Lake Manyara & Tarangire
A Highlight video can be found here http://vimeo.com/16209195
Special thanks to Wilfred, our driver and guide.
On the way through the town of Karatu, we visited FAME. The Foundation for African Medicine & Education is a non-profit corporation registered in the United States. It was created to improve the quality of medical care in East Africa. FAME endeavors to help bridge the gap between a critically under-resourced healthcare system and first-world medicine. Pictured is one of their treatment rooms.
It was founded in 2002 by Frank Artress and Susan Gustafson from the United States. Sunny California to be exact!
Future projects include expansion of the Outpatient Clinic into a multidisciplinary health facility. This facility will include an Operating Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, inpatient capabilities, expanded diagnostic center, dental service, teaching/resource center. We are also planning to construct volunteer housing for visiting doctors and nurses. From talking with Dr. Frank, PTs and OTs are also in high demand!!
Bushbuck stand about 90 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 45 to 80 kilograms (depending on sex). Bushbuck have a light brown coat, with up to seven white stripes and white splotches on the sides. The white patches are usually geometrically shaped and on the most mobile parts of their body such as the ears, chin, tail, legs and neck. The muzzle is also white and horns are found only on the males and they can reach over half a metre with only one twist.
Tarangire National Park is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire river that crosses through the park, being the only source of water for wild animals during dry seasons. The park is famous for its huge number of elephants, baobab trees and tree climbing African pythons.
Dik-diks stand 30–40 cm (approx. 12–16 inches) at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm (approx. 20-28 inches) long, weigh 3–6 kg (approx. 7-16 pounds) and can live for up to 10 years. Dik-diks are named for the alarm calls of the females, which make a dik-dik, or zik-zik sound. Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.
![Elephants at Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Elephants live in a structured social order. The social lives of male and female elephants are very different. The females spend their entire lives in tightly knit family groups made up of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts. These groups are led by the eldest female, or matriarch. Adult males, on the other hand, live mostly solitary lives. [wiki]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Tanzania-Honeymoon/Lake-Manyara/i-JCwgWS9/0/57cd612b/L/Tanzania_351-L.jpg)
Elephants at Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Elephants live in a structured social order. The social lives of male and female elephants are very different. The females spend their entire lives in tightly knit family groups made up of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts. These groups are led by the eldest female, or matriarch. Adult males, on the other hand, live mostly solitary lives. [wiki]
![The species of elephants are typically greyish in colour, but the Africans very often appear brown or reddish from wallowing in mud holes of colored soil. Wallowing is an important behaviour in elephant society. Not only is it important for socialization, but the mud acts as a sunscreen, protecting its skin from harsh ultraviolet radiation. Although tough, an elephant's skin is very sensitive. Without regular mud baths to protect it from burning, as well as from insect bites and moisture loss, an elephant's skin would suffer serious damage. After bathing, the elephant will usually use its trunk to blow soil on its body to help dry and bake on its new protective coat. [wiki]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Tanzania-Honeymoon/Lake-Manyara/i-zQwnGPq/0/3ec44a94/L/Tanzania_352-L.jpg)
The species of elephants are typically greyish in colour, but the Africans very often appear brown or reddish from wallowing in mud holes of colored soil. Wallowing is an important behaviour in elephant society. Not only is it important for socialization, but the mud acts as a sunscreen, protecting its skin from harsh ultraviolet radiation. Although tough, an elephant's skin is very sensitive. Without regular mud baths to protect it from burning, as well as from insect bites and moisture loss, an elephant's skin would suffer serious damage. After bathing, the elephant will usually use its trunk to blow soil on its body to help dry and bake on its new protective coat. [wiki]
![Nile Monitor at Tanzania National Park, Tanzania. Nile Monitors can grow to about 7 feet in length. They have muscular bodies, strong legs and powerful jaws. The teeth are sharp and pointed in juvenile animals and become blunt and peg-like in adults. They also possess sharp claws used for climbing, digging, defense, or tearing at their prey. [wiki]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Tanzania-Honeymoon/Lake-Manyara/i-MkrZ7vk/0/89cf44c5/L/Tanzania_353-L.jpg)
Nile Monitor at Tanzania National Park, Tanzania. Nile Monitors can grow to about 7 feet in length. They have muscular bodies, strong legs and powerful jaws. The teeth are sharp and pointed in juvenile animals and become blunt and peg-like in adults. They also possess sharp claws used for climbing, digging, defense, or tearing at their prey. [wiki]
Leopards are versatile, opportunistic hunters. In the open savanna, they are most successful when hunting between sunset and sunrise, though they may hunt during the day, especially in forest areas when they have the advantage of being hidden by dense brush or cloudy skies. Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.
Leopards show a great diversity in physical appearance, particularly because of the wide variations in color coat and rosette patterns. The leopard's rosettes are circular in East Africa but tend to be squarer in southern Africa and larger in Asian populations. The leopard's yellow coat tends to more pale and cream colored in desert populations, more gray in colder climates, and of a darker golden hue in rainforest habitats.
![Lesser Kudu, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Lesser Kudu range between 90 to 110 cm (35 to 43 in) tall, at the shoulder and females weigh between 55 to 70 kg (120 to 150 lb) and the males between to 70 to 100 kg (150 to 220 lb) maximum, males are larger than females. Lesser Kudu males are grey-brown while females are chestnut the coat is lighter on their underside. Both have about ten white stripes on their backs and two white tufts on the underside of their necks. Males have a small mane and horns of about 70 centimetres with one twist. [wiki]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Tanzania-Honeymoon/Lake-Manyara/i-TMJKFtz/0/fffe8ba6/L/Tanzania_365-L.jpg)
Lesser Kudu, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Lesser Kudu range between 90 to 110 cm (35 to 43 in) tall, at the shoulder and females weigh between 55 to 70 kg (120 to 150 lb) and the males between to 70 to 100 kg (150 to 220 lb) maximum, males are larger than females. Lesser Kudu males are grey-brown while females are chestnut the coat is lighter on their underside. Both have about ten white stripes on their backs and two white tufts on the underside of their necks. Males have a small mane and horns of about 70 centimetres with one twist. [wiki]
