Hakuna matata?

"While our visa application is still up in the air, we are gearing up for an extraordinary trip to Tanzania. From unexpected discoveries along the way to a bitter pill around drone use - this is how the last few weeks before departure went."

Somewhat nervously, we are still awaiting our visa application. Although we had completely missed the information about the need for it in the travel information we received, a pondering during a drive to Lelystad still led us to wonder whether we might not need it. And what about vaccinations, anyway? Malaria pills? I didn't expect to see Tanzania and Lelystad ever come together in one thought.

That was at the beginning of May. Since we were leaving June 2, we still had plenty of time, as an application would take just under a week, according to information. And since my previous experiences with applying for a drone permit in Tanzania were quite positive in terms of speed, that too reassured me.

Forbidden to fly

Nevertheless, the drone will still remain at home this trip by the way. Flying in national parks requires a so-called Filming Board license. Several agencies have to approve this, all the way to the Ministry of Defense. I would certainly have gone to all that trouble, had it not been for the fact that during the application for my "basic license" it turned out that such a special license would cost me thousands of dollars. It is a pity that this puts the creation of beautiful aerial shots out of the reach of almost everyone except commercial projects.

I'm extremely annoyed, but this is not a country where I want to take the risk of unauthorized flight, not least because of the potential consequences for our guide.

Anyway, the visa applications ... Evita sent a message to the ministry anyway about the lack of response. Hopefully it will all be arranged before departure. It is also possible to arrange it upon arrival, but chances are you will have to wait a long time and thus waste precious time you would rather spend on the trip.

Just short of the Serengeti, but the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes....

Ready for adventure

My fingers are itching to photograph the wildlife and shoot footage for a video project I've been preparing for months, at least as far in advance and from the other side of the world as possible. But more on that later, perhaps.

Also by request, the tour company has arranged for us to take our tours in a modified Safari jeep. In these Toyota Landcruisers, the windows have been removed so that we have an almost unrestricted view, which will certainly enhance the experience and certainly the photography.

We remain grounded - again

Evita also inquired about the possibility of adding a balloon flight to the trip. We had asked about it before booking but decided to give it some more thought because of the cost. We missed the boat, all flights are already full... A pity, but we still have a wonderful trip ahead of us.