After Bangalore, I am grateful for this Eden

We arrived here in Arusha, Tanzania a few days ago. This area is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my travels. Thick, green, luscious foliage covers every square inch of the mountainous areas, particularly around 19,000 foot Kilimanjaro. This is the land of the Masai people and also home to some the most spectacular wildlife on earth, giraffes, lions, zebras etc. A few hours north of here is Olduvai Gorge, the site of archaeological discoveries that point the way to mankind’s oldest ancestors and the cradle of humanity.

After leaving the insanity of Bangalore’s choking masses I am grateful to have found this Eden. Despite the beauty, life here is very harsh. Tanzania is one of the poorest places on earth and what little money they get comes in the form of tourism. Much of comes from trekking the snow capped peaks of Africa’s tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro. We spoke to a guide who talked about the melting glaciers and how global warming is slowing changing the local ecology.

Today we were driving back to our lodge when our guide and Masai friend, Allan remembered that there is a Black Panther, Pete O’Neal in exile here in Arusha for the last 36 years. So we decided to drop in and see if he might have something to say. We had a great visit, had dinner together and planned to spend the next few days together. Pete is now a Tanzanian citizen and likely has a few things to say about the US…

Filed under Journals, Dominic Howes, Tanzania.
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