Volunteering in Arusha – Child Orphanage

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Well, if you were thinking about volunteering in Arusha, eagerly want to work with african children, then read on. This post is about Kibowa Orphanage, that is sponsored by Shadows of Africa, Tanzanian tour operator who dedicated to help local  community. what is more, if you search volunteering opportunities in Africa, you have probably already discovered that many of organizations charge ridiculous prices to potential volunteers!

Kibowa Yard

I have been to this center, personally and can tell you from first hand that here children are on the first place. Within couple of years with dedicated support from  Shadows of Africa, this orphanage that counts 44 kids many hiv positive, have gained many goals with support of people who visited Tanzania either for holidays as well as some amazing volunteer help. Two years ago these kids had schooling in Tanzanian local school with no english language, today all of them with help of international sponsors are attending private ESSA school. Getting better educational grounds with opportunity to learn English from Early age is huge bonus for these kids. As much as it may be considered for granted in Western world, here education is still privilege and luxury for many Tanzanian children.

The only water supply

In addition to better education Shadows of Africa arranged regular safe daily transport to school and back, providing daily meals, money for uniforms, shoes, clothes and with kind support that is always appreciated kids from now on can learn computer skills on donated laptop.

Though for you sitting in front of computer somewhere in a cozy place, this things may appear very simple.

Free Time

In free time Kibowa orphanage is accepting volunteers that want to help kids in free time after school, to help them with homework, practice english, teach them crafts or any thing that could help them to gain new skills.

By help of volunteers the Kibowa orphanage has little garden where they produce crops, chickens, goats….

Kibowa Orphans - Arusha

So if you are looking for fair volunteering, i can recommend Kibowa orphanage where your help will be more than welcome and what matters most – your help will go directly to benefits of children and orphanage! Not to mention sweet kids, full of life and eager to learn new things!

Play time in Kibowa

More about volunteering in Arusha:
http://www.kibowaorphanage.com/en/

or even better – show appreciation and support by liking their page:


https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerTanzaniaOrphanage

Travel Bucket List

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Decision is made. Going back to Africa in September and I don’t plan to go back home to Europe anytime soon. in a way starting new chapter in my life. I was thinking since I will not be limited by travel time what I want to see and experience in the future. List is definitely not complete, probably just a rough list of activities I plan to do… but have to write them down otherwise I forget.

This time I plan to visit:

Victoria lake, Tanzania – since my base will be Tanzania, I definitely plan to discover more and travel to less visited and popular places.

Climb Kilimanjaro – not 100% sure, i am afraid of attitude sickness

Lake Victoria which  is the largest lake in the world / approx. 60 000 square kilometers ,

Lake Tanganyika remote Gombe Stream  National Park, hopefully to meet Jane Goodall and have a pic with her, that would be really cool.

Lake Turkana in Kenya – remote place hard to get there, but i think it pays off, the world’s largest desert lake – makes life possible in parched northern Kenya. The lake is home to the world’s largest population of Nile crocodiles, healthy populations of hippos, and hundreds of bird and fish species.

lake turkana

Volunteering in Malawi  – this is already arranged and the first thing I will do when I come back to Africa. I have found really affordable volunteering opportunity from a small organization that is obviously not greedy in terms of prices, cant wait to be there. More about it when I actually come there.

I will most likely also come back to Rwanda and spend some time there, what I missed on my previous trip are tea plantations and meet again some dear friends I met a long the way.

Climb the Nyiragongo Volcano in DR Congo, lets hope political situation gets stable, its on my travel list for long time already.

travel bucket list

Visit my friend in South Africa – Cape Town, been there 10 years ago and would love to see this gorgeous place again.

I think for a start is enough, if I manage to complete these goals, I would be more than happy.

Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

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I did it! Eversince  I saw Ewan Mcgregor visiting Gorillas in Rwanda in Long Way Down, Volcanoes National Park has been on my bucket list. This year i  finally fullfilled my dreams, wasnt cheap i admit, but was totally worth it!!

Gorilla Etiquette:

Tracking guide will tell you more about how to behave when you’re in the presence of gorillas but here are some things to keep in mind:

Dont point index finger into gorillas, they have bad experience with poachers and they might think you want to shoot them

Be quiet

Dont make eye contact with gorillas – can be seen to be aggressive

If gorilla approaches you just act submissive and crouch down, but never run away!

Besides its not allowed to take food, drink with you  – you will leave your backpack and unnecessary equipment, clothes  in a safe place about  hundred meters before you approach gorilla area.

Gorillas in Rwanda

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Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

Weekly Photo Challenge: Lunchtime

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My lunchtime while traveling and working from Africa. While living on Zanzibar i used to eat in  my favourite local Indian vegan restaurant where i was the only mzungu guest most of the time.
Indian food / Lunch

Indian Restaurant Zanzibar

But most of the time i used to have numerous delicious fresh salads.

Avocaado Salad

Beauty of Our Culture

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Reblogged from Rwandan Art by Augustin Hakizimana:

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Solo Art Exhibition in Kigali by Augustin Hakizimana

Looks like i am going to start this blog with invitation:-) Have been very busy lately, having free workshops in Agasozi Art Center in Musanze, working on my latest paintings along with preparing my upcoming solo exhibition in Kigali. Therefore I haven't been able to update and start this blog as it was planned but I promise to update my blog soon with all the art material I  have created so far.

Read more… 49 more words

This post will be more interesting for African Art lovers who are based in Kigali, Rwanda. Some awsome paintings from my Rwandan friend i met during my trip to Rwanda`!

To All My Followers ♥

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First of all thank you to all there in WordPress universe that have chosen to follow my blog and trip to East Africa!! ♥♥♥

Due to typhoid fever i had to return home  sooner than planned initially. There are many photos to sort out but right now i have to get better first. Hope you will still enjoy the upcoming pics! :-)

Still, had an unforgettable time in Africa and also getting sick is part of African experience….

Hospital

Old Soul

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Marabou Stork – Serengeti Standing over 120 cm tall with a wingspan of more than 10 feet, these African birds are scavengers of large carrion, which is why they have featherless heads. They also eat other birds, and have even been known to consume flamingos.
 Marabou Stork - Serengeti Marabou Stork - Serengeti

Serengeti Landscape

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In two days i have probably saw only a pixel of mega big 14,763 sq km Serengeti. Definitely worth a bumpy ride!

Along with wildlife i just fell in love with the endless skies  that looked awesome  just in every part of the day. Hypnotic!

Joined safari with Shadows of Africa 

Serengeti Plains

Cheetah Family - Serengeti

Serengeti

serengeti silhuettes

Lions of Serengeti

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Just came back from safari in Serengeti. There are so many pictures  so i decided to break safari in Tanzania to multiple posts. We had a wonderful chance to observe this amusing lion couple just about 4 meters from the safari car. Lioness was not in the mood for love right a way, but lion was persistent, so finally…. Love is in the air.

This was my second time safari with Shadows of Africa. www.shadowsofafrica.com

safari serengeti

Safari Tanzania - Lion couple in Serengeti

Safari Tanzania / Serengeti

safari serengeti

safari serengeti

Safari Serengeti

safari serengeti

safari serengeti lions

safari serengeti

safari serengeti

safari serengeti

safari serengeti

serengeti lions

Tanzanian Money

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I just wanted to share Tanzanian bank notes. I really find some of them among more interesting and beautiful if comparing them to Euros or other currencies.  Take a look, nice money isn’t it?

Average Tanzanian Salary is between 80 000 TSH an 150 000 TSH, which is in Eur 40 and 80 Eur. Now do the math….
Tanzanian Money - 500 TSH

Tanzanian Money - 500 TSH

Tanzanian Money 1000 TSH

Tanzanian Money - 1000 TSH

Tanzanian Money - 2000 TSH

Tanzanian Money - 2000 TSH

Tanzanian Money - 5000 TSH

Tanzania Money - 5000 TSH

Tanzanian Money - 10000 TSH

Tanzania Money - 10000 TSH

Bus Station in Tanzania

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I love Africa! You can buy anything just about anywhere.

Bus stations are the most photogenic places but the problem is I am afraid to pull out my better camera from my backpack:-)

Bus Station Africa

I Am Going To Serengeti!

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Travel plans for this Christmas are special, my wish to see mighty Serengeti will come true finally. Last year I already saw Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara. This year I am ready to witness wildebeest migration in full swing in Serengeti! YAY!

Some pics from last year Safari organised by
http://www.shadowsofafrica.com

Crowd - migration

Safari in Tanzania

Tarangire national park safari

Tarangire national park safari - landscape

On the way

Tarangire National Park - Old Elephant

Ngorongoro - Lion in The Wind

Tarangire National Park - Itchy ears

Tarangire - zebras

Day Trip To Kilimanjaro National Park

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I wanted to do this trip to Kilimanjaro National Park last year but there was not enough time.  One day, 24 kilometers of walking, great guide, 150 USD and here i was, Mandara hut 2720 m. There is another 350 m to Maundi Crater, so  I can say i was on 3000 meters for the first time of my life. If the entrance wasn’t so expensive I would do a two day trip up to Horombo hut…Now i have a reason come back next time, fitter of course:-)

Kilimanjaro Tour

Kilimanjaro National Park

Burnt by the sun

Landscape from Maundi Crater

Guide

Would Love To Have This in My Garden

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Sorry fellow bloggers for not following your posts as much as I would like to! Here is Internet connection really slow so I am not posting as much as i  planned from home. I have now already all settled in Arusha, in a nice quiet neighborhood under the slopes of volcano mountain Meru. As I have to work daily i haven’t manage to utilize my camera yet, just few snapshots with iphone, but since i am gonna stay here for two months i have time to catch up with photography.

I fell in love with this ornamental garden banana tree!
Banana Tree

Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreign

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Mentality.Madaba is special place in Jordan for many reasons. To me the photo below presents foreignism. Town was full of transparents and my guide told me they are praising their King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. I was surprised, since i come from a country where people are disappointed by politicians and the last thing would be praising them and showing the love and support with banners.

Madaba

Warm Heart of Africa

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Final errands to run before i leave.Try to eliminate the  expectations, but feel like i might not come back:D Felt like at home there last year and feels like I am coming home. …. What do we need to feel happy? Western comodities didnt make me happy so far. Money? Job titles? I dont think so….

Summer on Zanzibar

Just a Little Bit …..

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Still at home, departing in ten days. Bought a brand new Leica Camera, x2, yes for those who are familiar with this brand, you are right. since i don’t plan to sell my kidney X2 is sweet substitute for M9 series but i can feel it will not let me down. I decided to experiment with street photography during my stay in Africa. if you wish you can follow posted pics on my blog  specially created for black and white journal from Africa. no sunsets, just real, candid life:

visit and tell me what you think:D


http://africamoments.wordpress.com

Zanzibar