Day 189… Wednesday 27th September Usual campsite companions – friendly cats, German shepherds, and vervet monkeys.  Very close encounter with a monkey in the tree above trying to take aim and pee into my morning cup of coffee.  Not impressed but it could have been far worse 😊 Took a half hour taxi ride to...Read More

Day 188… Tuesday 26th September Another border crossing today – only 4 more to go after this one!  First stop the garage again. The one stop border crossing from Tanzania into Kenya was a delight and one of the most efficient with friendly staff and no queues.  All under one hour with health check/immigration/customs out...Read More

Days 186 and 187… Sunday 24th and Monday 25th September The journey heading west into Arusha was very slow due to may slow moving lorries and difficulty overtaking them.  Local traffic choose to drive at the on-coming traffic and move in at the very last moment.  Witnessed a couple of near misses.  Arushas has hugely...Read More

Day 185… Saturday 23rd September Heading north towards Arusha, northern Tanzania.  Slow moving lorries but no police stops.  The police are easy to spot in their smart white uniforms.  They stop lorries but simply wave us on.  A shorter 4 hour drive today.  Greener flatter landscape surrounded by mountains.  Crazy bus and coach drivers travelling...Read More

Day 184… Friday 22nd September Usual city traffic craziness but heading out of the city was ok. Tuk Tuks (Bajaji in Swahili) is a popular mode of transport.  Drove to Lushoto further north.  One police stop today with a request to see the driving licence.  Apart from the police officer with a dubious claim of speeding,...Read More

Days 180 – 183… Monday to Thursday 18th to 21st September Headed south to Dar es Salaam to catch up with our neighbour Mark who lives a few doors down from us in Canterbury.  He lives and works in Dar for most the year but was jumping on a plane that evening to the UK...Read More

Day 179… Sunday 17th September Drove to Bagamoyo on the coast.  Had an encounter with a police officer about speeding.  Bagamoyo is an historic German East African trading port in the 18th century with fascinating architecture.  Camped in the beautiful treed gardens of Travellers Lodge.  High humidity and many mosquitoes – bites galore. Allen’s perspective…...Read More

Days 176 – 178… Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th September Most fuel stations only accept cash but the one we stopped at had a card machine which worked after a while.  Mobile money transfers are the most popular form of payment.  The manager (a Chelsea supporter) took a little while to get the car machine...Read More

Day 175… Wednesday 13th September At the border crossing into Tanzania and after explaining the situation to the immigration officer, he said he could process my visa in 4 minutes if I paid 100 US dollars in cash.  No choice and no refund offered on a visa rejection.  Infuriating! Exchanged Malawian kwacha into Tanzanian Shillings. ...Read More

Days 173 – 174… Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th September Tanzania E-visa has been denied but Allen’s has been approved. Followed up with a request as to the reason why but not expecting any response.  The plan is to try my luck at the border. Allen’s perspective… Over the last few years a number of...Read More