We have all been in Udzungwa Mountains National Park for 4 days now. When we got here, there was no power…and no internet except late at night and early in the morning. Even then it was very slow and it is hard to get our work done because we were only running on generator power for 4 hours a day. It is amazing how dependent we are on both in America. It is quite an adjustment and is like being at summer camp. It is a beautiful place situated in the Eastern Arc Mountains. I wish that I could post a picture of them. I have seen so many amazing sites here already and it has only been almost 2 weeks.

It is a big change being here in the “country” rather than in the big city of Dar es Salaam. The ride here was really bumpy and very long. There are even tour buses that people commute on here and they drive like they are on the interstate in America.  Farms of all different crops line the road ways and we even saw a man climbing a palm tree. They cut little foot notches in them so they can collect the fruit.

Yesterday we went on a hike in the National Park. It was intense and very humid, but the waterfalls that we saw were amazing. The whole crew even took a dip in the larger one. We have also seen a lot of the town of Mang’ula. It is very rural and most people live in mud-brick homes. There is no internal plumbing in them and water is collected at a local well type of thing. The way that these people live is so primitive and simple, but they are so happy, especially the little children who followed us all through town.

I wish that I knew the language (Swahili) because it is so frustrating to not be able to understand them or speak with them. All I really know is thank you, or asante. Hopefully I will pick up some more before the trip is over.

Location: Mang'ula, Tanzania