Chapter 24: Africa III
10:11 am in Tanzania (US time: 10:11 pm), our team are still in the air. "Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, includes the spice islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia and contains Africa's highest point—Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano, is snowcapped even though it is near the Equator. The African population consists of more than 120 ethnic groups," said Amy, reading a book about Tanzania. "Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of the locations of the batteries. And the Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti are the other locations of the batteries," said Tails. "Did you get a souvenir from Ethiopia, Tikal," said Cream. "Yep. I got a cute hand-made basket." "My calculations state that the battery is on top Mt. Kilimanjaro," said Tails. "There's the mountain now," said Sonic, borrows Amy's camera to take a picture. "Oh, shoot. The plane is low on gas. Sorry, guys. But we're going to hike our way to the top." When they landed, Tikal takes out 6 pairs of boots and said, "hike time."
While the Team is hiking, Amy said, "Mount Kilimanjaro was first (successfully) climbed by a German geology professor, Hans Meyer, and an Austrian mountaineer, Ludwig Purtscheller, on 6th October 1889. While classed as a mountain, Kilimanjaro is actually made up of three volcanic cones, namely Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo. While dormant, some believe Kibo could erupt again one day in the future, but don't let that put you off – the last major eruption was around 360,000 years ago." "Snow," said Cream, playing in the snow with Cheese. "Good thing, we're wearing snow jackets," said Tikal. "I think there's something wrong with my style. It's too cute," said Tails. "Which is a good thing," said Sonic, giving him a tease nuggie. "Not cool, Sonic. And not in front of Cream too." "After this, the girls and I will bake victory cookies," said Amy. "Will they be chocolate, sugar and red velvet? Because that's the best kinds you make," said Sonic. "Sure thing." "Yes! And sweet." "Found the battery," said Knuckles, sees a 4 ft battery on a 4 ft plug in the snow. The boys worked together; to get them out. Then the girls see Master Zik riding on a robotic mountain lion. "Feel the wrath of Master Zik," said Master Zik, riding towards the Team. "Cream. Use your ears," said Amy. "You got it, Pink Bestie." Tikal loads snowballs into Cream's ears. Cream uses her ears as catapults to throw the snowballs at Master Zik and the robotic mountain lion. "Great thinking, girls," said Tails, disable the battery and plug. When Cream throws a giant snowball, the robotic mountain lion and Master Zik gets stuck in the snowball.
11:11 am in Tanzania (US time: 11:11 pm), Team Sonic are driving on the road. "Our next stop is the Ngorongoro Crater, right," said Amy, reading a guidebook. "That's right," said Tails. "Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera, a cooking pot shaped collapsed volcano, in the world, with crater 259 square kilometers (100 square miles) in the area and with walls 600 meters (1970 feet) in height. It's situated in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, Africa. It is believed that the Ngorongoro Crater volcano was originally taller than, or as high as Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the highest mountains in the world. It's host to approximately 30,000 to 40,000 birds and animals, most notably some stunning pink flamingos and the rare black rhino. It's a salt-water lake by the name of 'Makat' or 'Magadi', and to the east of the crater is a spring named Ngoitokitok Spring. It's also translated into "The Garden of Eden"." "The Legendary Garden of Eden?! Off the hook," said Sonic, amazed. "Sonic, it's a myth," said Knuckles. "Believe in your religion! Or perish!" The other members looked at him with a horrifying look on their faces. "You take your religion too seriously, man," said Tails. "Sorry. But you know me and my religion. I 100% believed in it." "I was hoping the water at the crater would be clean. It would be a dream come true to drink from the Garden of Eden," said Amy. "Ok. We get it. Calm down," said Tikal. "We're here," said Cream, seeing the crater.
When the team goes to the crater, a pack of black rhinos goes over there. "Tikal, this is code orange," said Knuckles. "You want some orange juice?" "No. That's a juicy code orange. Code orange is to translate what the animals say." "Ok." "Thank you. What are they saying?" "They saying, "that they have a horrible situation with an old blue cook." "Master Zik? How did he get here," said Tails. "I'm not fishing again. I don't want an anaconda or some other poisonous snake to pounce on me like that snake at the Omo River," said Sonic. "Ok. Hard way it is," said Tikal, commanding the crater. The crater spits out a 2 ft battery on a 2 ft plug and Master Zik. Knuckles catches the plug and battery and Tails catches Master Zik. "A young child with a genius brain doesn't match," said Master Zik. "How dare you," said Tails, angrily throws Master Zik on the ground. Then a black rhino sits on top of Master Zik. "Thank you," said Tikal. Then a baby black rhino goes to Amy and licks her. "Aw. Aren't you the most adorable thing ever," said Amy, petting it. "Lucky, baby rhino," said Sonic, getting jealousy until the baby rhino starts to lick him too. "You're in luck that I've got a heart for animals." "Our final stop in Tanzania is Serengeti," said Tails. When he sees baby rhinos licks his Team, he said, "come on, guys. There's no time for cuddling with babies." "Please," said Cream, affectionally hugs Tails while fluttering her eyes. He blushed and shyly says, "gee. I don't know." She then gently kissed Tails' cheek. He then smiled with excitement and says, "ok. Maybe for a little bit." "Smooth move, Cream," said Tikal, while Amy giggles. "You know me. No one can resist my cuteness."
3:14 pm in Tanzania (US time: 3:14 am), our heroes are riding on the jeep again and Amy said, "The Serengeti National Park eco-system is the oldest on the planet. It boasts a diversity of flora and fauna that is unavailable anywhere else on the globe. The Maasai people had been grazing their livestock in the open plains of eastern Mara Region, which they named "endless plains", for around 200 years when the first European explorer, Austrian Oscar Baumann, visited the area in 1892. The wild animals, the plants, and waterways are still largely intact as they were one million years ago. Amazingly, the oldest remains of man (2 million years ago) were discovered here by the famous East Africa archaeologist, Dr. Leakey. All three big cats are easily seen. Lions are everywhere, Cheetahs are very common on the southeastern plains, while leopards can often be found lazing in one of the big trees along the Seronera River." "It's like safari. Maybe I can get a leopard skin coat from here," said Tikal. "Not here. Maybe at a gift shop," said Knuckles. "Let's go find that battery and plug," said Tails. "After that, let's find a hotel," said Sonic. "Then it's victory cookie time," said Amy. "Look at that. It's the Great Migration," said Tails, seeing herds of wildebeests. While they passed the jeep, the team sees Master Zik chasing a baby wildebeest carrying a 2 ft battery on a 2 ft plug in its mouth. "The baby wildebeest got the battery. We go to help it," said Cream, holding Cheese in her arms. "I go that covered," said Knuckles, opening his backpack. He takes out a plunger, rope and a crossbow. He then ties the rope on the plunger and puts the plunger in the crossbow. "I got this, Knux," said Tails, taking it and aims at the baby wildebeest. "Ready, aim. Fire, Tails," said Sonic, commanding. When Tails shoots it, the plunger caught the baby. Then Knuckles grabs the end and pulls it towards the jeep. Then Sonic grabs the baby and holds careful in his arms. "Oh, no you don't. I chased that baby far too long. You're coming with me," said Master Zik, going to the jeep. Tails take a bat out of Knuckles' backpack and hit Master Zik with it. The baby spits the battery and plug into Tikal's hands. "Thanks, little guy," said Tikal, petting it. The baby licks Sonic and he said, "Aww! Your welcome. Where's your parents?" Then the team sees two adult wildebeests going to the jeep. "Here you go, little guy," said Sonic, puts the baby down on the ground. The baby cuddles with its parents and leaves. "Goodbye, baby wildebeest," said Cream, waving goodbye with Cheese. "Let's find a hotel and it will victory cookie time," said Amy. "Alright. Sugar, chocolate chips and red velvet cookies here we come," said Sonic.
At Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, it's 3:59 pm in Tanzania (USA time: 3:59 am). Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are outside; enjoying their time. "Boys. The victory cookies are ready," said Amy, placing a bowl of freshly baked chocolate cookies on a table. Cream placed a bowl of fresh baked sugar cookies while Tikal placed the fresh backed red velvet cookies. The boys excitedly eat a few of them and girls smiled to show that they're pleased by the boys' excitement. Then Tails coughed and said, "oops. Ate them too fast." "Here you go," said Cream, giving him a glass of milk. "Thanks." "No problem." "Team. Our next stop in Africa is the state Zambia. And we're in luck. There's only one battery there." "Oh, good. Let's hope this won't involve with water," said Sonic. "Um…." "It involves water, does it?!" "Yes. But we're not going underwater." "Cool. We'll be well-rested when it's time to leave."
Morning has come and it's 10 am at Tanzania (USA time: 10 pm). The Team is waiting for Tikal to come out of the gift shop. "Come on, Tikal. We need to leave before you-know-who gets here," said Amy. "What you think, guys? I got a soapstone carving of a lion," said Tikal, holding it. When Tails sees it, he gets scared and hides behind Cream. "As long as if it's not near me, you can add to you Souvenir Collection," said Tails. "Alright. Let's head to the plane," said Knuckles. "You know…. I wonder what happened to Master Zik," said Sonic. Back at Serengeti, Master Zik wakes up and is surrounded by a pack of leopards. "Aw, crud," said Master Zik, running away while leopards chase him.