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In Search of Tanzanite from Tanzania

by Steve Moriarty

It's 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.

You can see Mount Meru in the background behind the clouds from our room balcony in the Mt. Meru hotel in Arusha which is the gateway to the Saranghetti plains.

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.

The scenery along the rift valley, which runs down the eastern coast of Africa, was extraordinary. We rode with new acquaintances from Arusha to Dar es Salaam, a trip which should have taken 10 hour was finished in 6 hours. It took me quite some time to get used to the high speeds we were traveling at on two lane highways with most of the trip in the passing lane. Dar is the Capitol of Tanzania and the marketing centers for gems other than tanzanite including rhodolite garnet from the Kangala deposit and fancy sapphire from the Umba Valley.

This portion of the trip led us to a relaxing weekend on the spice island, Zanzibar. Zanzibar populated by mostly Arabs is as far from civilization as you could get. Wood carving is the primary trade along with a wide variety of spices. Very tropical and on the Western shore we found a little piece of paradise at an Italian resort called Uroa Bay. If it wasn't for the highest death rate from Malaria in the World, this would be Heaven on earth. We were thankful for bed nets and deet. The 5th picture on the right shows a gathering of Masai villagers all dressed in their finest.

While in 'Tirangiri preserve Mapunda, who claimed to have been a park ranger, provided a few exciting moments to remember. We first came upon three elephants, two of which were standing near a third which was on its side apparently lifeless. He told us they would stand near a dying family member for weeks. As he pulled closer to within 100 feet of the three elephants you could see the two were getting a little excited.

Soon our driver panicked and threw the vehicle in reverse as the elephant on the ground literally jumped to its feet. All our driver kept saying was "I would have swore it was dead."

Later on our trip around the park we came upon a pride of lions and as we again got to within 100 feet of these magnificent animals I recalled our previous experience and requested he go no further as our vehicle had an open roof and I had no desire to be lunch.

You can view some of the custom jewelry Moriarty's Gem Art has created from the Tanzanite brought back from Tanzanite at www.moregems.com.

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