Our journey began on Tuesday morning at 11:30am EST. We boarded the plane, took our seats, and prepared for our day of flying. 3 flights, 6 meals, 11 in-flight movies, and 27 hours later, we arrived at the Kilamanjaro Airport. Though it was 1:30 pm EST, it was 8:30 pm in Tanzania. The first thing we noticed as we walked across the tarmac was the smell of the air and how different it was from the US. Stars everywhere, almost down to the horizon. After battling a line of fellow travelers to obtain our visas (only two immigration employees for the entire airport), we went outside to meet our host, Pete O'Neal, and our guide, Juma. We packed up the vehicles and headed for the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC) where we will be staying for most of our trip.
As we drove to the camp, we passed many local people that were walking along the side of the highway in the darkness. It was amazing to see, because there were no signs of lights or houses for miles, so it was clear that these people were walking a great distance to get wherever they needed to go. We got to the dirt road that led to the the UAACC, and there was a sign there that said 2 kilometers to camp. Although it was a short distance, it took about 15 minutes to get to our destination due to the conditions of the roads. Bumpy is an understatement. At times, it felt that the vehicle might tip over. When we pulled up to the gate, we saw the flames of torches coming towards us out of the darkness. We heard music, and singing, and as the gate opened, we were greeted by a dance troupe who led us all the way to the pavilion at the camp. They continued to dance for us for about thirty more minutes and after that a fellow traveler from France provided further entertainment.
Our accommodations are like that of a camp. The food is delicious, consisting mostly of breads, meats, and rice. We visited two orphanages here in Arusha; Cradle of Love, which caters to helping babies from 0 - 3 years of age, and Havilah, which takes care of children from 3 - 11. Both were eye-opening and we all really enjoyed the interaction we had with the children. We got some amazing footage of the children laughing and playing, and we even got to feed about 30 babies at Cradle of Love, which was one of the best highlights of the trip so far.
Tommorow, we visit another orphanage. We look forward to connecting with the children there and seeing how things are being done in Tanzania. More to come!
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