Mid-phase-break

Hiya

Just got back from our 'mid-phase-break' today. It was brought forward to take our minds off of last week, and it worked pretty well. Obviously we talked about it, but it stopped anyone feeling depressed about it all.

So, mid-phase-break... It was brilliant.

We stayed at a waterfall on our first night, swimming etc (we are going back in a week to build a toilet there).
The following day we went for a walk up Radio Hill for a good view, then a lot of driving to through villages etc to our next camp near Ngorogoro.
Just played pontoon etc that night.

Up at 0500 for safari. Got to the crater at approx 0700, greeted by random Maasai. And what an awesome safari. We saw so many animals/birds etc, lion, cheetah, elephant, gazelle, impala, buffalo, zebra, hyena, ostrich, flamingo, mating bustards, monkey, baboon, wildebeast, warthog, hippo (in water and on land - which apparently is v rare) and 7 black rhino (there are about 17 in the crater and apparently only about 80 in the world)

We then left to stay at Arusha National Park. Stayed up with a few beers playing cards and looking at each other's photos.

Up early the next day for a small game drive seeing loads of baboon and monkey mixed in with warthog. Then we left the cars with an armed ranger for a walking safari. Wow. So close to buffalo, warthog, baboon, zebra, and tons of giraffe. They were so close it was amazing.

Then on to Maji-Moto (Hot water springs) Stayed the night there as we arrived at sunset. Got up for breakfast and a swim. It is one of the coolest places I've ever been. Left there today and went to buy some new footwear (yes, got robbed again at the waterfall camp - along with Dave & Mikey we lost our shoes to some children at the waterfall whilst swimming - what a good side to Tanzania we are seeing. Ah well.).

So, for today, we are going out partying for valentines day (most of the women here wear red for the day). It's also *someones* birthday (a friend of ours who wishes not to be mentioned) so a 'proper' party night too!

All in all an awesome experience.

So in a few days we will be back at Eluai school painting and giving them desks. Then we leave Eluai for good. On to the waterfall camp for a week to build the immense construction that is, a great-white-telephone. There after to the mangroves for 3weeks. Then... who knows...