Tungamalenga and Ruaha National Park

Hello friends of Ilula!

This is Katie Keyworth blogging, but the signal here is not too strong so I didn't want to chance logging out David and logging myself back in.

After a successful 4th annual TZ-MN Medical Conference our group set out on the journey to Tungamalenga (companion church of Shepard of the Valley). When we arrived Saturday we met with Pastor Eva and others to go out to 2 preaching points. Both preaching points are Massai, which is a certain tribe that are traditional nomadic and raise cattle. 2 of our men, David and John (Medical Resident) were invited to join in a traditional manhood ceremony where the men compete to see who can jump the highest. They must have done okay because apparently they now share 3 wives and 7 children.

Sunday morning after stocking the pharmacy at the dispensary (clinic)  with donated medicine, we attended a very lively and musical church service. David and I were invited to dance with the youth choir. There was a lot of laughing; not sure if it was with us or at us, but either way it was a blast.

After a delicious lunch it was time to head out to Ruaha for safari. We took a game drive to our camp, Mwagusi. I could write for hours about all we have seen, so I will try to sum up. We all got to see a pride of lions with 4 cubs and 2 females. They were playing and having bathtime in the shade. We were also really lucky to see a leopard hunting from atop some rocks! One car got to see a stampede of elephants, possible running from poachers, that numbered close to 200!! Other great sights include baboons, giraffes, zebras, impala, hippos, crocodiles, and over 35 species of birds.

Tomorrow morning we will have a bush lunch and leave the park to return to Ilula.