We scrounged around for a hurried breakfast (ended up with dry muffins and water). Got picked up promptly at nine (as advertised) but then had to drive around Arusha picking up gear and waiting for the others. The others joining the us are a couple of older men from Greece - seem a bit somber.
Drove an hour and a half to Tarangire National Park. The game drive wasn't to exciting - mostly the typical: zebras, giraffes, elephants, the antelopes (impala, gazelle, and water bucks), and birds. The driver is a bit surly - not too informative, kind of grumpy, and honestly not very good (most of the sightings were just following other cars, and we didn't see anything exciting). All in all it was a good first day of safari - we saw enough to keep us entertained, but it can get a lot better.
From the national park we drove to and around Lake Manyara to the town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River - I stayed there last year when I was on safari). The campsite is a bit commercial but not to bad and they have showers (cold) and flush toilets. A big negative was dinner - it was lousy! Last year I was pretty unimpressed with the safari company, but the meals were always fantastic. At least the campsite has beer...
