Over the Rufii river. That was my lucky day, an elephant crossing is quite a rare occurrence across such a wide river.
The Indian ocean, rarely disappointing especially at low tide over reefs and mangroves.
The Nyerere bridge in Dar es Salaam.
The Mkapa bridge across the Rufiji river.
And a bit further here is the Rufiji delta at low tide reaching the Indian ocean.
A few pictures of the saltey lake Eyasi
There are a few islands along Tanzania mainland. Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba are the big ones. Here is Pemba and its stunning reefs. I have been flying over uglier places...
Does that fisherman realise the art patterns he is fishing over?
Quite psychedelic, isn't it?
The river across the river.
One of my previous jobs, pilot at Flying Medical Service. Real bush flying as this airstrip implies.
Technology discrepancies...
Fishermen casings around Pemba islands.
Waving at friends... I will never forget these experiences in such balloons. Here in Ruaha NP.
Not a car from the company I fly for! we meet interesting dodgy companies out there...
One of the ferries between Zanzibar and the mainland.
Many rivers flow in Tanzania, here is the Luwego.
A young woman in Zanzibar.
Different cultures and religions...
A young girl in the bush.
lots of mangroves are to be found around. In combination with the tides the landscape can differ wildly in the same day.
Men are at an advantage to drop their traditional outfits quicker than women. Not fair. Nothing new ...
Forodhani garden...the food place. Sadly the souvenirs sellers have creeped in, not only selling their usual goodies, same as in Stonetown 200m away, but they are blocking the ocean view, a whole corner! They seem to think people travel here from all over the globe to fall in tourist trap shops?
The main beach is safe. For now...
No shop but these touts and hawkers...some are like glue. This old man sat there uninvited for 30 min. These girls were too sweet and didn't want to hurt his feelings...
As said before, men are men everywhere.
Workers on salt extraction fields. The glare must be painful to the yes...
Village on a tiny island next to Bwejuu island, Mafia channel.
And the reef of unnamed island.
Reef, Mafia island.
Fishermen at low tide.
A lone couple a few miles from the nearest village which is very remote.
Between Dar es Salaam and Mafia island, a flight lasts about 30 minutes. My favorite time to fly on this route is at low tide, a general rule over the ocean I guess.
Today let's focus on the stunning mangrove south of mafia airfield.
Mother Nature must have laughing at Picasso. Except he whitish tone, which is sand, the other tones show the bottom of the ocean at low tide. At high tide, only a typical ocean blue will show.
Tanzania is a dream place for any aerial photographer, amateur or pro. Personally new areas or details still appear under my wings. Sometimes the weather makes a difference on a old classic landscape. Human activity is another factor that is worth a low pass...
one of those reefs ever changing with the tides. Stonetown in the distance.
Bongoyo islands near Dar es Salaam.
One of the fast ferries between dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
The magnificient reef of Pemba island, a wonder.
Chumbe island.
Pemba island with a Go Pro video attached under the tail.
Fishermen canoes at rest.
Tiny boat in the big ocean.
Some artistic pattern on the surface near Dar es Salaam. Pollution might be the cause...
Chumbe island at low tide, near Zanzibar.
Low tide and Stonetown, Zanzibar in the distance.
Dug out canoe under the scorching sun and no shade available.
More modern one of the few ferries operating in Zanzibar.
Opposite Bagamoyo lies this little paradise place, Lazy Lagoon. Our camp lies at the very tip.
Some random pictures of the stunning Tanzanian coast.
Chumbe island, off Zanzibar
A lone fisherman on Pemba island reef, my favorite spot in this part of the ocean.
Bwejuu island, off Mafia island. the mud from the Rufiji river mixes with various plankton over changing water depth to explain these colours and texture changes I was told.
Mafia island mangrove.
Mud flow at the Rufiji delta. This river is the biggest river in the country.
Mfia mangrove again.
Pemba island reef.
low sea bottom near Pemba island.
Hippos in a lake, Selous.
Buffaloes.
Ruaha river one early morning
Stonetown by the sea.
Sisal plantation, Pangani region.
Elephants by a drying pond, Selous.
Along the Rufiji river, Selous
A flock of storks, Rufiji river bank
A double mud flow comes out of the Rufiji river. Notice the fishermen village.
The same fishermen seem to know where the catch will be more fruitful.
A tiny island between the Rufiji and Mafia island in the distance. The different colors in the water are due to plankton mixing with mud and plain sea water with a touch of low tide.
Reaching Mafia island
A clean junction between clear sea water, plankton and mud.
A little crossing to Mafia island last week, Tanzanian Indian ocean. About 10 minutes of flying between these pictures. No passengers, flying over a beautiful area, what else to ask for (except a mile high club renewal, ok…). No drone was used.
Fishermen along the Rufiji delta where fresh water starts to mingle with sea water.
Where plankton meets mudflow coming from the Rufiji river and normal sea water. The stark contrast between the 3 surfaces amazed me…
2 mud flows from the Rufiji river.
A mix of low tide, mud and plankton around this tiny island near Mafia (to be seen in the distance)
Mafia island at low tide.
one of the wonders in Tanzanie, the active volcano Lengai. And in the foreground lies the crater Empakai.
Artistic sandbanks on the Luwegu river, Selous reserve.
Bush fires spread slowly and rarely kill trees. That black surface will turn green at the first drops of rain.
Housing on the Indian ocean beaches.
Drying lake in the Selous.
Off Mafia island during low tide, 2 different views.
Siwandu airstrip, Selous.
Low tide around Pemba island. Notice the under channel.
Buffaloes in a dwindling pool,Selous.
Hippos in the mighty Rufiji river.
A pond shows an artistic nature, Selous reserve.
Elephants in the Ruaha. Notice the one-tusker.
Buffaloes crossing the Rufiji.
Mafia island.
Some suburb houses, Dar es Salaam.
Detail of the mangrove, Pemba island.
Overtaking a competitor over the vast African landscapes.
On one frame, let’s admire the volcano Lengai, Mt Kilimanjaro on the horizon, Mt Kitumbeine and Mt Meru. Not everyday that we can enjoy a 100 mile visibility.
Dar es Salaam center.
Ngwazi airtsrip,
A highway crosses some swamp near Ngwazi.
Rufiji river and a swamp, Selous reserve.
Indian Ocean.
Tanga town on the Indian ocean.
Ruaha river and residents in the Ruaha national park.
Selous reserve, some side lake and river near the Rufiji river. They were created some decades ago by massive floods. The dead white trees show the waters haven’t receded to this day.
Mahale village, lake Tanganyika. The red spot is a giant fishing net being repaired.
Mafia island at low tide.
On the Indian Ocean between Mafia island and the main land, one can observe that sharp separation in the waters. Those sediments (well I guess) seem to come from the island.
Fishermen village in the Rufiji river delta.
Salt pans, lake Balangida, southern tip of the Rift valley.
Monik airtrip, lake Natron. That mountain is the active volcano Lengai.
Sunrise on the Indian ocean.
Luwegu river, southern Selous.
Drying Katasunga river, Katavi NP.
A dust devil on the burnt Katasunga plain.
A reef in the Indian ocean is by fishermen and their nets.
In the Selous reserve, some floods from 40 years ago haven’t totally disappeared. The dead white trees are numerous to tell the tale.
I normally prefer to fly over the Selous reserve, lake Natron, Ngorongoro highlands….but I don’t mind island hoping either, especially around Pemba island.
Sea bottom, not very deep obviously. Pemba island, Indian ocean.
A detail of the Selous wetlands.
More of the Selous reserve.
Kipili Bay, lake Tanganyika.
Wildebeest migration, Serengeti.
Empakai crater, Ngorongoro highlands. Notice the mounts Kilimanjaro and Meru far away. One of those days with an exceptional visibility.
Elephnats in the Great Ruaha river.
Socialist traces in Zanzibar…
but colors are available too.
Footprints on a salt lake bed, lake Balangida. Of humans, cows and goats I presume.
Hippos are having a hard time in the Katavi. They squeeze in the last remnants of muddy pools.
Last week a massive bush fire started on Katasunga plain, Katavi park. 80% of that vast plain was black at the time of the picture. The rangers were clueless or lying about the origin of the fire.
Mahale, lake Tanganyika, life on the beach. I guess the fishermen have laid out that massive net for fixing the damages.
A detail of the Indian ocean near mafia island. It looks like a channel at the shallow bottom.
A bit of the shoreline in Pemba island, my favorite island to overfly so far.
Siwandu, Selous reserve.
Near Mufindi, patchwork of fields.
Near Kipili bay, southern part of lake Tanganyika.
A flight in the southern part of the Selous reserve along the Luhego river. I had never flown to that airstrip, Luhanyando, so I was quite pleased to discover that river.
Here at the junction with the Lukula river.
A little flight between the Mafia Island mangrove and Dar es Salaam.
Stiegler’s gorge, Rufiji river, Selous reserve.
A perennial pond on the southern dormant top of the active volcano Lengai.
Just outside Arusha.
Lovely early morning out of Dar es Salaam.
Elephants in the Katavi park.
Pemba shores, Indian Ocean.
A pond in the Selous.
4 top pictures: the Rufiji river in the Selous. The rains had been heavy, the river was carrying mud, the lake (foreground) stayed clear and the ponds got various patterns and colors.
The Indian Ocean, worth admiration and pictures. A concept the selfie maniacs seem unable to grasp. 50 selfies in average between the lounge and the airport. And no picture through the windows! The record is held by a punk who owned a top range Canon kit and didn’t shoot once outside…
Lazy Lagoon opposite Zanzibar. Our company owns a camp on the tip. Lovely place obviously that I plan to visit soon.
Some views around Pemba island.
Notice the sunken wreck
Stonetown, Zanzibar
Pemba island.
A view of Stonetown, Zanzibar.
Dar es Salaam.
Our company flies in the remote bush and also performs island hoping in the Indian Ocean. 2 pictures of Pemba Island.
I should remind my great boss that I have a seaplane license… I’d love a seaplane in those lagoons and reefs.
The Rufiji river in the Selous.
The active volcano Lengai last month. Active but quite for some years.
Some mornings near Dar es Salaam.
A herd of buffalos in Katavi. 500 heads is common…
And these elies a bit further. After South Sudan I feel I’m flying in paradise.
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