Bus trip to Mbeya

After a delightful Sunday evening we packed and prepared for an early start - the bus to Mbeya departed at 6.15 am. We made it with ease (the bus station was only about five minutes away) and so began a day's journey into new territory - for us at least.

We eased our way past the streets of Dar before a few stops on the way out of the suburbs to collect additional passengers. From our exalted vantage point we could see that the morning traffic in Dar replicates that of many other cities - streams of cars and buses lined up at intersections and traffic lights.

The terrain changed as we moved through the foothills and up to the plains. Along the way the various towns and their 'retail areas' could be seen lining the road.

One of the highlights of the trip was Mikumi National Park. The road to Mbeya is the main highway to Zambia and Malawi. The port of Dar Es Salaam is important to them, and the highway is busy with many trucks going east and west. And the highway goes through the national park - BONUS!On one occasion the driver stopped and backed up a few hundred meters so we could catch a glimpse of a couple of lions about 50 metres from the road. There was another stop for some giraffes near the road, but the elephant and impala did not warrant a break in our journey.

There were a few more stops along the way. We could either get off the bus and make our purchases, or buy choose from the range of goods offered to us. Phone vouchers, pears, eggs (hardboiled), bread, biscuits, sodas, cooked maize were all available.

It was close to 8pm when we arrived at Mbeya - and our stop was Soweto. My Swahili is negligible, and we were not sure whether we had communicated correctly to those in charge. I though we had, and when I saw a mzungu (white person) waiting at the side of the road I knew we were at the right place.

A few minutes later we were at Shukrani College, and had settled our gear into Karibuni House, our home for the next two months.

Flight to Africa

A very early morning start was required, and we left Faye and Bill's (where we stayed overnight) before 5 a.m. We did not get off to a good start. Beth locked the house, only to discover that she had brought out our computer rather than her small backpack. Bill was no doubt delighted to be woken up and let Beth back in to do the necessary exchange. Not a good start.

Arriving at the airport three hours before our flight we discovered the first leg was domestic, so we didn't have to be there so early. This, despite the fact that I had checked on the net. Clearly I needed to look more carefully. Oops.

We checked out bags, and concerned was raised that we would not make the international terminal in Sydney on time, so we were bumped up to an earlier flight at 7.00am. Good thing I stuffed up in the first place. Maybe someone else knows best.

Meanwhile Sarah was waiting for us for breakfast at MacDonald's - in the Macca's outside the airport complex. Duh!

Eventually we met up IN the terminal and had breakfast with Chez, Sez and Paul. Kylie had work, so we understand why she didn't make the trip to Tulla to see us off.

The morning for us had its challenges, but in the background (and sometimes the foreground) of our conversation was the bushfires. The tragedy of these days just seems to increase, and as we were fleeing Melbourne others were still being warned to prepare to flee their homes. As we talked over breakfast the death toll was in the 80's. As we waited at the Sydney terminal numbers were over one hundred, and we awoke this morning in Johannesburg to hear of 173 dead, with more expected. Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved - those who have lost loved ones - children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives and parents. As we left the country it was all a little surreal. We in our comfort heading off, others going about the business of their lives, while thousands are engaged in fighting these fires and others in battling for their lives.

Our flight was long but uneventful - and a 3.30 pm arrival in Johannesburg was after midnight Melbourne time. It was a long day, and we were glad to find our accommodation, stretch out a little and actually be able to get some sleep.

This morning we awoke to a pleasant 20 degrees or so at the Emerald Guest House in Johannesburg, have enjoyed a freshly cooked breakfast and are ready for the next step in our journey to Dar Es Salaam.

Of Grass and Elephants

"When elephants fight, the grass suffers...
when elephants make love, the grass suffers."
Swahili proverb

In preparation for our visit to Africa I have been reading a couple of books about the continent, and some Wilbur Smith novels set in Africa. The above proverb was quoted by Giles Bolton ("Aid and Other Dirty Business" Random House 2008, 212). Giles Bolton worked for the British Department for International Development(DFID) and writes in an interesting and readable manner. He cites the proverb in a chapter on trade. You don't have to be a Rhodes scholar to figure which nations are elephants, and which are grass!

What to see in Africa?

Our African destinations are determined - Tanzania and Zambia, and we have some idea of what we will be doing for some of the time. But having got to Africa we have to opportunity to visit other places on that amazing continent.

The island of Zanzibar and Victoria Falls are two places that have been suggested, and we would not want to miss the wildlife.
What else should we make sure we experience while in Africa? Any ideas?