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Email: sankofa.c@gmail.com or cc11213@aol.com, Ph. (718)756-8904 |
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Dr. Crawford's Educational Tour to East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
African Footprints: Ancient to Modern Date and price to be determined |
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TBA per person (based on double occupancy) See below for details and payment plan |
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The "Garden of Eden"
Giraffes on the Serengeti Plains
Zinjanthropus Man
Homo erectus
Nairobi Skyline
Fort Jesus (Passage of the Arches) Artisan in Akamba Village
Cobblestone Street in Stone Town
Ngorongoro Crater Lake
Buffalo on the Plains
Beautiful Maasai Women |
Background During
the 2003-2004 winter we visited the highlands of Ethiopia; one point of
the cradle of humanity at Hadar of the Afar Desert. This winter
December 27, 2004 to January 5, 2005, as we continue our travel along
the corridor of the cradle of humanity: the high grasslands (Ethiopia)
East and Central Africa, our next stop is at those sites that bear the
actual footprints of our most ancient ancestors: Kenya, Tanzania, and
Zanzibar. In Kenya and Tanzania we will visit the “Garden of Eden”
where our ancestors traversed the highland interior of East Africa,
punctuated by the imaginary equatorial belt and the aftermath of
volcanic activity from about 1000 to 500 million years ago. The
continental geological unrest resulted in the formation of oscillating
mountain ranges, the seamless expansiveness of the Serengeti plains, and
the 20 to 15 million years ago fracture
of the African continent from
the Red Sea to the Kalahari in Namibia which gave way to a 64,000
km long Great Rift Valley, dotted by lakes and plains. It
was on the Rift Valley floor, which still remains plentiful with the
flora and fauna, that made life possible for our ancestors. The fertile
plains with their flora yielded many varieties of cereal grasses, which
sustained both man and the rest of the animal kingdom. Large herds of
animals: giraffes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, gazelles, zebras,
buffalos still roam the famed Serengeti and its ancillary spaces of
Tanzania and Kenya, reminiscent of the distant past. Its own
peculiar signature characterizes each area of the multi-layered
ecosystem of this region. For example, elephants, buffalos,
baboons and many varieties of monkeys inhabit the lush vegetation of the
Montane forest; ostriches peruse and feed on the tall grasses;
storks, pelicans, flamingos and fish-eagles trawl the margins of lakes
in search of food; while the predators of lions, leopards, hyenas,
jackals, reptiles and man lay in wait as intermediaries. The
current conversation about human origins is most fascinating to all of
us since archaeologists, geologists, and physical anthropologists do
finally agree that we all ultimately belong to Africa, the home
of hominids (4 million to 1.5 million years ago) to
Homo sapien, (approximately 350,000 to 200,000 years
ago) and Homo sapien sapien, modern man, of approximately 150,000
years ago, according to radiometric methods of dating. Specially, in
Tanzania at the Oldupai Gorge (a Maasai word meaning "wild sisal
plant" commonly found in Ngorongoro), aka Olduvai, the monumental
four-layered geological barometer holds many of the secrets and evidence
of our distance past. The Oldupai Gorge Museum provides us
with a view of evidential moments of fossilized remains of
animals from the remote dinosaur period to the meteoric rise of
hominids: Zinjanthropus
man (nut cracker man, the vegetarian with formidable molars); the
stone tools that open a window into the intelligence of man as
tool-maker; Homo habilis, (handy man),1.75 to 1.5 million years
ago; Homo erectus, the upright walking women and men with
exceptional loco motor skills, that deployed themselves across the
continent of Africa about 1.5 million years ago; Homo sapien
(ancient equatorial variant of man) with fully developed protuberant
chin and skull and burial practices intact; and Homo sapien sapien,
(modern man) During my visit, and our subsequent educational tour, we cannot neglect to visit the following places described below to put our (African experience) journey into perspective. Join me as we share the places visited (ancient to modern) on my expedition to equatorial East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar. Itinerary Day 1 - After the evening departing flight from JFK our first stop is the modern bustling metropolis, Nairobi, Kenya with its gateway through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Meals on flight. Day 2 - Arrival in Nairobi Kenya. Move through immigration and customs Transfer to Hotel for overnight. Day 3 - After breakfast the City Tour to the famed National Museum of Kenya where one witnesses the geological time capsules of the planet earth, evolution of our species, the flora and fauna, and myriad of modern day cultural and ethnic groups that make up the diverse nation of Kenya. The Nairobi National Park and the Bomas of Kenya, an unforgettable cultural presentation of traditional dancers and acrobats will crown our first full day in Kenya. Later that evening we will board the train for Nairobi to Mombasa with dinner. The overnight train arrives the next morning. Breakfast is served before disembarkment. Day 4 - Check in to our hotel and prepare for a full day city tour of Mombasa. Fort Jesus, which still stands, as a bastion of East Africa trading port for Africans into slavery, is our first stop. That site is followed by walking through the narrow streets with shops full of items to remind one of this island frozen in the time of the 15-17th century. The motored tour then takes us to largest production of wood sculptures in East Africa at Akamba Village. After breakfast we complete our Mombasa tour by visiting Gomongo Village. Gomongo Village provides a slice of life from about ten cultural groups in Kenya which include the Kikuyu, Turkana, Pokot, Maasai, Akamba, and others. Afterwards, we return to our hotel to relax to the maximum along the Indian Ocean. Dinner Day 5 - In the early morning after breakfast our flight takes us to the island of Zanzibar. Check-in hotel then begin Stone Town Tour. Zanzibar Stone Town is known for its quaint narrow streets with stone architecture from the Sultans and aristocratic Indian elite who still colonize the indigenous African people. We will visit the site of the slave market and dungeon, the museum, Africa House and other places of interest in this very small pedestrian city. Dinner Day 6 - Breakfast in Zanzibar. Part of the morning is spent on completing tour of Stone Town. Leisure and extra excursions for those who wish to explore more of the island. Zanzibar is known for its unique tropical flora and fauna, spice markets, and diverse population of Africans, Arabs, and Indians whose major language is Kiswahili. They boast of speaking the most perfect form of Kiswahili. Afternoon flight to Arusha. Check in hotel for overnight and dinner. Day 7 - ARUSHA - OLDUVAI GORGE-NGORONGORO CRATER (Safari) Early breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro through parts of the Rift Valley, see Kilamanjaro on our way to visit the Olduvai Gorge, its museum, site of Zinjanthropus boise, the shifting sands, the drive through the Serengeti. We take the hypnotic view from the crater rim then ascending to the crater floor to view one of the world's phenomena of a lake sinking to about a half mile into the earth about 2 million years ago with a complex ecosystem. If the Garden of Eden did indeed exist, then this is it. One will not find it uncommon to see from our land rover elephants, zebras, wildebeests, buffalos, lions, gazelles, hippos in minor lakes, and birds of varied varieties. Ascending from the floor of the Crater will take us through a virgin forest still intact. We will see Lake Manyara Eyasi and other sister lakes on our way to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Wildlife lodge. Day 8 - Early breakfast, then we visit a Massai Village to experience authentic Maasai life. The Maasai are a nomadic people of the plains who are in constant search for adequate grazing ground for their large herds of cattle and other live stock. When two Maasai meet, the first greeting they exchange is Keserian ingra? Keserian ingishu? (How are your wife and children? How are your cattle?) To have one without the other is to be poor. To have both is to be rich. The Maasai are thought to be a hybrid of Nilotes (from the Nile River region) and Hamites originating from North Africa. They came from North Africa, migrated along the Nile River and settled in East Africa initially settling around the Lake Turkana area in Kenya about the 15th century. Physically, they are among the handsomest of mankind with slender bones, narrow hips, wide shoulders, and most beautifully developed muscle contour. The Tanzanian Maasai are less exposed to Western influences as compared to their Kenyan counterparts, and thus have retained closer links with their culture and traditions that are now severely challenged. The Ilkisongo (Tanzania) prefer dark red and dark blue in their bead work whereas the Ilpurko (Kenya) like orange and light blue. We leave for Nairobi via Arusha for overnight and dinner at our hotel in Nairobi.
Day 9 - This day will remain open for either shopping or any activities that we want to do and time did not allow before. There will be airport transfer for our flight home in the late evening. Day 10 - Arrive at JFK. End of educational tour.
COST
PER PERSON DEPOSIT SCHEDULE
A
Visa is mandatory for travel to Kenya and Tanzania.
Please secure visas prior to travel and make sure that passport
name and visa name correspond.
Dr. Crawford’s 10-Day
Tour Includes ‚
Round
trip International air fare: New York/Nairobi/New York ‚
Modern hotel
accommodations based on twin-bedded rooms with bath ‚
Daily meals
as per itinerary. ‚
All
transfers with assistance and portage ‚
Sightseeing
as per itinerary including entrance fees ‚ Domestic air fare ‚ Ground transportation ‚ All services charges, hotel taxes, tips, gratuities and English-speaking guides CONDITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES Dr.
Crawford and/or its agents act only as
agents for the passenger with respect to the hotels, transportation
(whether by air, rail, steamship, limousine, or motorcoach),
sightseeing, sporting activity (for example: scuba diving, snorkeling,
fishing, golfing, tennis) and other services, and as such holds itself
free of liability for any death, delay or damage from any cause
whatsoever. Nor shall Dr.
Crawford have or incur liability other than its liabilities as a common
carrier. Further, Dr. Crawford and its agents accept no responsibility for losses
damages or delays occasioned by sickness, strike, act of war,
quarantine, weather or other acts beyond our control.
The right is reserved to change itineraries without penalty when
consistent with the interests of the tour.
The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any tour
member at any time. Further, Dr. Crawford, and airlines used in connection with this tour are not to be held
responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the
passengers are not on board the aircraft. The passenger tickets in use
by the airline(s) when issued shall constitute the sole contract between
airline(s) and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. Dr.
Crawford does not assume responsibility for
any errors or omissions in the contents of this brochure. Payment of
deposit for this tour signifies full understanding and acceptance of the
above mentioned conditions. INSURANCE
WE
STRONGLY SUGGEST TRAVEL INSURANCE
to safeguard your trip against severe penalties. You will receive an
insurance form once you submit your deposit.
BAGGAGE1
checked piece of luggage and 1 carry-on to fit
underneath the seat or overhead compartment.
CANCELLATION POLICYDeposit of $500.00 paid by TBAis non-refundable. From August 14 to October 18, $ TBA is deducted from monies paid if travel member cancels trip. After October 30, if tour is cancelled by traveler, all monies paid on trip are non-refundable. All cancellations must be received in writing. No exceptions to cancellation policy. NOT
INCLUDED IN TOUR COST: AIRPORT
EXIT TAXES BEVERAGES
WITH MEALS PERSONAL EXPENSES TIPS INSURANCE VISA FEES For more information on this exciting tour of East Africa, call (718)756-8904 or email us at sankofa.c@gmail.com |
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