Trip to Tanzania

Why purchase your Tanzanite jewerlry from Moriarty's?

Because we go to the source!

Its rare in life when you get to mix business with pleasure. Tanzania is one of those rare opportunities for me. And what is even better is going on two Safaris on one trip. Not only did we get to go on safari in the finest game preserves on earth we also were given one of the greatest gem safaris on the African Continent. Pictured are friend and fellow gemologist Jim Fiebig and I at the entrance to Tirangiri Game Preserve located just outside of the Serengeti Plains. When game can no longer be found at Ngorogoro crater this park is the best choice as the river here always has water and therefore you can always find wild game

After landing in Nairobi Kenya we took a six hour bus ride across the border to the City of Arusha which is the market for Tanzanite which was our primary interest on this trip. Tanzanite is mined near Merilani in the foothills of Mount Kilomanjaro which we did not see till our flight home due to low clouds.

Our driver named Mapunda, translated as zebra, took us to his home village and we were introduce to this family. The husband was out herding the cattle to support his seven wives who each had a hut and all the huts were surrounded by a stick and thorn fence protecting them from roaming lions, elephants rhinos and hyenas. The video camera was a hit with the ladies and children.

To be continued...