Entries about bananas

Lake Natron Camp

I slept reasonably well last night, despite someone's alarm going all through the night. The 'alarm', we are told, was a distressed nightjar!

Breakfast is good, with a Continental selection including peanut butter, followed by a cooked breakfast.

Before we leave the camp, I use the facilities near the mess tent – a compostable toilet with buckets of sand to cover up any excrement, yet there is modern 'luxuries' such as running water in the basin and individual terry towels neatly rolled up in a basket.

Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano looks pretty this morning with her pink hat on.

Wishing our friends Lyn and Chris could have come with us on this safari, we took with us large photos of them and pretended they were here too, creating this photo for them.

It is time to head back to 'civilisation' again this morning. The roads have not improved any, that's for sure.

Giraffe

Our path is blocked by a giraffe again today.

Strange earth mounds appear on the side of the road.

Crowned Lapwing

You can quite clearly see the reason it got its name here

Kori Bustard

A large bird, this male is displaying the courtship ritual by inflating his throat, spreading the white frontal neck feathers outwards and raising his tail. All the while emitting a loud and powerful drum sound that can carry for several kilometres.

While we are watching the bustard, an inquisitive Lesser Masked Weaver comes to investigate what we are doing.

Capped Wheatear

It is obviously the time of year when birds have making babies on their minds, as this pair of wheatear are at it too!

Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse - today's first lifer

Eastern Chanting Goshawk, lifting one leg for thermoregulation.

Although not quite as loud as the Kori Bustard, the Goshawk seems to still have plenty to say.

White Throated Bee Eaters

This Kori Bustard seems to be more intent on looking for food rather than sex – could it be the female our previous mate was trying to impress?

Ostrich harem - one male five females. Good luck to him!

The hillside is ablaze with colour

Zebra

We spook a zebra mummy and her young foal.

They soon settle down, though, joining a few others.

A couple of Maasai Warriors in their full regalia walk past in the field.

I find it interesting that the men are dressed in what appears to me to be their finest regalia, with brightly coloured shúkà (cloth), rungu (club) and spear, while just casually walking in a field.

Also, look at the length of the hair on the guy on the right. His long braids indicate that he is a moran, or warrior; a title achieved after an initiation rite when puberty is reached, involving circumcision (traditionally without anaesthetic), and spending time living in isolation in the bush, learning tribal customs and developing strength, courage, and endurance—traits for which Maasai warriors are noted throughout the world. During this time the young men will wear black and often have their faces painted with bold patterns. Historically a Maasai man should also have killed a lion single-handedly using only a spear to prove that he is worthy to be a moran; although that practice has been outlawed today.

Some 900,000 Maasai people are spread throughout Kenya and Tanzania, and although some of the younger generation have steered away from the nomadic life to positions in business commerce and government roles. During recent years, projects have been implemented to help Maasai tribal leaders find a way to preserve their traditions and way of life while also trying to balance the education needs of the Maasai children for the modern world.

The local bus service

It looks like we have another river to get across.

Dark Chanting Goshawk

White Breasted Bee Eater

Ngaruka

We pass through the small town of Ngaruka again.

The roads are still pretty awful

Donkey Cart, AKA Maasai Landrover

The roads are affectionately referred to as “Free African Massage”.

Where did the road go?

Here it is. Or rather, was.

This looks like fun

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Road Re-Construction

It looks like they are finally trying to do something about some of the washed away areas of this road.

We stop and give them some bottles of water.

Goodness knows the could do with some improvement in many places along this route.

Cactus

We pass a complete forest of cacti. I don't think I have ever seen that before.

Mto Wa Mbu

We are back in civilisation for the time being, having stopped in Mto Wa Mbu, a large-ish town on the main road from Arusha to Serengeti. The local name means Mosquito River, as a reference to the numerous insects that frequent this area. The only time we've ever stopped here previously, is to buy some little red bananas. This time we are partaking in a 'Cultural Walking Tour' of the plantations in the area. By now it is 12:00 and blistering hot; making me think of the old saying: “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”. As I am not English, I must be the mad dog.

Water from the river is re-directed into canals to provide irrigation for plantations.

Mango tree. Unfortunately right now is not the season for harvesting – I love mango!

Crops are rotated three times a year, between, rice, corn and cassawa. Here they are clearing the fields ready for replanting rice.

It's a muddy job!

Rice plantations are started off in a dedicated seed bed, then transferred to their final growing area by hand. It's a labour intensive job.

It's back-breaking work. The ladies invite me to join them after we share a joke; much as I would love to for the fun of it, I have to decline – my back would not thank me for it.

Farmers often rent very small plots to grow just enough rice for their family and to maybe make a small amount of money.

Dried out corn husks will be used as animal fodder.

Taking it home for the cattle

Okra or Lady Fingers

Cassawa Plants

Three days ago during the heavy rains, this complete area was flooded. We did notice that when we drove through, the sides of the road were under several inches of water.

Banana Plantations

Three main types of bananas are grown here: the green bananas used for cooking, which take 6 months to mature; the yellow bananas that we all eat take 9 months, while the sweeter red variety take the longest to be ready, at a year.

Lunch

We are taken to a small local restaurant set in amongst the plantations, with a bamboo hut housing the kitchen and an open-sided covered area with chair and tables for the diners.

It's good to be out of the fierce sun

The food is served buffet style, with a number of dishes available.

From left to right, back row: fried green bananas, boiled potatoes, aubergine (eggplant). Front row: mixed beans and corn (maize), a green vegetable similar to spinach, ugali - a staple in Tanzanian homes, it is made from flour (millet, maize, sorghum or cassawa) boiled with water to make a stodgy mass. It is bland but filling and I like it with a sauce.

Back row, left to right: bean casserole, salad, beef stew. Bottom row, left to right: pilau rice, white rice and potatoes in a tomato sauce with green beans.

Lake Manyara

As we climb up into the Ngorongoro Highlands, we look down on Lake Manyara. Not only can we see that the lake has swollen way past its normal size; but also that it has turned red from soil washed down from the hills.

Kilimamoja Lodge

Arriving back at this lovely lodge is like coming home after a long trip. The staff are out in force to greet us, calling out: “Hello Grete, hello David, welcome back”.

This time we are in the room furthest away from the reception, and they provide us with a golf caddy to take us there.

On the front porch, a very nice message is spelled out in green beans!

With a couple of hours to spare, we debate whether to go for a swim, or sit on the balcony for a bit followed by a nap. The relaxation wins.

Towel art on the bed

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We have an unobscured view of the valley below

Although the pool does look inviting, the balcony provides a very welcome breeze after the heat of the day, and we are delighted when we spot a pair of Verreaux's Eagles soaring over the Rift Valley – another lifer for us!

Always prepared for a great photo opportunity

Dinner

We are the only guests in the restaurant this evening, and spend ages chatting to the chef, who appears to have worked all over southern Africa in some very high class establishments, including Palace of the Lost City (which this place reminds me of).

I have never before been served a samosa in a cocktail glass

A delightfully presented and beautifully tender rare fillet steak with a slightly spicy sauce.

While not actually on the menu this evening, the chef makes me another one of his better-than-sex-chocolate-fondants.

Cappuccino Art

As before, there are chocolates on our pillow from the turnback service when we return to the room. Such a nice touch.

Thank you so much to Calabash Adventures for arranging this safari for us.

Memorial dos Heróis da Liberdade

Yesterday, at Trindade, we saw the memorial at the site of the Batepá Massacre where hundreds of natives were killed by Portuguese forces in 1953 during a rebellion, and Agostinho was telling us how they were “thrown in the sea, like animals”. Today we visit the spot, at Fernão Dias on the north coast, where those murdered were transported by the truckload and their bodies unceremoniously dumped in the sea off the now-defunct pier.

A memorial has been erected here too, listing the names of all those killed in the fight for freedom.

An abandoned ship lies off the coast as if to pay tribute to the fallen martyrs.

Old Tree

We stop beside a tree, more than one hundred years old, for Agostinho to explain how they used to make canoes.

I am more interested in playing with a young kid who is selling fruit at the side of the road.

Agostinho Neto

Named after a benevolent Angolan doctor (late president of Angola) who fought fervently in the battle against Portuguese colonialism, the roça (plantation) and surrounding village is now mostly in ruins and lies partly abandoned.

The abandoned hospital on the hill

The old botanical gardens is now the governor's house

Many of the picturesque old buildings (these would have been for the managers) have survived and are now in use.

Hospital

The old hospital, built as part of the roça (plantation), now lies abandoned, with a number of poorer families having moved into some of its many rooms.

Unleashing my inner Urbex (Urban Explorer, a popular genre in photography), I wander around some of the abandoned halls and wards.

Love the home made bicycle

Poverty

Categorised as a 'least developed country', São Tomé is mostly dependent on international aid, and is among the poorest in the world, with more than half of the population living below the poverty line, and 29% in extreme poverty.

Pounding the corn is extremely hard work, and the locals find it very amusing that I would like to have a go.

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The population of São Tomé is relatively young, with children aged 0 to 14 years representing 44.4% of the population, yet only 38% attend secondary school.

Blue Lagoon

This sheltered bay is popular with snorkellers as the pristine waters are teeming with fish.

An ancient baobab stands on the beach – those of you who have followed my blog for a while will be aware of how fond I am of baobab trees.

Picnic

At a small picnic area, we make a quick stop with coffee, juice, fruit and biscuits.

This is the place where the Portuguese first arrived back in the 15th century.

Star fruit. I explain to Agostinho that, although we buy these fruits in the UK, I have never seen one actually growing; and he promises to look out for a star fruit tree for me.

Taiwanese guava, they taste a little like unripe pears.

Agostinho calls these carozo nuts, but I believe we know them as 'tropical almonds' (Terminalia catappa). They taste very similar to regular almonds.

Here they are, growing on the tree:

Dug-out canoes on the beach

Tunnel

The road hugs the coast on the north-west of the island and at one stage it goes through São Tomé's only tunnel.

It is a popular place to stop and take photos.

The coastline here is rugged, with some interesting rock formations and crashing waves.

As we head inland, we pass imposing old plantation houses and more modest wooden chalets.

Roça Monte Forté

The old plantation buildings have now been turned into a guest house and restaurant, with a small craft centre and a garden bulging with fruit and vegetables.

I love this place, it has so much character. The bedrooms look basic but more than adequate, with a bed, mosquito net and en suite bathroom.

Basket weaving

Cacao fruit

Calabash fruit

Cashew fruit - the nut is the curious dark thing hanging down below the fruit

Lemon tree

Love the modern TV screen on the rickety old veranda.

David takes a pre-lunch snooze while I wander around taking photos.

Bananas

View from the balcony

This is the sort of place that we love staying in, but unfortunately it is not to be this time, as we are only stopping here for lunch.

Grilled bonito fish with onions

Pumpkin, carrots, cabbage and shoo-shoo (a type of courgette or marrow)

Fried plantain

Dessert: cashew fruit and papaya

Another first for the Howards: eating the fruit from the cashew nut tree. It is obviously not that common over here either, as Agostinho takes the rest home for his children, who have never tasted it, plus some seeds to grow his own tree in his garden.

Mucumbili

After a leisurely lunch we make our way to Mucumbili, our fabulous eco-lodge for the night. We check in and are shown to our room, a rustic wooden cabin built on the edge of the wooded cliff, with a balcony on stilts overlooking the valley and ocean beyond.

Each cabin has a name rather than a number and I am absolutely thrilled to find that ours is called 'Carambola', meaning star fruit.

Not only that, we have a star fruit tree right outside!

We spend the rest of the afternoon on the balcony with a bottle of chilled white wine, watching the birds and the fishermen.

São Tomé Prinia, and endemic to this island

São Tome Speirops, another endemic

Southern Cordon Bleu

São Tomé Sunbird - yet another endemic

Bronze Mannikin - not a very good photo, but it is the only one I manage to capture as he is hiding behind long grasses

Above us circle a couple of Yellow Billed Kites, and butterflies and lizards abound.

This is my idea of heaven: a gorgeous rustic lodge miles from the nearest habitation, lots of birds and other small critters to keep me amused, a glass of something enjoyable and the man I love with no other human sound (or sight) for hours.

What we do hear, however, is a strange clicking sound. We spend a long time trying to work out what it is. After a while it becomes obvious that it is coming from a bird, but which one? Eventually we discover the answer: the small São Tomé Prinia is somehow flapping its wing in a manner to make a fairly loud clicking sound. How bizarre.

The noisy little prinia

Northern Cordon Bleu

Sao Tomé Speirops

Prinia

Cordon Bleu

From our balcony we can see the fish jumping in the sea, causing small ripples on the surface of the water.

The fishermen all make their way towards that area, but by the time many of them have reached the spot, the fish have moved on.

Dinner

Dinner is taken in the open-sided restaurant, with each cabin having its own dedicated table.

Vegetable soup

Pasta with crab, cream and Parmesan cheese

This is not quite what David was expecting when he ordered 'apple pie'.

After dinner we yet again sit on the balcony for a long while, taking in the sounds and sights of the jungle after dark. There is next to no llight pollution and the stars are out, but unfortunately so are the clouds for a lot of the time.

And so ends another delightful day in paradise. Thank you Undiscovered Destinations.