Community Chat

[suzyQ3]

I'm feeling better but still weak. I do want to share a related experience that truly opened my eyes.

On the fifth day of our safari, I came down with the typical traveler's diarrhea that is very common when exposed to such a new environment, despite all of what I thought were the necessary precautions.

My family had fairly mild symptoms, but due to my weight or lack thereof, it hit me hard enough to know that I needed medical help. Our guide said that there was an outpatient clinic just about three miles from where we were staying.

It was an amazing three hours. The wait was minimal, and I don't recall ever having such attention -- an extremely experienced volunteer nurse practitioner, at least two doctors, and several nurses. The NP never left my side.

They diagnosed me as quite dehydrated. They gave me 2 liters of rehydration fluids. They took blood from the insertion of the IV for testing, and they monitored my vitals the whole time.The NP even managed to get me to the "western" bathroom twice while hooked up.

Before we left, they asked my husband to come to the office to pay the bill. When they told him the total was $150, he almost fell over. They asked him if it was okay, and he told them that it would have been a very different total in the U.S.

The organization that runs this clinic, plus the hospital, surgery, maternal and child health, diagnostic services, and community outreach is FAME (Foundation for African Medicine and Education.)

The outpatient clinic where I was treated is the top pic on the left.

[Northray]

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

We arrived home last Thursday after ten days in Tanzania. I thought I would share with you all our (my husband's) pictures. He is an avid amateur.

Note that if you hover over left-side bottom of each pic, there is a description.

Tanzania Photos, August 2019

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Dream trip.  Are those animals in the wild or is it a controlled environment?

[suzyQ3]

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@Northray wrote:

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

We arrived home last Thursday after ten days in Tanzania. I thought I would share with you all our (my husband's) pictures. He is an avid amateur.

Note that if you hover over left-side bottom of each pic, there is a description.

Tanzania Photos, August 2019

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Dream trip.  Are those animals in the wild or is it a controlled environment?

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@Northray, they are very much in the wild. There were many animals very near two of our lodgings, so much so that people need an escort if it's dark out. At one such place, our escorts were Masai warriors!

But where you see the most animals is in the conservation parks and areas. They are not controlled environments per se, but the rangers and researchers are on hand.

[Tinkrbl44]

@suzyQ3 

Wow ... great photos!  Just curious ... what was the average day and night temperatures this time of year?

[suzyQ3]

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@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

@suzyQ3 

Wow ... great photos!  Just curious ... what was the average day and night temperatures this time of year?

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Thanks, @Tinkrbl44 . It was fairly mild and varied from region to region. Daytime, depending location, seemed to range between 72 degrees to 85 degrees, give or take. Nighttime was maybe in the 50s to low 60s. Very pleasant.

[SoX]

@suzyQ3 

I just got around to opening your African Safari ... my words can't do your husband's photos justice, so I'll just let the words of Johnny Mathis waft over them ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7wr2FBxcyI

[QueenDanceALot]

@suzyQ3 

How fabulous!!!

My jaw is hanging open after viewing these wonderful photos!  What a magnificent experience for you and yours and your husband is a brilliant photographer!

I am in love with the animals and would love to see them up close and personal some day but have my doubts that I will.  Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

And please continue to feel better!!

[suzyQ3]

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@SoX wrote:

@suzyQ3 

I just got around to opening your African Safari ... my words can't do your husband's photos justice, so I'll just let the words of Johnny Mathis waft over them ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7wr2FBxcyI

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What a perfect choice and what a trip back to my youth, @SoX 

There were times when I was just a few feet from these magnificent creatures that they almost didn't look real. I thought about the creation of a zebra, each one with their own set of stripes, or the giraffes in all their glory.

I tell ya it brought this woman into another dimension of thinking about our world.

[SoX]

@suzyQ3 

The one giraffe with his (her) legs so wide apart was just acrobatic ... but the elephants stole my heart ... the family dynamic of these beautiful creatures is so Wonderful, Wonderful, and that song came immediately to my mind when I saw them.

[Northray]

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@Northray wrote:

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

We arrived home last Thursday after ten days in Tanzania. I thought I would share with you all our (my husband's) pictures. He is an avid amateur.

Note that if you hover over left-side bottom of each pic, there is a description.

Tanzania Photos, August 2019

---

Dream trip.  Are those animals in the wild or is it a controlled environment?

---

@Northray, they are very much in the wild. There were many animals very near two of our lodgings, so much so that people need an escort if it's dark out. At one such place, our escorts were Masai warriors!

But where you see the most animals is in the conservation parks and areas. They are not controlled environments per se, but the rangers and researchers are on hand.

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To be in such close proximity to these awesome creatures, just amazing.  I know they must at times pose a danger to man.  But I'm glad they are being respected for being what they are and left alone.