on safari

as i promised, i convinced the tour company to give us the safari tour for $500 US. he normally charges groups of 4 or more (like the 6 of us going) a flat $280-a-day fee, and since we're going for four days, that would've been something like $1100 dollars. if you dont believe that i'm THAT skilled at bargaining go to his website www.pawarafikitours.com!!!! no really though this is the cheapest safari ever and the lesson here is NEVER book a safari in africa until you get here because you will just pay the listed price which is often totally inaccurate. but i do realize the other reason they give us such a good deal is because we're nonprofit workers in the community.

so for only $500 per person we are going to Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Maasai village, and Serengeti Natl Park. I'll be gone friday morning to monday night:)

also, i am strongly thinking about not climbing kilimanjaro. i have a bunch of reasons but the top reasons are that id rather spend the money on helping my women's group get their kids through primary education at least, i dont want to climb the mountain alone (i mean not alone but with random people i dont know well) not because im scared but just because i feel it would mean more if someone did it with me like matt, and third, i might be able to get a cheap week in Zanzibar instead (and i have three other friends here who are going that week and we'd go together) and nonprofit workers i guess can get cheap cheap flights to zanzibar from here. i have a theory they'll stick us in a cargo hold however. also, about kili, i have bad circulation in my hands and toes and i could rent gloves here but theres no guarantee they'd be quality---and only 2/3 of people climbing make it to the summit. i just didnt come prepared enough mentally or physically to undertake a challenge like kilimanjaro AFTER two months of mentally exhausting teaching etc. i hope that makes sense! i'm doing alright though, im not too disappointed because im so excited about zanzibar.

take care!
love,
suz