Arriving in Arusha, Kim & Zoe just have time to say their goodbyes before they have to be off to catch their flights back home to Egypt. Kim generously hands over all her steristrips to hold my knee together.
Arusha is the African head office for Absolute and this is Dickson’s opportunity to get the truck checked over, any repairs done and the tyres changed before we’re off for Zanzibar. Apart from losing Kim & Zoe, Peter and Jen will be heading back to the UK next morning and we are collecting another 7 people from another truck for the run to Zanzibar. There’s much discussion over the possible change in group dynamics.
We pitch the tents and head for the HOT (yay!) showers before dinner and the disco heralded for the night after our group meal. Unfortunately by the time I get there, there is no hot water left. A power cut half way through means that ANY water, hot or cold would be welcome. The other truck arrives much later than expected as they had had several breakdowns during their game drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater ruining their experience and ensuring they arrive tired, hungry and grumpy to meet us. Exchanges between the 2 groups are limited over dinner and it does not bode well for the future.
After dinner its back to the bar for a few cheeky cocktails, games of pool and the much lauded disco.
It’s not long before we’re all up on the floor and dancing round our handbags (well, motley collection of flipflops, tops, drinks, etc). And it’s not long after that, that the Masai boys decide to join us, jumping, bumping and grinding with us whether we want them to or not.
Next morning, we say goodbye to a grumpy Peter (a hungry Peter is an angry Peter and he didn’t get his breakfast!) and to Jen and welcome aboard our new recruits, 2 American couples, one couple on their honeymoon (Camping on your honeymoon? Camping on your honeymoon with a bunch of strangers???), and Hannah. Only Hannah will be with us as far as Cape Town, the others will leave us in Zanzibar along with 6 of our own crew. In the meantime we have to work out how to get 27 people and all their kit into our already crammed truck. It’s going to get cosy!
It’s a long drive day and the views of the mountains would be spectacular. I’m sure, if it weren’t for the permanent haze obscuring everything. Our hopes of seeing Kilimanjaro on the way are soon dashed. We pass through pretty villages with thatched roofed homes and sisal plantations. It’s a good road but it’s still dark when we arrive at our overnight campsite in Kirogwe. And it’s still dark when we get up to pack away our tents the next morning. I’m sure it’s a lovely place.
Arusha is the African head office for Absolute and this is Dickson’s opportunity to get the truck checked over, any repairs done and the tyres changed before we’re off for Zanzibar. Apart from losing Kim & Zoe, Peter and Jen will be heading back to the UK next morning and we are collecting another 7 people from another truck for the run to Zanzibar. There’s much discussion over the possible change in group dynamics.
We pitch the tents and head for the HOT (yay!) showers before dinner and the disco heralded for the night after our group meal. Unfortunately by the time I get there, there is no hot water left. A power cut half way through means that ANY water, hot or cold would be welcome. The other truck arrives much later than expected as they had had several breakdowns during their game drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater ruining their experience and ensuring they arrive tired, hungry and grumpy to meet us. Exchanges between the 2 groups are limited over dinner and it does not bode well for the future.
After dinner its back to the bar for a few cheeky cocktails, games of pool and the much lauded disco.
It’s not long before we’re all up on the floor and dancing round our handbags (well, motley collection of flipflops, tops, drinks, etc). And it’s not long after that, that the Masai boys decide to join us, jumping, bumping and grinding with us whether we want them to or not.
Next morning, we say goodbye to a grumpy Peter (a hungry Peter is an angry Peter and he didn’t get his breakfast!) and to Jen and welcome aboard our new recruits, 2 American couples, one couple on their honeymoon (Camping on your honeymoon? Camping on your honeymoon with a bunch of strangers???), and Hannah. Only Hannah will be with us as far as Cape Town, the others will leave us in Zanzibar along with 6 of our own crew. In the meantime we have to work out how to get 27 people and all their kit into our already crammed truck. It’s going to get cosy!
It’s a long drive day and the views of the mountains would be spectacular. I’m sure, if it weren’t for the permanent haze obscuring everything. Our hopes of seeing Kilimanjaro on the way are soon dashed. We pass through pretty villages with thatched roofed homes and sisal plantations. It’s a good road but it’s still dark when we arrive at our overnight campsite in Kirogwe. And it’s still dark when we get up to pack away our tents the next morning. I’m sure it’s a lovely place.
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