Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

Day 16 - The Serengeti

Blogging Circle of Friends: DAY 3500 May 16, 2024

We're staying at Arusha Serena Hotel and Resort Spa.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297913-d304446-Reviews-Arusha_Serena_H...
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g297913-d15883436-Miracle_Ex...

As dawn breaks over the horizon, we serenely drift over the magnificent marvel of nature in a Hot Air Balloon. I have never been in a Hot Air Balloon before and it is amazing! In the Serengeti, the animals are the most active in the morning. So we get lots of opportunities to spot wildlife from this different perspective. We were able to spot the Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, and Rhino, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile and a variety of birdlife. Once we landed, we celebrated with sparkling wine and a splendid bush breakfast in the middle of the Serengeti. It was such a breathtaking experience. One I don't expect to ever forget.

We returned to the hotel to enjoy our rooms and the pool before heading out for our next adventure - learning about Maasai culture. I really liked the beautiful writing desk under the windows. I was able to prop open my door to listen to nature while I wrote. It was a lovely experience. The gardens were exquisite.

With the help of local Maasai Mama's we were guided through a number of traditional Swahili recipes to prepare our own lunch. We learned how the local Mama's prepare food at home using traditional cooking equipment and methods. We even got to learn some Swahili words for different foods. It was really great to get some hands-on help to prepare each dish.

After that very fine lunch, we learned about how Maasai build their homes and how traditional Maasai homes are set up in a "boma".
We saw inside their homes and how they live. This felt a bit intrusive, but the families were only to happy to share and show us their way of life.

The best part was learning how Maasai create their own beaded jewelry and we got to make our very own bracelet.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g297913-d19076562-Swahili_Co...

BCoF short prompt: What can you tell us about Maasai jewelry making? I've included a video to help you learn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XE9x8BuHM4

This lady stays on camera a bit better. She is making a headband. I would love to try this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKSV2YY6o3s