Its nearly over, we’re staying at Karatu, about 2-3 hours drive to Arusha Airport, where we leave to fly to Zanzibar (and island but still part of Tanzania – sort of like Tasmania but warmer)

Breakfast is the normal hotel affair plus we pack our own  lunch, keep it simple ehh.

Important Instructions from The Navigator and The Dancer – Stop at a reputable Tanzanite store, where a .97 carat stone is purchased by the Navigator, and the Dancer gets some ear rings.   Tanzanite is a rare blue-violet gemstone belonging to the zoisite mineral family, found exclusively in the Merelani Hills near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. So she had to have one, didn’t she! Now the “family jeweller” Stuart will have to make ring up for her.

We pass by Lake Manyara, a  huge lake about half way to Arusha Airport.

Masai cattlemen, and boys with their mobs by the roadside are everywhere. In their traditional robes, casually walking, with their sticks.

Tanzania Facts

Capital City is Dodoma

Largest city is Dar es Salaam

Tourist capital is Arusha (at the base of Mt Kilamanjaro) they say “Kenya has the view of  Kilamanjaro – but Tanzania has the mountain.

Population is 74 million consisting of 120 tribal groups

It has the largest lion population in the world, and the only tree climbing lions are here as well

Its the largest East African country

Languages are Swahili and English, Swahili is the main language.

The main sport is football (the round ball version), 2nd favourite sport is football, think the 3rd is football.

GDP per person per year is $4400 USD.

It is a safe country, but not for truck drivers. We see 2 trucks overturned on the way.

Our flight to Zanzibar leaves at 3pm, Saidi, our Shadows of Africa driver threads the traffic through the edge of Arusha to the airport.

Entry to the airport is a cluster f…k, a metal detector, bags, shoes jewellery etc all have to through, you check in, then about 20 metres away the same again. The second one wants The Navigator to remove her jewellery, he gets the pursed lips and stink eye look, and backs off, smart man, she’s in no mood for dickheadery.

Inside, the gate area is packed, people going everywhere, I suppose it’s peak time for safari stuff, so not unexpected. Boarding is a walk over the tarmac, flight is ok, but bumpy into Zanzibar.

Then the big issue of the day. 2 bags have not arrived, the Navigator and the Dancer are peeved, no, I’ll rephrase “pissed” is more appropriate. Apparently they left some bags in Arusha, to come later. They register with the airline people, who assures them the bags  will be in tonight.

The driver is waiting for us, its a long drive to our hotel on the other side of the island. The Navigator failed to use the facilities at the airport and the 2 bottles if water she consumed on the flight and before were looking to be released, when the van stopped she bolted for reception to avoid and international ablutions incident, missed a step and came crashing down. 2nd major incident of the day. The staff put a bandaid on her knee then check us in. A younger couple from Trieste in Italy has also had the same thing happen, but the received  zero bags.

Our room is beautiful, right on the beach, outdoor shower as well as indoor. No view of the outside yet as it was dark when we arrived.

Dinner is right on the water, dancers and acrobats performing. The food is ok.

We’ve been on the go for 14 hours, its time for a proper rest and recreation after 3 and bit weeks of hard travel (albeit in luxury accommodation)

Zanzibar Facts

Population 1.8m

95% Muslim

Also known as “,The Spice Islands”

Right near our hotel is Jozani Forest: This nature reserve is the only place in the world where the rare, endangered Kirk’s red colobus monkey lives.

Ciao from Zanzibar

Pauolo