro Airport, we drove to Arusha, Tanzanzia, where we checked into the Mountain Village Resort.

Nestled at the foot of the wooded slopes of Mount Meru, this unique hotel stands amid coffee plantations on the shores of tranquil Lake Duluti. Designed to echo the traditional style of the colonial coffee farm, which originally stood on this site, Mountain Village offers a range of tastefully presented cottage-styled rooms set amid extensive landscaped grounds.  The Lodge stands on the shores of Lake Duluti, 20 kilometres from Arusha and 60 kilometres from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

A network of pathways lead over tiny clear water streams to charismatic semi-detached thatch bungalows, each with verandas and plenty of nets. Taken over by the Serena chain, standards have certainly improved and now the the wide-windowed dining room (which once felt rather neglected) is stunning and the food is of the typical good Serena standard.

All rooms have private balconies commanding views to Kilimanjaro on one side and Mount Meru on the other with Lake Duluti in front; the setting is fabulous.  Guests are provided only one key to their room which is rather inconvenient when traveling in pairs. 

 This is my room.

Dinner at Mountain Village Resort.