Tanzania, East Africa
5 September 2001

Hey Ma,

How are you? I just got back from a four-day safari today. Had a nice time, but our guide/driver was a dud. He pointed out animals like they were common items in a shopping mall, e.g. there's a black rhino - like there's a box of laundry soap.

We did see some amazing beasts though: warthogs (look like the old dog Rusty, may he rest in peace), hyena, impalas, hippos, bushbucks, lions, cheetah, jackals, giraffes, zebra, African buffalo, elephant (Owen would be proud), ostriches, wildebeests, some really cool birds, etc. I guess this is the culmination of my African experience; maybe not as I still have some time left here. Unfortunately the safari was a bit expensive by African standards, not by American standards. I took a bunch of photos- hopefully they will turn out.

Well, I'm headed out East to the Usambara mountains. On the way I'll pass mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent.

gotta go

love mike