This morning started off strong with breakfast, crepes with Nutella, eggs, toast, fruit, and some vegetables. Everyone had their bags and suitcases ready, so we packed up the bus and left the hotel. Our first destination was three hours away, Kilimanjaro! (No i didn’t climb!)

At Kilimanjaro, a woman spoke to us about the mountain’s importance and the challenges it’s facing, especially global warming. She explained the different departments that help manage and protect the area, their roles, and how vital the mountain is. We learned about the different routes, activities and other tourist attractions around the mountain. I asked how long it takes to actually climb it, the answer was a minimum of 5 to 6 days! crazy.

Lunch was packed by the chef and it was a mix of deep-fried mashed potato balls, chicken, a sandwich (with noodles inside) banana, muffin, boiled egg, watermelon, and some orange flavoured cookies. Ellie ate two cookies from the same packet and was surprised they tasted the same. I told her “You can’t bite into a different cookie from the same pack and expect it to taste differently.” (inspired by the quote “you can’t read the same book and expect a different ending”) It was a “had to be there” moment.

After Kilimanjaro, we visited a college. A teacher spoke to us about the different programs they offer and what life is like for students. I asked about the student schedules, what age ranges attend the school and what he teaches (tourism btw). An interesting fact is that every student has mandatory military training every two weeks.

We got a short tour of the campus and i got to go down the Chagga Bolt Hole, a hideout used by the Chagga tribe during tribal wars. Only a few people went down. I actually went first and alone. It was a long stairway that led underground into tunnels going left and right. It was dark and full of cockroaches crawling around the walls (they reassured me they wouldn’t jump on me though lol)

Inside the class, they had animal “trophies” on the walls, including five huge elephant tusks and one fossilized tusk that was massive. There were also elephant leg bones, which really put into perspective how giant they are. The teacher we spoke to had graduated in 2021 and chose to return to teach at the same college. You could tell he was passionate about what he does. something he said that really stuck with me was “i’m a teacher here, but I’m always a student. us teachers are always learning from you too” My parents being teachers, would appreciate that.

Afterward, we drove about two hours to a Maasai village where we’re spending the night. When we arrived, tribe members greeted us with singing and dancing. The men were jumping as high as they could, In competition rituals its a sort of strength competition meant to impress the women. They led us to our rooms, which were small mud huts with wood panels, little lanterns, and thin sleeping mats. Me and Ellie are staying in hut number 9, Nyati, which means buffalo, so we were told. On the way there, we passed loads of cows and sheep just wandering around and a massive bird that resembled an ostrich.

it became dark quick, they lit a big campfire with chairs around it. We had coffee and tea while dinner was being made. When it was ready we sat at long wooden tables and had veggie pizza, potatoes, mixed vegetables, chicken and beef kebabs and salad. It was such a cozy, welcoming camping atmosphere. After eating, we sat around the fire again and I spoke with some of the tribe members and our guide Ben. We had a really interesting conversation about Tanzanian politics, including how elections work. One of the tribe members told me, “If you lose, you’re the best loser. If you win, you’re the best winner,” referring to the way different parties accept the results. Later I found another tribe member who spoke a bit of French which was nice.

Eventually we all went to the outdoor bathrooms and now we’re settled into our little hut for the night. It’s quiet and peaceful.

Goodnight from the Nyati hut.