Monthly Archives: October 2012
Huye, Rwanda
Our Rwandan road trip began bright and early this morning as my friend Posh and I hit the road with David, our driver for the week, bound for Nyungwe Forest National Park. Even though I had already traveled on this same road to Cyangugu a couple of days prior, it was a completely different experience … Continue reading
Cyangugu, Rwanda
Getting to Cyangugu wasn't a whole lot of fun. Even though the roads were perfectly paved, my seatmate spent most of the journey throwing up into a paper bag. Plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda, an attempt to limit litter and pollution, but I had one handy so I gave him the plastic ziplock bag … Continue reading
Bujumbura, Burundi
I’ll admit it, I wanted to visit Burundi mostly to check it off my list. I knew very little about this small country other than it had been colonized by the Belgians who played on ethnic divisions between Tutsi and Hutus which resulted in several bloody eras in the nation’s recent history. I arrived in … Continue reading
Goodbye Tanzania
I spent a little over a month in Tanzania. I did a good amount but there were a few places I didn't get to so we'll see what happens in the future. I just know next time I want to take more flights in Tanzania–no more buses!
In transit
It took about six days and several bus rides to travel from Matema in southwest Tanzania to Bujumbura, Burundi. Sorry there aren't many photos to accompany this post but as you read, I'm sure you'll understand why I wasn't snapping pictures. Matema to Mbeya I was planning to get up around 4am in order … Continue reading
Matema
Figuring I'd been in the dusty mountains long enough, I spent a Saturday morning riding three crowded buses and cramped dala dalas before walking for thirty long, hot, sandy minutes to reach a secluded guest house on Matema Beach. I stayed in a simple but comfortable bamboo banda. There was an outdoor shower which … Continue reading
Bridge of God
Tukuyu is just a couple of hours south of Mbeya so I hopped a bus one morning and headed down there where I found a guide to take me to see the Bridge of God. I hadn’t seen any pictures of the bridge beforehand, so I didn’t know what to expect. It is quite a … Continue reading
Ngozi crater lake
I wanted to come to Mbeya because the area is known for its mountains and beaches, so I found a guide and arranged a hike up Ngozi Peak and check out its crater lake. Mbeya doesn’t get a ton of tourists so I had to take the only guide I could find: his name was … Continue reading
Dar to Mbeya: a really crappy bus trip–or–the kindness of strangers
4:45am: alarm goes off 5:30am: in a taxi to Dar Es Salaam's Ubungo bus terminal 5:55am: help a jet lagged and overwhelmed German couple find their bus company 6:05am: buses bolt out of the station like lightning and almost run over a young girl. Passersby chastise the girl 6:15am: find my … Continue reading