Location: Arusha, Tanzania

We shambled down to the breakfast buffet very early to sit with some new friends, Toby and Nick, a German and a Canadian we met last night. An excited energy swirled around our group despite everyone being really tired – today the adventure properly starts! We filed into a cramped little G Adventures van (our tour company), I took my gravol and we were off! I was crossing my fingers not to get massively car sick today, so I snagged a seat as far forward as possible.

My forward seat had the added benefit of a full view of the passing landscape as we left Nairobi. We travelled through rural towns and settlements towards the Tanzanian border, with upbeat Swahili music playing on the radio. The smaller settlements were made primarily of corrugated metal structures along red earthen roads. The further from the city we got the more frequently we saw women and men wearing brightly coloured plaid Shuka cloths, also known as Maasai blankets, which are the traditional clothing of the Maasai people. Many of the women were balancing impressively large baskets or bags on their heads, and men were herding everything from cows, to camels, to donkeys to goats with a beaded stick called a fimbo.

We ended up fully off-roading through the ditch to bypass an awful highway accident that backed the highway up for multiple hours and had double digit fatalities. When I looked it up online later, I read that a similar accident happened last month on the same stretch of highway, and a second one happened this afternoon. Needless to say I was glad when that section of road ended and we arrived at the Tanzanian border.

Before I left home people told me that some borders are chaotic and no bullshit here, so luckily our tour company had prepared us all in advance. It was smooth sailing passing the health check where you basically just have to show a yellow fever vaccine card, then exit Kenya and get your passport stamped for Tanzania! A few more hours driving through the countryside brought us to the city of Arusha, a bustling tourist hub that serves as the jumping off point for a lot of safaris as well as people looking to hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Our trip CEO, Emilian, had arranged for a local guide to take us on a walk through town for a couple of hours which was exactly what my cramped legs needed after a long day of driving. I also do not think it is particularly advisable to walk around by yourself here as a tourist, so it was really nice to have the opportunity to see the town from this angle. Walking around and seeing the world up close is something I have been missing on this trip, so I jumped at the chance. Our guide took us to a busy market, and we dipped into and out of alleyways that brought us by all manner of imaginable goods and services, from fresh veggies to wagons full of mismatched socks. Locals were constantly giving us fist bumps as we passed by, or asking how we were “mambo!” and we’d say we’re cool “poa!”

Finally we ended up back at our hotel, debriefing with Emilian about what the next few days off the grid are going to be like and what we need to prepare. We leave first thing in the morning again and head into the Serengeti National Park! Ever since my parents bought me the Planet Earth movies 19 years ago I have wanted to see the Serengeti with my own two eyes… and tomorrow’s the day.

I am smiling so hard my face hurts.

Sav

P.S. I won’t be able to post from the national park as there is no service, but I will continue writing and will post upon our return in a few days!