Another trip to East Africa, this time to Tanzania, the excuse; a friend’s wedding followed by a quick trip to Tarangire National Park and a brief visit to a children’s home.

This year I decided to travel light and took my Berghaus Optimus 40, which is great as you can wheel it or use the rucksack straps. The only downside was that I didn’t have that much room to bring back heaps of souvenirs; however, I brought enough and besides it helped to keep my bank balance more healthy!

On the flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro, I was treated to real natural beauty - the site of Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro' summits. I wish I could have got my camera out in time to capture the blue skies and snow capped peak. I suspect if I had binoculars I would have been able to see people on the summit as it was 8.30 am, about the same time I summited 3 years ago!

The wedding, as you may expect was wonderful, with wedding guests from all over the globe; missionaries, volunteers, and friends and family. Many of these people helped with the decorations, music, flowers, logistics and food for the day. We ate, I think wildebeest, roasted by staff from Meserani Snake Park, a well known pit stop for overland trucks on the road from the Serengeti to Arusha. Great camping spot, fun bar and of course the snakes. From memory there was also a camel, and some crocodiles too! www.meseranisnakepark.com

I like Arusha, the hustle and bustle of people going about their normal daily activities, the ex pat community, tourists - its the starting point for many safaris and Kilimanjaro trips. Whilst in Arusha, I was treated to many things: Coffee and cake and some shopping at The Blue Heron, morning worship and a tour of Arusha’s newest hospital, www.almc.habari.co.tz; the curio market, which is for the tourists. It is a market packed with narrow lanes rammed full of colourful souvenirs and market traders wanting to sell you something…. “looking is free”.

I also had supper at TGT and Stiggy’s, and lunch at The Arusha Coffee Lodge and went to a church service at The Community Church www.acc.habari.co.tz, which was lead by Jean and Marv American Missionaries who work out at Monduli Maasae Girls School and great friends of the bride and groom (Sarah & Jacek Reyman).

Tarangire NP, wow - I loved it! I went on several game drives, seeing, giraffe, elephants, springbok, zebra, wildebeests, buffalo, a python, baboons, warthogs, dik dik, impala, ostrich, vervet monkeys, loads of birds and much more. We stayed at the luxury tented lodge www.tarangiresafarilodge.com, this is a beautiful simple lodge with swimming pool and a fabulous view over the National Park, I saw heaps of animals walking to the river to drink, whilst sipping a cocktail from the terrace. It was tough but someone has to do it!

The final treat of the trip was to visit St Gabriel’s Children’s home www.saintgabrielhome.net a home set up for children whose mothers are in Arusha prison. Humbling experience meeting the nuns and other great people who have been involved in setting this special place where the children get the love they deserve, good food and education at the kindergarten and primary school.