Vumbi Sana! Dusty Adventures in Maasai Land

What's traveling if not off road?  We joined Zenan and the birding club for an excursion to the dry north side of Mount Meru.  Binoculars in hand, we spotted the rare and endangered Beasley's Lark.  Our two Maasai guides seemed unperturbed by the 50mph winds.  The coaster, however, was a different story.  Since all Land Rovers were in use, we got a non-4-wheel-drive van.  Once off road, it sank hubcap deep in powdery dust. Picture 25 kids gathering sticks to put under the wheels, then pushing.  Vumbi!  Clouds of dust in their faces.  After three tries, success!  Now, get back to the road.

But no, there's more. Next we searched for the rare gueranac, a desert antelope.  Alas, it remained  elusive.  Wait! Are those the tracks of the gueranac I see?  No... a goat.  Oh.

Fun anyway!  Mount Kilimanjaro was above the clouds in the distance.

Road "Fixating" with Orphan Road Crew

Three hand-made road tools: $75. Four truckloads of sand and gravel: $500. Working side by side with happy, playful, hungry, curious children: priceless! Riding in gigantic truck lurching through narrow village paths, Zenan's door flying open, view of puddles through truck floor: "hakuna matata." Last gravel dump near dusk, must finish! One quarter mile of road leveled and repaired, sodas for the crew. Mission accomplished.

Kudos to V!

This post repeats the message of the comment on the blog's inaugural post (new blog author here learning how the system works - and not wanting this important message to be hidden.)

Huge respect and gratitude to V Hinkle: she gets back to Olasiti every summer - introducing new travelers and teachers to the wonders of Tanzania and engaging them to help the orphans. Thanks to her for our great up-to-date website, now our new blog spot, and the steady flow of donations - which often come from her youngest students. She's helping them learn the habit, and feel the rewards of generosity towards friends half a world away who need so much. Asante sane, V - and bon voyage ! Travel safely and send us more great pictures and stories.

Construction Begins

Construction has begun on the new orphan center!  The dream will become reality.