Tanzania Hippo – My Trinkets and Memories #18

Challenge Outline

Being a big fan of several Photo Challenges, I am now hosting one myself.I would love it if you could take part! This is the 18th week to date.  Please click here for the challenge outline. Please post a link to your post on this page and I will make sure I put it on my challenge page for others to see too!

I look forward to checking out your posts!

So without further adieu here is my 18th trinket.

Hand Carved Hippo from Tanzania

Tanzania

This handsome fellow was bought in Zanzibar, Tanzania. I remember his purchase well. I bought him in a small shop near the old fort.The lady who ran it was lovely. She had beautiful handmade wares, each one unique. All the pieces were made by her and her siblings. My luggage was reaching capacity but this wee fellow was so lovely. He feels so solid and warm in your hand. I love his expression. I loved the chat with the vendor.

He reminds me of the very special trip I made with my good friend Katherine. We did an 8 day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, spent a couple of days at a local school and home for children called Peace Matunda before embarking on a fabulous week long safari. We organised the safari through Peace Matunda and it was like have a custom made personal safari at a fraction of the big company cost! What made it even better was we knew it was local so the money was going directly back into the local economy and the school was also benefiting from it.

We started by visiting a Masai township and boma. We were hosted by a local educator. He was an excellent host and really introduced us to the locals and the Masai villagers in a very real way. This was very exciting as we didn’t feel we were being subjected to a contrived tourist trap type of situation.

After 2 nights we headed on to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. It was here we were treated to a wealth of wildlife. The hippos were among my favourite animals. They were so solid, they were lolling in the mud, grazing and caring for their young.

After a good 2 weeks of full on backpacker style adventure we headed to Zanzibar for 5 days of R and R and relative luxury.

A fabulous trip!

A little ditty springs to mind when I see this wee guy. I hope you don’t mind but it is a bit dirty! I always find myself humming away

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood

So follow me follow

Down to the hollow

and there let us wallow in

GLORIOUS MUD!

Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu

Leanne