Joyce, the owner, is a simple and kind lady and immediately puts us at ease

At the airport, after the various visas and baggage claim, we go out and see a nice sign with our name, someone is waiting for us, thank goodness! It is Daniel who will stay with us throughout the safari.

Various presentations and off we go; first stop Arusha in a typical accommodation with a beautiful park of well-kept tropical trees and traditional houses with a very high wooden roof. Joyce, the owner, is a simple and kind lady and immediately puts us at ease. In the evening at dinner he makes us taste many typical Tanzanian dishes, among which the banana soup stands out, very good! Early in bed and in the morning waking up at 6, Daniel is already there waiting for us, ready to go: Tarangire we arrive! Leaving houses, buildings, cars, mopeds behind us and arriving there, with 25 degrees of difference, where the eyes do not know what to look at, between breathtaking views, unspoiled nature and animals, leaves us all speechless.

"It will be a lucky safari" Daniel tells us at the park entrance when we meet our first animal, a dik dik! In fact it is just like that, we see many animals: elephants, zebras, various antelopes, several colorful birds and the first herd of lions. Along a river there are lionesses with cubs, a little further away there is another one eating inside the water and a male, a little on the sidelines, who, it is clear, has eaten too much. After this sighting it is our turn to eat; we arrive in a picnic area with a spectacular view of the savannah, landscape of this first park, with lots of animals walking on the plain. To keep us company during lunch there are some very nice thieves, the monkeys, who exploit every carelessness to take away as much food as possible.

We resume the safari and, before leaving the park, another lucky sighting: three young cheetahs rest in the shade of a shrub and get so close that one of them, a little annoyed and intrigued, turns around us.

The Masai who we meet in their village inside the reserve ... welcome us with traditional dances

We finish our tour, the first day comes to an end and with smiles to "105 teeth" we go happy towards our accommodation.

Shower, dinner, a chat, we look at the photos of the day and at bedtime, another up early waiting for us to go to the Ngorongoro conservation area.

Wake up, breakfast (good and plentiful) and off to new horizons, the Galluzzi Family starts again!

Daniel always on time, welcomes us with a smile. On the road, he tells us many things, he is very prepared on animals, he explains everything about their habits and he punctually answers all our questions. It also tells us about the life and habits of the Tanzanians and, in particular, of its tribe, the Masai, whom we meet in their village inside the reserve, where they welcome us with traditional dances, then showing us their habits and their style of life. We begin to go up by jeep to a panoramic point: in front of us there is an immense plain contained in a huge circular and very green crater; the landscape (and the climate) are completely different from what you usually imagine thinking of Africa. We resume the jeep to head inside the reserve, around us a dense thicket from which, at a certain point, a small group of buffalo comes out, very close. Suddenly, continuing, we find the road blocked: a truck has stood still sideways in the middle of the track and we cannot pass either way and going back would make us waste a lot of time. So Daniel and all the other guides try to help as they can, always pole pole, but this truck doesn't want to start again. At this point we have an idea: why not "widen the road" by cutting some weeds and "dodging" the truck? We tell Daniel that, together with other guides and a reserve ranger, amid general applause, they solve the situation and we finally manage to continue towards the Crater. The descent is beautiful, with red earth and trees that look like a huge canopy. Inside the park we see several herds of buffaloes with many specimens, wildebeests, elephants, many zebras, pink flamingos, again a group of lions, a hyena resting, hippos and much more. We are lucky enough to see two rhinos with two cubs from afar, and we also witness a really nice scene: along the way we meet a couple of jackals with four cubs playing and who, in hopping and escaping, fall into their lair.

This second day of safari comes to an end and we return to the hotel with our eyes full of the wonders seen in the crater.

As we go towards the exit we hit jackpots: a group of lionesses and young lions resting in the shade of a tree

On the last day of safari we visit the park of Lake Manyara. Once again the landscape is completely different, characterized by a dense forest which then opens into a plain and even a swampy stretch. We meet many baboons and many impalas, some giraffes, some elephants and many different birds. Unfortunately it is much more difficult to see animals than other parks as we are in the middle of the forest. We also pass to see a source of hot water that is really boiling! As we go towards the exit we hit jackpots: a group of lionesses and young lions resting in the shade of a tree. We can get very close, our jeep is 4-5 meters from them, a truly exciting experience. On the way out, then, an elephant mother with a cub who holds her tail with her trunk cross the road.

Leaving the park of Lake Manyara we return to Arusha to sleep and, the next day, take the flight to Zanzibar. These days of safaris were truly a unique and unforgettable experience, which we will always carry with us, but with only one regret: not having visited the Serengeti, the last major park in the area. Maybe next time, right?

Our last morning in Arusha is dedicated to a little souvenir shopping: Daniel takes us to a local market full of beautiful typical objects. Finally we arrive at the airport, we greet Daniel, who was really very good and helpful, who after seeing our interest in the customs and everyday life of the Tanzanians also took us to a huge Masai market; we invite you to visit us in Italy and away, bridges to leave for Zanzibar! The flight, of about an hour and a half, becomes an adventure in itself: 12-seater airplane, a sometimes frightening experience, sometimes a lot of fun! It certainly isn't something that happens every day, is it?

Zanzibar: in the evening we are lucky enough to find ourselves in the middle of a local street food square ...

We arrive in Zanzibar and immediately use the first day to immerse ourselves in the history of Stone Town, the capital of the island. We take a guided walking tour of the city, characterized by English, Arab and Indian influences. We cross the characteristic local market: lots of spices, vegetables, meat and fresh fish. Very strong smells, certainly unforgettable! We continue the visit and arrive at the Anglican cathedral with a really important history: for a long time Zanzibar was the central hub of the slave trade in Africa and right where the cathedral now stands, the slaves for sale at the time were kept tied. We also visit some of the cells they used, with the original chains still inside. In front of Stone Town is Prison Island, an island that was used for the quarantine of newly arrived slaves. Today the island is inhabited by a colony of giant turtles originating in the Seychelles.

In the evening we are lucky enough to find ourselves in the middle of a local street food square, really full of locals; we decide to take advantage of it by having dinner, being able to taste typical flavors.

On the second day we leave for Nungwi, stopping at the Jozani Forest, a forest inhabited by red colobus and black monkeys. Venturing inward we are so lucky to see even a black mamba, one of the most poisonous snakes in the world.          

Snorkeling on the island of Mnemba: among the corals we find a lot of surgeon fish, butterfly, parrot, various types of clown ...

We arrive in Nungwi in the early afternoon, we settle in our rooms ... and away, immediately on the beach! The white sand and the blue sea are just like a postcard. We take a walk along the beach to the fishing village, where we see them returning with their typical barbell boats.

The next day we dedicate it to snorkeling on the island of Mnemba: among the corals we find a lot of surgeon fish, butterfly, parrot, various types of clownfish and many other colorful fish. Even in the middle of a coral, we see a sea snake with black and white stripes: beautiful! After about an hour of snorkeling we go to a deserted beach limited by a palm forest: a paradise. We take advantage of this landscape to take some pictures, and then have lunch with the food prepared by the diving guys. After a long relaxing lunch break we return to Nungwi.

The dinners here in Zanzibar have been truly delicious; along the beach we found many restaurants that prepared local specialties.

Our holiday unfortunately is coming to an end; it was really beautiful, one of those that are never forgotten, thanks also to the people we have found in these days that have allowed us to see a reality very different from ours, a true spectacle of nature.