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Travel Articles
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Climbing the Maasai Mountain of God - A Journey to the Top of an Active Volcano
By Brittany Stephen
Stag Party In Blackpool September 18th is the date that my mate is getting married and we are in the middle of sorting out his stag party. Blackpool has been suggested because it`s easy for everyone to get to and it has a host of bars, night clubs and fun activities that we can all take part in. At the moment it looks like the Stag Party In Blackpoolwill be taking place some time in August. The weekend of the 21st has been mentioned and we are just waiting for confirmation from all those that will be taking part. It`s been a long time since I was on a Stag Party In Blackpoolbut I can remember what a brilliant time I had. In the day we tried out a local go-karting circuit and took part in a couple of hours of paintballing as well. At night I think we must have visited every single bar along the golden mile as well aas a number of drinking establishments that were littered down the side streets. One thing we shouldn`t have to worry about when arranging the Stag Party In Blackpoolis finding somewhere to stay. With countless guest houses and hotels in this prime seaside resort there`s always accommodation that is available. I think they`ll be about 15 guys in total that take part in the Stag Party In Blackpool. We`ll have a good laugh and my mate should enjoy a great weekend surrounded by his friends Rv Rental Uk I`ve been lucky this year. I`ve already taken in the stunning scenery that Scotland, The Lake District and Devon has to offer and in each location I have longed to stay a little longer. Don`t get me wrong, I love heading off abroad on holiday and soaking up the sun. However, the UK has so many beautiful areas to explore and when the sun finally breaks through there can be no better place to spend some quality free time. My recent trip to Devon was all too short and I dearly wished that I could have spent a few weeks exploring the area then moving further south in Cornwall. It`s certainly something that I intend to do in the future and I might even consider an Rv Rental Uk as part of the holiday. I`ve never hired a motor home before but the latest Rv Rental Uk models are really appealing. A family of four can travel in style and there`ll be bags of room on the inside. Those who take part in the Rv Rental Uk will find they are travelling in a real home from home. A fixed rear double bed is provided as well as another double over the driver`s cab. I`ve been lucky on my travels within the UK this year and my next adventure on home soil will involve the use of a remarkable recreation vehicle. Inernational Padi Greece Schools We are a Padi Greece International resort, offering diving and diving services under the Padi Greece umbrella. As the leading Padi Greece school in Paros we can offer the ultimate underwater experience.
Lake Natron Lengai is situated in one of the most spectacularly jurrassic and underrated areas of Tanzania. Lake Natron is a natural alkaline soda lake that, from a distance, looks like a great, expansive puddle that covers the valley floor and glistens in the sunlight. The environment, however, is hostile; temperatures of the mud can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius and the alkaline level can reach a pH of 9-10.5! Natron`s edges are dotted in a pink tinge created by the thousands of flamingos that migrate there annually. They are some of the only creatures who can thrive in these conditions, the caustic environment actually acting as a barrier against predators. The fringe of the valley around it is composed of emerald green hills and slopes that create scenery unrivaled anywhere else in the world. Among this naturally pristine spectacle sits Lengai. Setting up Camp We arrive at the riverside base camp dusty from the hours of rambunctious 4 x 4 off-roading (no other type of vehicle could possibly make it out here). The campsite is minimalist complimented by the grandiose of the looming mountain that overlooks us. That is what we`re going to climb tonight?? A few meters walk from where we set up our tents is a small river winding its way out of a canyon. We are told it leads to water falls, so we decide to take the short hike to cool off in the mid-day heat. After about 30 minutes of trekking in and out of water along the rocky ledges we reach the fall. Situated between two cliffs, it is blanketed in moss and flora. The noon sun makes rainbows in the mist and we swim and baske lazily on the shore like sirens. The scene is something of enchantment. The Climb The hike begins at midnight, the reason being we are to get to the top in time to watch the sunrise. As our vehicle clamors along the pocked earth to her base we can just make out a faint tableau in the moonlight. Our minds begin to wonder As we near the top the landscape changes from difficult to hostile; the earth is covered in jagged rocks and loose volcanic debris. The slope continues to get steeper still and parts of the climb are having to be done on all fours. Whose idea was this?? Moments when one has to catch themselves from a stumble are often thwarted by a giant blast of cold air that wails down the incline like a banshee. We continue despite the innate urges to turn back - and suddenly the top comes into view in the blue-haze of daybreak. We lob ourselves over the side and all sit back in exhaustion and amazment as the African sun rises in the East. From the distance, Lengai looks like her peak is exactly that, a peak. In reality, however, her ashen and barren cavern is vast and plain-like. The summit itself is lunar covered in a white molten crust with towering individual peaks (formed by mini-eruptions) that jut out in sharp, sporadic disarray. As you wander its vastness you feel a sense of tremendous accomplishment negated by a certain sense of unease. In certain areas, your feet crack through the crust setting free sulfurous smoke that rises out of the footprint as an eerie reminder that while Lengai may appear to be stable to the eye, she is anything but. The wind is a constant force at this elevation; clouds fly past your face and seem to fall down the side of the mountain with no hesitation as if they`re being poured like milk out of a carton. A trip to volcano`s edge offers a spectacular view: a sweeping panorama of the entire region and beyond. Kilimanjaro, Meru and the lesser mountains are seen in the distant haze. The Serengeti lies just on the horizon. The sloping Great Rift slips effortlessly into the valley and from this vantage point looks like a massive green velvet curtain rippling to the floor. Summiting Lengai offers some of the most beautiful landscapes the eye can behold and is definately a unique and worthwhile endeavour. That is, until you start down! Interested in climbing Lengai or planning a Tanzania Adventure? Combine this climb with a Crater Highlands Trek for a real "Out of Africa" experience! Contact Tropical Trails - The Tanzania Adventure Specialists at: info@tropicaltrails.com 
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