Back in Karen Camp, newbbies on the truck and Tanzania

Apologies I'm trying to catch-up, I haven't been online for weeks...

One thing I forgot to mention in a previous post was while in Uganda we visited an orphanage near Kabale where the crew sponsor a number of kids through school and give old clothes, sleeping bags etc that passengers leave on the truck.  The guy and a neighbour who run the orphange gave up their houses to take in the kids and look after them.  A lovely little place with beautiful views of the lake and islands.

After crossing the lake in a long boat and trekking up what seemed to be the biggest hill ever we arrived and found the kids ready and waiting to sing and dance for us.  It was fab, lots of dancing and participation form us lot as well.  Everyone really enjoyed it.

After a spot of lunch they kindly prepared, we continued to the top of the hill to see the spectacular view of the lake and islands before heading back down to the boat.  Luckily noone’s built some kind of holiday bungalows/hotel there and spoilt the place.  They could prob charge a small fortune for that view.  Stunning.

As we jumped on the boat or in some cases nervously stepped then fell into a heap and started to head out onto the lake, someone shouted, ‘Where’s Chris and Sade?’.  Not on the boat obviously...so much for checking to make sure your tent buddy hasn’t been left behind and that everyone is present.  We started to head back and saw them strolling down the hill as if they had all the time in the world.  Then they realised we had started off without them and it was quite funny to see their expressions and arm waving.  Luckily we hadn’t travelled too far across the lake and it didn’t take long to pick them up and a worrying amount of locals all crammed onto the boat.  I’m surprised it didn’t sink.

After dropping off the locals we continued a little way to a camp where we could have a drink and swim, some even braved the precarious climb up a tree and jump from a platform about 15m above the water.  The water was a bit cold to start but nice to wash off the dust and dirt that always seems to accumulate within seconds.

Before leaving Kabale we all donated money for the orphange and raised around $1200 between us.  Fantastic!

Surprisingly it was quite nice to be back at Karen Camp, prob more to the fact that I wasn’t camping and a short taxi ride brings you to a decent supermarket and internet cafe.  A few of the girls went shopping and bought a few second hand dresses from the market.  Harriet put hers on for dinner until someone mentioned that it probably needed washing and may have fleas.

Two nights were spent in Karen before picking up some newbbies and heading south to Tanzania.  The new guys are great and everyone has been getting along really well.  There are now 20 of us in the back of the truck and not as cramped and awkward as I thought it would be.

There are now three Sams on the truck, Sam E, Sam C and me.  We’re about the same age as well and the oldest of the lot.  Bit weird. Lol

Our first stop in Tanzania was Arusha.  We stayed in Snake Park campsite where it seems most overland trips stop and many people who climb Kilimanjaro.  An interesting place run by Ma and her son for around 18 years.  Crocodile pits and snakes attract a number of locals and foreigners and I was morbidly interested in a green mamba licking two small chicks and trying to eat them.  I felt sorry for the chicks who must have known what was going on and just huddled together shaking but I couldn’t help watching.  I stayed there for about 10 mins until I wondered if the snake would ever get round to be successful in eating them or just lick them to death.  I am wondering whether it was a young snake inexperienced in the art of eating chicks but maybe it does take forever for them to eat even when the meal isn’t running away and only moves it’s head slightly when a snake tries to put it in it’s mouth.

In the morning we visited Lake Mynara and had a bit of a game drive.  The following day we were up at dawn to head to Ngorongoro Crater.  As we drove around the rim of the crater it felt like we were in Jurassic Park or some sort of movie with scentists exploring new territories where in the beginning they are travelling through loads of mist and fog and not able to see further than about 10 metres .  Trees half hidden by mist until we headed down and could see the floor of the crater.  Amazing and very atmospheric.  Luckily no King Kong type creature at the end of it.

The usual animals were seen, antelope, buffalo, lion, jackals, flamingo and hyeena.  Not as spectacular in terms of animals as the Masai Mara but still a great place to be and drive around.  After a few hours and a bite to eat a few of us headed back to camp while the rest went onto bush camp in the Serengeti.

The next day those of us at camp took a local bus into Arusha town.  The small buses are similar to the tro-tros in Ghana and they try and cram as many people in as possible.  A trip around the market, quick stop at the internet cafe then lunch and supermarket.  Alex and I tried to find the Courts where the Rwandan genocide trials are being held and all the info about them but unfortunately we couldn’t find the place and it was Sunday so prob not open anyway.

The bus ride back was interesting.  Poor Alex was stuck in the back right corner, his 6ft 3” body folded in half and head bent to one side to avoid being bashed against the roof at every bump.  The rest of us weren’t too comfy sitting next to him either as the driver and mate managed to pile on 25 people.  Some were standing near the door half bent over seated passengers.  Occasionally the bus would stop to let someone off and amazingly even more people on.

We eventually arrived intact back at camp and had a bit of a lie down before cook group and the others turned up.  Also time to pick up our much needed laundry.

The following day we had a few hours to spare in Arusha before heading down to Dar Es Salaam stopping over at a very small campsite in a village on the way.   The evening’s enterntainment being a group of local men and women singing, dancing and playing various musical instruments.  Very enjoyable.  An early night and early start to get to Dar Es Salaam and the beach camp where we’d leave the truck and head over to Zanzibar.

Bloody insect bites!!

Ttfn

Sam xxx