September 13, 2024: The Tanzania Safari begins with our first stop at Enashiva, a private nature refuge in the Eastern Serengeti.
“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne — bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive.”
Karen Blixon, Author of “Out of Africa”
We met ourTanzania Safari travel partners as we departed: Mark and Mary from New Hampshire, and Scott and Kathy from Wisconsin. Another couple, Michael and Cheryl from Texas, were traveling on a private tour but joined us for much of the first week. We were fortunate to have a convivial group!
From Arusha we departed by plane for the Eastern Serengeti. Our destination: Enashiva, our first Nyumba (camp). The name means “happiness” in the Maasai language, and the word understated our enthusiasm to finally start our safari.
Mountain of God
I was fortunate to sit “co-pilot” in our Cessna 208 Caravan and enjoyed expansive views of Masaai grazing land of the Eastern Serengeti. We flew straight to and over Ol Doinyo Lengai, “The Mountain of God,” a 10,000-foot-high volcano. To the east, glacier-topped Kilimanjaro looked huge even some hundred miles distant.
As we made our landing approach, I spotted our first exotic wildlife: a lone wildebeest laying in the center of the dusty runway. He belatedly fled as our shadow approached, joined in his run by a Thompson’s gazelle and a herd of domestic goats that had been hiding in the grass nearby. We deplaned and joined our guide, Ali.
The Road to Happiness
The hour-long drive tour camp began the safari in earnest. We passed a Maasai market and village, and entered the nature reserve. And immediately, we spotted iconic African wildlife: zebra, wildebeest (gnu), ostrich, jackal, gazelle, eland, warthog and giraffe. Our cameras clicked like paparazzi while Ali patiently stopped again and again.
Safari Afoot
After settling in and lunch, we did a walk through the park, accompanied by Ali and a local Maasai, Dixon. Safari afoot is only possible in the few private reserves like Enashiva; it is not permitted (nor safe!) in the national parks. But here, we were free to walk among the herds.
Our day finished with sundowners on the plains, dinner at camp and a quiet bonfire as a billion stars twinkled above.
Enashiva – happiness indeed.