Spice up your life!!!

Since I last wrote we left behind the lake (still think it looks more like the ocean) and made our way to coffee country: Tanzania. Our first night was spent just outside the small town of Iringa and we were all pleased with the cooler weather and subsequent good night sleep thanks to the 2200m altitude. The following day saw us up at 4 to prepare breakfast for 5 and leave (1/2 hour earlier than planned) at 5.30. To Dar Es Salaam. The House of Peace. Now to those of you who have ever visited ‘Dar’ you’ll know that calling it The House of Peace is some what misleading. Apparently New York is the city that never sleeps, well if that’s true then Dar is a very close second. The house of noise, of the house of traffic and at various points through out the year the house of serious unforgiving humidity would be a closer fit but House of Peace it is. But what ever your opinion of the city, the electricity you fell whilst there is undeniable. We set up camp on the beach at Mikardi Beach Camp and organized our selves for the following day. The day that every one has been waiting for….ZANZIBAR! Another early morning topped off with negotiating the streets of the city and we were on the ferry to Stone Town. All though we no longer had to weave the streets of Dar we now had to worm through the ally ways of Stone Town which just invite you to get lost…Great fun though!!!! Stone Town, home of all things spicy, the old slave trade and the worlds shortest war – the Anglo Zanzibar war which lasted exactly 38 minutes. Everyone spent the day on a spice tour, visiting one of the many spice plantations in the area and then visiting the old slave market and museum. Thankfully back in time for sundowners on the balcony of Africa House looking over the crystal Indian Ocean, then onto the night market for a serious feed. With Stone Town now behind us we head up to Kendwa beach where we stay at the amazing Sunset Bungalows for 2 nights. The 2 days spent here were taken up mainly by lying on the beach ……Wonderful!!!

After our 3 nights were over (all too soon) we headed back to The House of (apparent) Peace for one more night before starting our 2 day journey to Arusha, the path to the breath taking endless plain….The Serengeti!