Africa: Mufindi to Dar es Salaam
Up at 6:30 a.m. again. We are hoping to get an early start for the long journey back to Dar es Salaam. There are low clouds and mist everywhere, so we will have to skip a scheduled detour to look at the Rift Valley. It is a disappointment, as it would have been great to get some shots of the 2000 ft escarpment and the valley stretching away far below.
This spider was hanging around on the outside of the main lodge. It’s body was a good inch and a half long.
We have Maina driving at the start of the journey. This makes us all a little more relaxed.
Seemingly endless kilometers of dirt road.
This guy had more hustle than anyone I have ever seen. He was running from car to car providing full service. I think he bit off a little more than he had anticipated with us, as our truck was filthy with loads of road grit.
Seemingly endless kilometers of tarmac.
Following are typical roadside scenes from Iringa to Mikumi
Sugarcane salesmen.
Basket factory.
The local crackhouse. (Note the large crack running down the near wall.)
We stop to check out the snake farm in Mikumi. It is a little frightening. Behind rather insubstantial looking enclosures are some of the most deadly snakes in the world.
Nile Crocodiles.
This is my lunch (Chantal’s fist for scale.) Maina and Mwanga were convinced that I would be needing a nap after eating that much ugali, the white blob. Mwanga was ready to wager my laptop that I would be asleep shortly. He was unwilling to put up his PD150 camera if I did not need a nap, so the bet was off. Needless to say, I didn’t need a nap.
Mothers transport their youngsters on their backs. I have yet to see the logistics involved with twins.
The Wu Tang’s World Domination has even reached Morogoro.
We get back into Dar es Salaam a little after dark. Some realtives from South Africa are visiting, so we have to shift our quarters to Hanif’s mother’s house. First we swing by the office to get our internet fix. We are all convinced that Hanif should switch careers and become a tour operator. The South African relatives own a PR firm. We all sit down to a huge family meal at Shafiq’s house.