21^st August

Today we leave Zanzibar and headed to Lushoto. At the gate to the Ferry there was a large crowd trying to get through a narrow gate it was total push and shove. We have to be careful in this type of situation as kids are around our feet and generally the locals are smaller than us and someone could get crushed. The disorganisation is typical African. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania but we have to complete some documents to leave at the immigration office.

Back in Dar es Salaam we had to wait for the truck and Dametra showed off her Arabic hand paint.

Dar es Salaam was it usual hectic self and travel was once again more stop than go and it was going to take an hour to get out of town.

These big cities are horrible.

One way to carry your timber.

People living in the cities are worse of than those who live in the country.

Once out of the city we travelled through the usual country towns passing the a number of crashed trucks

We stopped for a break in a remote location and then the kids came out of the bush.

Africans burn scrub continuously and the acrid smoke penetrates everything.

It was a long and gruelling drive up a winding hill in the dark for Nico.

Up early scenery was lovely went through some high gorges where the maize was growing on the side of the hills, must have been very hard to harvest as some of it was nearly vertical. This area of Tanzania is called Usambara Mountains once again cold showers Grrrrr.

22^nd

Next morning is another long drive for Nico as we head down the hills passing farms on the steep hills.

Once we reach the flat lands we pass sisal plantations.

We are back to rough roads and road works.

Time for lunch on the side of the road by a Baobab tree .

Tony took a walk to the toilet and came across this African bee hive hung in a Baobab tree to prevent animals from stealing the honey.

l.

These are the shells of land snails you would get a good feed off of one of these

This bike shop is better than most and it appears that in Tanzania people can afford motorcycles where elsewhere it is walking or bicycles.

.

Another stop to for a break and further discussion on the baobab tree.

We were very lucky to have such a bunch of nice people on the trip and this is just some of them.

Another weigh bridge to pay road tax. During this trip we have had numerous Police and weigh bridge stops.

Playing pool African style.

Motorcycles of 100 to 250cc are the favoured means of transport by the locals.

Bicycles are also used to carry goods.

Can’t think what he’s going to do with this old tyre.

We are now in the area of the Maasai the nomadic tribe who cover a vast area farming goats, sheep and cattle. They wear colourful clothes and decorations and try to live a traditional life style. They are very resilient, independent and their life skills are amazing. They have a number of rituals some of which are hard to get your head around such as the circumcision of males and females. They have a reputation as fearless warriors and cattle rustlers. They wander Lion territory with nothing more than a small spear.

The Maasai women build the houses, the man we spoke to had nine wives so he slept in a different house with a different wife every night. The kids move out when they are fifteen years old and stay in a lodge with others. Males with males and girls with girls.

Across the road a snake museum with a wide range of African snakes and birds, also some other unusual animals.

This handsome fellow.

How about a hug from a snake.

Mt Kilimanjaro was covered in cloud but its smaller sister was clear.

Our accommodation at Karatu Kudu camp was okay but the showers were cold again.