Dear reader,
I hope that you will find this newsletter informative, relevant and
just maybe, even exciting. Newsletters are always a work in
progress, so if you have comments or suggestions, please feel free to
send them to me. Some newsletters will show up differently on
some computers than others, so I try to make it generic enough for you
to be able to read it easily and comfortably. Of course, I
may not always succeed, so let me know if you have any issues or
concerns or just comments.
Sincerely,
KAY TROTMAN
DESTINED TO TRAVEL |
Thank you for taking the time to peruse this
newsletter and read about my continuing adventures around the
world. If you are ever interested in any of the groups that I
have going, or just to a place where you have always wanted to go,
please do not hesitate to contact me. In the manetime, please
enjoy this issue.
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You may know that I just returned from a trip to
Tanzania and Zanzibar. The trip departed from Los Angeles on
May 24th and we returned on June 5th. We were a group of
eight. I've tried to summarize some of the highlights of the
trip.
Tanzania Travel Group
Ngorongoro Conservation Area Check Point
Travelers: Charles and
Laureta Harmon, given the name Mama Tembo because of her love of
elephants, Cynthia Lombard, Kay, Mignon Day and Mardrie White,
Top: Kenneth Golden and Lorilie Lauayan
The itinerary for this trip was as follows:
9 nights on safari in Tanzania and 3 nights relaxing on the beaches of
Zanzibar. Our accommodations included Ngorongoro Serena
Lodge, Mbalageti Tented Chalets, &Beyond Mobile Tented Camp and
Blue Bay Resort and Spa in Zanzibar.
To sum up this trip: A PHENOMENALLY REWARDING AND EXCITING
ADVENTURE!!!! That is a consensus!
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The Migration
Tanzania
Wildebeest Migration
The migration of the wildebeest and zebra is an incredible
sight. As you can see, they have blocked the road and we
cannot proceed until they have completed crossing or decide that the
road can be shared. There are over 1.5 million wildebeest and
half as many zebra and we saw them ALL, large herds together and
smaller groups separately. Until you see it, it is difficult
to imagine and certainly difficult to capture through a
photograph. The migration happens ten months out of the year
in Tanzania, where animals roam in search of water and food, from
Tanzania to Kenya and back again. At least a couple of months
they migrate to Kenya. They are pretty consistent but timing is always
based on weather patterns and food sources. They can be early or late,
in our case they were a little early, which was great for us.
Zebra and Wildebeest Migration
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FUTURE
TRAVELS - JOIN ME
Australia/New
Zealand
January
2011
Deposits
now due!
Interest List Forming for the Following Trips:
Please email if interested:
August 2011
South Africa
$5500.00 with air - Maximum (could be less)
This trip will require a minumum of six travelers.
October or Novemer 2011
Tanzania/Zanzibar
in Style
Cost to be determined
I am trying to plan a trip where Zanzibar will be an
extension. Because an extensive safari can be quite
expensive, by doing it this way, you can do ONLY Zanzibar, or
the last few nights of the safari plus Zanzibar. Just keep in
mind part of the travel will be on your own, as I would be doing the
entire itinerary. It will be your choice or you can
certainly do the entire trip. On this planned trip, I would
be incorporating a beach property for at least a couple of nights and
the Serena property in town for a few nights., because the distances
are so far. If you can't make this trip, I will do another
one in 2012.
Interested in a Kenya Excursion
Please email me. I have a trip for approximately $5600.00
which includes 6 to 7 nts on safari in Kenya, and includes
airfare*. A group of six would be required to travel on a
trip like this one.
*Based
on current airfare, may increase
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PHOTO
LINKS
https://gallery.me.com/njeri
Click on 2010 Tanz/Zanz for photos
Click on Zanz/TZ for group photos
Click on Video Clips 6/10 for video
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BACKPACKING
Updates and More
Mozambique Massingir
Velho School
I recently
visited Massingir Village where I visited the local school in the
area. Scools in this part of the world are held under the
shade of nearby trees. These children were intently listening
and learning. They were being taught English, they speak
Portuguese in their country, so this was no easy feat for
them. The teachers are hampered by insufficient supplies and
learning materials, but what they do with the little they have is
incredible. Some of the members of my group have committed to
sending them some much needed school supplies.
Every country I visit I try to take a few school supplies to supplement
the few they have. When in Tanzania on this trip, myself and
some of my group carried backpacks of school supplies to the schools
for the teachers to pass out. They are always grateful.
I always appreciate it when someone drops off school supplies at my
front door. Just like the shoes, they were so well
appreciated and school supplies are small enough that I can put them in
a backpack and take the entire backpack and supplies with me on one of
my trips. Always feel free to donate supplies when you see a
sale or when you are shopping and have an opportunity to purchase
them.
For
just a few dollars out of your pocket, you too, can help the children
of Africa. When traveling on your next trip with me, please
pack a SMALL backpack with school supplies and I will make sure they
are distributed to the schools in need. Some of my most
rewarding moments are the gift of a smile when giving a child or a
teacher something that seems so insignificant to us and means the most
to them! THAT is the greatest gift you can receive.
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Latest
News
Mignon receives her reward for the
person who has most traveled with me and my
groups. Congratulations Mignon. Spend
that $100.00 wisely and then let's keep going!
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Trip Report
Tanzania Part 1
Our trip started in Arusha, Tanzania
where we were met at the airport by our African Family.
Having been there so many times, but always different, it's like coming
home. Fabian, our driver, and Adam and Didas, Camp Manager
for one of the camps where we would be staying were as happy to see us
as we were to see them.
Fabian
and Adam, our Protectors
Kay
and Didas, Camp Manager Camp One
We came bearing gifts. We brought school supplies for the
kids, computers, CD's, hats for the guys at the camps. We
knew right away we were going to have a wonderful safari
adventure. Excitement was in the air already and we hadn't
even left the airport.
We stayed overnight at a nearby airport small boutique hotel, and
headed out for the bush the next morning. Our first stop
Ngorongoro Crater (which is a caldera known as such because years ago a
volcano collapsed and trapped animals within it's
boundaries). The animals there now thrive.
En route to the Crater, we could tell that the rains had left its
mark. The grasses were various shades of green and the soil
was the rich red that we remembered during a previous season.
Ngorongoro
Crater Floor
Our first day in the Crater did not disappoint. Within half a
day we saw all but one of the Big Five (Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant,
Leopard and Lion). We missed the Leopard but we saw many of
the other species plus a whole lot more. The group was
thrilled. We did see the leopard later, however. We followed
a male lion until he decided to drop down in the high grass
and take his siesta. We were then off to see the flamingoes
and while watching the flamingoes, another large male lion kingly beast
walked past on his way to drink. There were so many
experiences like that it's impossible to relate them all. But everyday
looked beautiful with billowing clouds and rays of sun.
The trip continued with a visit to the Western Corridor of the
Serengeti where we were treated to huge wildebeest and zebra
concentrations, part of the miraculous and spectacular
migration. There are over 1.5 million wildebeest and as many
zebra and even impala, and we saw them all. They just kept
coming and coming and coming, as far as the eye could see.
Mbalageti
Tented Camp
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TRAVEL, TRAVEL AND MORE TRAVEL
The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only one
page.....St. Augustine
I've only been traveling a few years, but if you look at my portfolio,
you'd think I'd been traveling all my adult life. I retired
in December 2005; I took a trip in May 2006 to Kenya, and I've been
traveling ever since, with many many many Africa trips under my belt.
I've taken many people to Africa, and they too, now know why I continue
to be beckoned back. You cannot put into words why that
happens.
Sometimes I travel to the same country, but stay in different areas of
that country, different accommodations and/or do different
things. However, even if I went back to exactly the same
location, the same accommodations, my experiences would be vastly
different from any previous trip.
Oftentimes when I travel on a FAM trip, I am seeing areas that even I
did not know existed in Africa or in other places around the
world. I take the trip because it may not be a place that I
would think of going on my own, and then find that it offers so much
that I might want to return. With regard to Africa, I never
really thought of Africa being a 'beach' scene, but I've since found
out that there are some really secluded beaches in Africa that have
been voted some of the best in the world.
So, the offer is always open, if you want to come explore the world
with me, I will be doing it as long as I possibly can. If the
time comes when I no longer find it rewarding, then I might think about
stopping. In the meantime, and as usual, you may never know
where in the world I am, but you know that I will return - if only for
a brief period of time.
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Up
Close and Personal with the Travelers:
Kay,
Leader of the Pack
My
brother (Charles) and Mama Tembo (Laureta)
My
Niece (Lorilie) and her Fiance (Kenneth)
Cynthia
who also accompanied me to South Africa and Kenya and who's going to Australia/New
Zealand
My
good friends Mignon, who has traveled almost everywhere with me, and
Mardrie who also went to Brazil and Italy with me.
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Tanzania Part 2
We
proceeded to our mobile tented camp experience, where we joined the
guys we had met on our previous trip and who had met us at the
airport. These guys pampered us, took care of our every need,
you just
could not have asked for more. Between being taken care of
and treated
to the best safari experience ever, it was difficult to match this
experience with previoius safaris. Everyone saw what they
were hoping
to see and many got more surprises than they'd bargained for.
&Beyond
Mobile Tented Camp
Our
&Beyond Family at Sundowners
Our
African Family of Friends
My sister in law, now affectionately known as Mama Tembo
(tembo is swahili for elephant), because she is in love with elephants,
was in awe when she spotted her first elephant, then a herd of
elephants. She couldn't contain her excitement.
There wasn't one person on the trip who wasn't treated to seeing their
favorite animal or something they wanted to see. So, we just
were excited to have seen such an array and very fortunate enough to
have seen the migration of the wildebeest and zebra. It is
something you never forget once you've seen it.
I had, for years wanted to see a Caracal (a type of African cat) and on
the last day I got my wish. Everyone else saw much more than
they expected or thought they would see.
What African advanture is not complete without a balloon flight over
the Serengeti and the wonderful champagne brunch after it's over and
breakfast in the bush. It simply can't be beat.
Ballooning
over the Serengeti
Champagne
Breakfast
I could go on and on about how fantastic the trip was, and what we saw,
but I have to save some for you to experience when you join me on the
next safari. You will not be disappointed. If you
travel to Africa with an open mind, knowing that you are in the wild,
and are up for the adventure, you can't help but to have a wonderful
time. That's what this group did, yes, there were a few
misadventures, a few bumps in the road, and everything doesn't always
go perfectly, but in the end, the memories of this trip will be with
them forever. Believe me, I've been on trips where there are
lots of bumps in the road, and many misadventures, but it's all part of
the adventure and helped contribute towards a spectacular
trip.
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Zanzibar
Tanzania
As the safari part of our journey came to an end, we flew to Zanzibar
for a little rest and relaxation on the white sand beaches of
Zanzibar. It did not disappoint. There is so much
to do in Zanzibar, three nights wasn't really enough. Thanks
to Ali, (with Kenneth below) our driver and guide who showed us a
fabulous time - Ali, we so enjoyed being with you. A few images showing
the room at Blue Bay Resort, the beach, my brother and sister in law on
the large tortoises on Prison Island, a historical island, and where
the slaves were imprisoned. Kenneth solemnly stands in the site where
slaves were sole. It was a trip that offered so much more than just an
island with a beautiful beach. I think we all agreed, that we
have to return to this beautiful island and explore it more than we
really had time to do on this trip.
The beach at Blue Bay
My Brother and Sister in Law
Kenneth at the site of the slave grounds
Kenneth and Ali, Our New Friend and Guide
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Contact Us
6340 Plum Avenue
Corona, CA, 92880
951-898-6094
kmactravel@earthlink.net
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