Travel reports

My husband was immediately enthusiastic about this trip. Until it finally came to the booking, but went weeks and months and a certain indecision on my part had made it wide - until finally the "deadline" was there, where had to be booked to take the appointment in August 2019. Since our travel friends were not to be motivated and the surrounding area was skeptical, and I also knew that it would be a huge challenge for me, I really had to answer for myself alone.

Finally, and in retrospect, "Thank goodness", I said YES. Decisive for the certainly very good information about this trip in advance, and immediately after confirmation, we have received much more information that I could already build the feeling that it was perhaps the right decision. Of course my husband was relieved at my commitment and the anticipation in both of us soon gained the upper hand over the doubt.

AFRICA - a blind spot on our personal travel map. Africa has never been an issue on all continents, be it for professional, sports or leisure travel, and yet it has always had a certain appeal on us, be it the music, the colorful colors, the different landscapes and the certain Unknown - how is it really? Is there really so much misery and negativity and game and and and? That we really made this trip with Maasai guides is also interesting, because to be honest, the Maasai tribe is pretty much the only one who told me about the many peoples, not just in Tanzania but all over Africa. Always very beautiful, proud and graceful people you got in pictures to face.

Why am I describing this decision-making in such detail? I think that is an important factor in booking this trip - because everything is so foreign to many people and we have an insanely high standard of luxury and achievement. Can you do without the 4 * star hotel and the most given total security in our latitudes, a wonderful holiday, where you afterwards well recovered, happy to arrive back home?

YES you can and you come home with a lot more, with a deep GRATITUDE to have this experience ever made. It was so much impressive, so special and so educational with this journey.

It was UNIQUE for me and I am proud of having left my "comfort zone" and given myself in hands that were unknown, but which caught, guided, and provided me with a certainty that I dared to hope for but not necessarily preceded. Probably my long sports career has helped me to prepare this journey mentally so well that it has finally become a complete success (to stay in the language of sport). This trip could never be better for me, because it was perfect for me!

I do not want to report on the many experiences in detail, because I want to give each individual the opportunity to experience these experiences themselves.

Dear Emmanuel, Meure, Maneno, Peter, Rajab, and Enasinya Team, we sincerely thank you for bringing us into your life, into your home, for teaching us knowledge far away from tourist crowds, and for your kindness, yours Joie de vivre, have your openness shown and felt! ASHE and OLESERE !!!

PS We are happy to welcome you to our home ......

It is hard for me to pack this in a few sentences, what we were allowed to experience in this lively round. For Emmanuel could not have put together a more beautiful program for these 11 days: after the long flight as soon as possible movement - five days of walking through varied Maasai country with its villages, people, herds, always providing new surprises; then using off-road vehicles to travel longer distances to and around wildlife parks to experience the fullness of East African wildlife; finally two days in the Arusha, pulsating with human activity. And in between always specials: evening and tomorrow's bath in the natural pool at the warm spring, with the view of Lake Natron and the volcano Oldoinyo Lengai, the god-mountain of the Maasai; Contact the doctor Josef, who offers help and health education as well as prophylaxis far away; Visit to Emmanuel's village, where we were most directly able to participate in the Maasai life of the generations; Stopover at the "Cradle of Humanity" (where you could spend days alone on the history of mankind); the way up and stand under the waterfall, which the special guide accompanying us rightly described as "Paradise"; then in Arusha not only the walk through markets, but - for me once again particularly impressive - the visit of Anna's school and house. Thank you so much for your thoughtful planning, accompanying, and giving us such rich information!

For the success of these days, however, have also contributed those who dismantled and built the tents day by day, prepared us in improvised kitchen tasty and fortifying meals, which have skied our luggage and in the second phase also skilfully over the often sand flags left behind slopes , You too were always ready to call your attention to otherwise overlooked things, to explain this or that to us. Thanks!

But if we had not found in this special form in the worlds under the Äquator, there would not be people in the Waldviertel who have given the impetus to accompany it continuously organisationally. I know two of their names: thank you Heini Staudinger, thank you Melanie!

Greetings back in and out of western Switzerland

Heinz

"In Africa there is no hurry-Hakuna matata!" Emmanuel, our guide, greeted us at Kilimanjaro Airport! With that, we plunged into the timeless life of our walking safari with confidence and a huge chunk of load fell away from me. I was allowed to be just for the moment, indulging in it, be it cautiously getting to know people, discovering wonderful plants such as the toothbrush or chewing gum tree, marveling at giraffes, zebras sharing with us, Cows and donkeys ran our way and accompanied us for a while, be it in the faces of the Maasai who met us, or in the heartwarming moments when, after a day's walk, we saw our tents and in front of them the lovingly set table, where we could enjoy delicious and different foods, be it the sight of the starry sky or listening to the many sounds a night in the wild holds, be it Emmanuel's loving wake-up call, be it sunrise or sunset around the Holy Mountain, be it while bathing in the hot springs overlooking Lake Natron and its incredible birdlife, be it the refreshing bath in the waterfall, be it the farewell to the companions who have become very dear to us, be it wondering about a completely different life that our sisters and brothers lead, or getting to know unbelievable people who have spent their lives on education and give life worth living to disabled and non-disabled children ...

There was not a moment when I did not feel safe, unwelcome, unaccounted for. For two weeks we were carried along by our companions and their social network, and our only job was to open our hearts. The task that remains for me is to keep my heart wide open and to remain true to the greeting words of Emmanuel: "In Europe there is no Hurry-Hakuna matata!"

(Sigrid, 54 years old)

I was particularly impressed with how we walked all day in the savannah, with no idea where our next camp is waiting for us and then suddenly the tents and the already laid table in front of you!

(Hannah, 13 years old)

Landscape as she could hardly be stranger - and with every step a surprise: animal, plant, stone.

People who could hardly be stranger - and at every opportunity trying to tell each other and get close: everyday life, customs, language.

Go, that opens: for hours, for days - and then the meeting with the open heart.

Heroes, very close to the middle of life and at the same time between the chairs of cultures and societies: Emmanuel and Anna, Joseph and Bethany, Michel, Thomas and Deo ... and many: do not mix and not separate, but build bridges on which can be walked back and forth.

I, happy in the middle of it - and know: There is still something to do.

(Paul, 54 years old)

The Maasai Walking safari was a unique experience. If you imagine a simple safari with animals underneath, you will soon be taught otherwise. This journey is much more than just contact with the world's largest mammals. Rather, it is the access to a nature unit that we only know from movies, to cultural impressions that you will not forget soon, to adventurous nights under the stars separated only by a tent from the wild - It is still a few with me Take time to process all the impressions, as every single day was a new experience. It was a journey for me as she could not have been better with her impressions and at the same time one that stimulates reflection, to discuss and to open eyes. I adore these incredibles for 10 days to anyone who can resist sitting in a jeep for several days, because the 5 days walking is for (almost) everyone to deal with. To give even more expression to my enthusiasm: I am already planning to drum up a group of friends to start this journey with them again, to give them the opportunity to marvel at wonderful landscapes and at the same time be able to think about something in our western society goes wrong and what we could pass on from us to the culture of the Maasai.

(Vali, 22 years old)

Tips on equipment:

• Shoes: As hiking boots, the summer hammers were ideal. In synthetic trekking shoes I would have sweated too much. Emmanuel, who was always cool in comparison to us, has the Jagagetragen. Although they are more practical, because higher and less sand in the shoes. But they would have been too warm for me. Long, light trousers that go over the shoes, but anyway comfortable.

• Clothes for "It's warm": I find cloths ideal. Lightweight trousers, light shirts or a thin liver and a large cloth over the shoulders.

• Headgear: The straw hat has proven itself! (Do not forget Bandl, as the wind can sometimes be surprising.)

• Clothes for "It's cold": Please do not underestimate! It goes up to 2400m and surprisingly it was also a bit cool in Arusha. I really needed my two wool sweaters, the softshell jacket, the lightweight hood and the slightly thicker sleeping bag! The sleeping bag is also practical for wrapping in the morning in the jeep on the day before it goes into the Ngorongoro Crater before sunrise.

• Regarding the things one takes from Austria for the people of Africa:

Exercise books, pens, even sweets could simply be bought on site. Before driving to Ketumbeine, there is the possibility to shop in a supermarket in Arusha. This leaves room in the backpack for things that are better available here in Austria. Dr. Joseph Nsimba from the hospital in Arash needed antibiotics, disposable syringes, bandages and disposable gloves.

Enasinya's note: We advise against taking medicines or anything else for the doctor or others. Unfortunately, in recent years, there have been major difficulties in importing dressings and medicines. Each baggage will be scanned and opened upon arrival. Customs cause problems for all amounts that seem more than home use, and especially for expired medicines and dressings. That costs a lot of money and time. We have also met Dr. Nsimba talked about it, which in the past has benefited greatly from the donations we were able to send over the guests. He is very concerned, because he has always bridged the last 10 days of the month with the donated material. However, we see no way for donations in kind. That's why we have this for the clinic leaflet designed, on which stands, how one can donate directly. Then the doctor can finance the missing funds.