Work is done, we are now tourists

With our work at Mazimbu completed, we are now tourists for two days. Today we woke before dawn for the 2 hour ride to Mikumi National Park for our safari. As we approached the park, the sun was just rising over the splendor that is Africa.

Everyone that tours Mikumi must do so with a guide, who is an employee of the park and is well trained about the animals, birds and plants that might be encountered. Ibraham hopped aboard our bus and announced that our first stop would be outside the park. Lions had brought down a zebra earlier and were near the road, still feasting on their meal.

We pulled to the side of the road and were amazed to see a pride with two male lions, two very young cubs and 4 females (or juvenile males) about 150 feet from our dala dala. The cameras clicked away as we watched the lions mingle with each other, readjusting their position for their breakfast. Meanwhile, the cubs did what any youngster does—with their bellies full their attention strayed and they began playing and pouncing among the pride.

Ibraham explained that in Africa it is considered good luck to see one lion, even better luck to see a pair, and the best luck of all to see a whole pride with cubs. Later, when we told others what we had seen, they agreed that the sighting really blessed our final day together. We stayed parked by the lions for more than a half an hour, fascinated with the sight.

Entering the park, we slowly bumped over the uneven dirt roads, moving from one area of the park to another. The guides communicate with each other using their cell phones so if animals are spotted in one area, other tours will be able to move for a good view of the animals.

After the lions, we saw giraffe, zebras, cape buffaloes, elands, impalas, wart hogs, hippopotami, crocodiles, baboons, monkeys, mirabou storks, saddle billed stork and so many others. Although we can say we saw elephants, in truth it was just one family group, and from such a far distance we could only see vague humps over the grasses.

Our safari ended with breakfast at the lodge. We sat at an enormous tree-slab planked table overlooking the vast grasslands of Mikumi. As with all of our meals out, it was a very leisurely affair so it was after one pm before our bus began the return back to LJS. Before too long heavy heads began bobbing to make up for our early morning wake-up calls.\

We are sitting now at a lovely restaurant, waiting for our dinner. It is our last time to be together. The Houcks—Pastor Sally, Dr. John and David—head north tomorrow morning to meet family for a safari in Ngorongoro. The rest of the team is off to Dar es Salaam to begin our long trip back to our families and friends. These two weeks have been meaningful beyond words for us as we have worked with, served, and loved our Tanzanian brothers and sisters. We all want to thank our families, our friends, our churches and our prayer partners for your support.

Until next year, we bid this enchanting land kwa heri.