the bush (noun): wild land that has not been cleared, especially in Africa and Australia.

This weekend we decided to go camping in the bush.  Most people would say that where we live is the bush, but Chris and Nani wanted to venture even further to one of their favorite camping spots.  Upon hearing out plan, one of the guests joked to Nani, “this isn’t bush enough for you?”  Apparently not.  So we set out for a “family” camping weekend.

If you ever make plans to do something in Tanzania, or at least where I am, within ten minutes everyone in a ten mile radius knows your plan and has already invited themselves along.  But with Land Rovers, there’s always room for one more Tanzanian to squeeze into the back.  So what started out as the five mzungus (white people) quickly turned into a 15 person expedition.  Did I mention that we were driving five hours each way to spend only one night?  This was no deterrence and both the drive and the company proved to be wonderful. 

Our extensive entourage included some pretty great characters.  I can’t help but describe a few of them to help paint the picture. 

Georgie- a 40-something Tanzanian man who is part owner of the tented camp.  Chris has known him since he was 3 and they’re essentially brothers.  He’s an amazing guy, soft spoken and always smiling.  Everyone jokes that he’s the Jesus of driving and Chris is the god.  Honestly, I have no idea how the two of them manage to negotiate the “roads” without getting lost, stuck in mud, or a flat tire.  One of the funniest things about him was that kept climbing the rocks to try and get cell phone reception, but being in the bush he had absolutely no chance.  Georgie also brought his two sons, Poile and Hansi, who had never been camping before because they go to high school five hours away in Arusha.  Poile was dressed in a nice button-up shirt and dress shoes which was evidence enough that he was a rookie to the whole camping thing, but it didn’t stop him from climbing every baobab tree they found, and neither did Hansi’s prosthetic leg for that matter.  They seemed really excited for the whole adventure (which excited Chris because he was certain they would be freaked out by being so far out into the bush) and ended up taking more pictures than I did. 

The Old Man- not really sure who he is.  I don’t think anyone really knows.  Chris is convinced he’s well over 100 because when his parents first came to the area and needed to know something they were told to ask “the old man in the village”, and that was 40 years ago.  Apparently he doesn’t even know to the decade how old he is, but Nani joked that always insists on going camping with them and every year she takes a picture thinking, ‘this is the last time I’ll get a snapshot of the old man with us’, but he seems invincible.  He didn’t say more than two words, just sat there eating and smoking all day, and he slept right on the rocks with only a blanket underneath.  That is what you call a champion.    

The Gardener- One of the guys who works for Chris and Nani.  He’s really only noteworthy because of his outfit.  The whole weekend he looked like an MC Hammer/Will Smith from Fresh Prince wannabe.  Bright magenta pants and a baggy polyester short sleeve button-up in the ugliest bright green I’ve ever seen.  Not sure how he ended up on the trip, but I was definitely not upset with that fashion choice.

Tella- 8 year old girl who can hang with the boys unlike anyone I’ve ever seen.  She’s the tiniest little thing but can eat more than three adults combined. 

Needless to say we were quite a sight.  We all piled into two Land Rovers and took off on the journey stopping for picnics, rock climbing, hot springs, cave drawings, impala sightings, villages, and markets along the way.  The sights were absolutely breathtaking. 

The campsite itself was nothing more than a small flat area on the top of a mountain that is essentially a secret place to all but 20 people in the world.  It overlooked a valley full of baobab and acacia trees, with a huge lake far off in the distance.  Our secluded sanctuary was somewhat bleak, but probably one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been.  Minus the entire goat that they slaughtered and brought along, it was a pretty modest setup; they boys slept in one tent, myself in another, and everyone else either slept outside or in the cars. 

Tanzania is a wonderful nation with some of the friendliest people I’ve ever seen.  What surpised me most of all on this entire camping adventure was that nearly every person, young and old, in each of the little villages that we passed would run to the road and wave hello.  Not much warms your heart like seeing a three year old Tanzanian wearing only a little t-shirt run out of her mud hut with the biggest smile on her face and wave more enthusiastically at a truck full of people than would appear humanly possible in such heat and desolate conditions.  I’ve never seen such people so genuinely happy to greet another, with absolutely no animosity whatsoever at our varying ways of life. 

Three weeks has already gone too fast. 

Maybe the extension of my visa will get messed up and I’ll have to stay in the bush forever. 

ps- sorry, I planned on adding more photos (and of my house, etc.) but it took half an hour to upload two.  In time, I will gather more patience with this internet.  Until then, this will have to do.