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Published: October 23rd 2007
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Sunset.
As we leave the Serengeti. There was still no running water when we returned to the campsite in Arusha. We’d traveled over 800 km in our 4x4’s and two days of thick Tanzanian dust now settled on our skin and clothes. As we left for our new camp in the morning, we were informed that our next stop would not only have those long awaited and much needed showers, but tennis courts and a pool. It was a promise of civilized facilities that would turn out to be somewhat false, or at best distorted.
The day started out with a visit to the Cultural Heritage Building in Arusha, which was followed by round two of our assault on the Cash machines in the city, with us now requiring a mere one million shillings only.
We were then back on the road, and it wasn’t long before we were driving around the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to low cloud, we unfortunately couldn’t see the summit and I turned to Sam and gave her a knowing look. On our original itinerary we’d planned to start our year away by attempting the hike to the top of Kili. We soon realized however that this would involve months of
Our 4x4 transport.
It took hellava beating, much like my head on the roof inside!! training, and with the possibility of extreme cold, a completely separate packing list. We decided to shelve the idea for another time, and right now we had no regrets, it had been the right decision.
Just before we stopped for dinner we went through a heavy shower followed by what we thought was another downpour before we realized it was swarms of termites hitting the front of the truck. Once through the rain, (and insects) we stopped for lunch.
The rest of the journey was fairly uneventful before we turned onto the dirt track that would lead to our envisaged five star accommodation with it’s tennis courts and pool. The reality was of course very different.
We passed through a village which looked to contain the cast of Africa’s version of the film Deliverance and they offered nothing more than stares as we passed them. It was a little more worrying when we realized that our new campsite also had armed guards, although we were told that these were part of a Tanzanian regiment also staying at the site. Our five star accommodation turned out to be little more than some ram shackled old dormitories which you could stay in
Another stop.
Flat.................but only at the bottom. at extra cost. We decided to stick with our tent. If we weren’t in such need of one, the showers would have also been very disappointing. There was electricity to run the showers but this didn’t extend to the lights so anyone who showered slightly later did so in the dark. Furthermore there was no way to lock the doors to ensure privacy, and I was joined by another member of the group albeit very briefly once she realized her mistake.
The campsite was located at the base of a small tropical mountain range and it was so humid and sticky the cool showers albeit dark were a blessing. However, the tennis courts wouldn’t be seeing much action in this heat other than from the weeds that were threatening to take over centre court. After dark the pool was a popular place to be………………………….if you were amongst the several species of frog that inhabited the area, and had congregated for a nights skinny dipping.
After dinner we chatted with Jo and Dennis, and agreed how disorganized the tour seemed to be. We’d all really enjoyed the game drives, but every other aspect from campsites to equipment seemed to be really
Palms.
Moving from the Plains to the Tropics. poor. We also felt that due to this being Lisa’s first time as a tour guide she wasn’t to blame and was probably encountering these problems for the first time also.
The rain started again at night, forcing us to put our waterproof cover over our tents before turning in. This propelled an already sticky night into a very uncomfortable one as we effectively turned our tent into a large polythene bag with no air movement via the now covered vents. By the time morning came the inside of the tent was as wet as the outside with condensation.
Our ability to erect and dismantle our tent was improving all the time, and we timed ourselves on the fifth morning, taking only two minutes and thirty seconds to be fully packed away. Fairly impressive if we do say ourselves.
Back on the road early this morning around 06:45 hours, following a breakfast of bananas spread on toast. We had approximately 350km to cover before reaching Dar es Salaam, and traveling at an average speed of 50km/h would mean a good few hours in the truck.
An hour or two had seen us pass several small villages and plantations before entering
Me and my camping mug.
You're right Joe, no campsite is complete without it!! a place called Mombo. It was here where we were greeted by a very bizarre sight. There in a compound surrounded by a white wall was The Liverpool Restaurant!? I’m fully aware of how The Red’s success have, like all the big European clubs made them popular in all corners of the world, but it didn’t stop me rubbing my eyes in disbelief. It just seemed so completely out of place with its full LFC crest painted on the white wall at the entrance, and as a big Liverpool fan myself, it brought a smile to my face.
Our last campsite was completely different from the night before. The sun was out, and as we erected our tent on the beach we knew the nights sea breeze and the soft sand beneath would provide us with optimum camping comfort for our last night in the confines of canvas. We shared a few civilianized gin and tonics at a pleasantly positioned bar right on the beach before retiring. It was our last night with the group and we were looking forward to going out on our own knowing that we could organize ourselves and our time so much better than Africa
Our Tent.
The last night in our tent. Right on the beach. Travel co. had done. All we had to do was board the ferry in the morning with everyone else and then we would be free once we arrived on the island of Zanzibar. We’d already booked our accommodation on the spice island before leaving England, and after early mornings, crude washing facilities, dirty clothes and simplistic food, we were now looking forward to a bit of luxury.
Although disorganized, we still considered the first part of our journey to have been (excuse the pun) a roaring success. The magnificent animals we’d seen on the safari’s had been amazing in themselves, but to have seen those animals in such stunning surroundings as the vast Serengeti and the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater had been the icing on the cake. Soon we’ll be out on our own without a guide or chaperone to see us through border crossings, and although there will be occasions we’ll seek and be in the responsible hands of others in order to experience certain things, but it wouldn’t be for this long again until we reached Oklahoma USA in mid May ’08, but that’ll be another blog……………
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ali marshall
non-member comment
camping
hi you 2 . well sounds like you are already having a ball. the camping seems a little different to Arandel although sitings of the beast are the same !!!!!!!!! looked at your pics and they all look fab so carry on with the same and keep us updated . not missing anything here same old same old . gina was seven last wednesday thats about all . have fun ali