Oh lordy. After a long trek, we have finally arrived in Tanzania! It may have been a journey of great endurance, but alas, we persist. Let me take you through my travels, starting in Houston:
4:30 pm (6/15) – The gang gathers at Rice to depart for our journey. My parents were visiting from Dallas, so they dropped me off. They were worried they embarrassed me, but I’m happy I got to give Mom and Dad a big ole’ smooch before I left!
5:00 pm (6/15) – We bus it over to IAH. Each of us has two checked bags and a carry on. We look like a moving company of small young adults.
9:00 pm (6/15) – Our first flight takes off to Istanbul, Turkey. Let the gauntlet begin.
Side note: It’s not until this point that I begin to get nervous about forgetting something. Nice timing.
5:20 pm (6/16) – We arrive in Istanbul. Just as I predicted in my Pre-Departure blog, we landed before I even knew it (I took melatonin).
8:00 pm (6/16) – I learn Turkish McDonalds’ have Tiramisu and Carrot Cake.
10:00 pm (6/16) – Our second flight to Nairobi takes off. I am in the middle seat and the young girl next to me has fallen asleep on my shoulder. Feeling…maternal.
5:00 am (6/17) – We land in Nairobi. Finally at the right continent, but still the wrong country. We load up into a fleet of cars and head for the border.
12:30 pm (6/17) – We arrive at the Kenyan-Tanzanian border. ALMOST THERE! We had to first officially “depart” from Kenya (I now have two Kenyan stamps from the same day) before legally “arriving” in Tanzania. During the few minutes in which I had legally departed Kenya but not yet legally entered Tanzania, I felt like I was off the grid… mysterious.
Rose and I at the Namanga border crossing
8:00 pm (6/17) – After ~46 hours of travel, we arrive at the Ecoscience Lodge near Tarangire National Park. The hosts had prepared a three-course meal, consisting of zucchini soup, coconut milk curry chicken, and chocolate mousse – after eating only airplane food, I am feeling SATIATED. The lodge is very nice, I’m feeling quite grateful not only for the delicious food, but also a comfy mattress where I can finally lay horizontally. I can’t believe we’re actually here!
The view from my tent at the EcoScience Lodge
As Dr. Solomon said, phase 1 of the trip is just about getting there – I am both impressed and relieved that “phase 1” went about as smoothly as it could’ve. Even just since we’ve arrived, we have already seen Superb Starlings, Giraffes, Zebras, Goats, Impala, and Camels – hopefully tomorrow I will get to report on some of my assigned taxon group, Large Felids. Overall, I am really enjoying spending time with the other students and can’t wait for what’s to come! Although the journey here may have been a long one, I am so excited to get started on our trip.
