tanzania: the loooong trip back home
after leaving malawi, we were back in tanzania. on our way down to zambia we had rushed through, pulling long days of driving. on the way back we were determined to take it slow and see a little bit more of the country.
but first, a history lesson. tanzania was formed by a merger between 2 states in 1964: tanganyika (the mainland) and zanzibar (the island). tanganyika, apparently, and fittingly was named from 'tanga' (sail) and 'nyika' (wilderness) because it really is huge - you 'sail' into the wilderness. zanzibar, at some point in the future will have to be on this blog because everyone who goes says it is wonderful.
it is difficult to capture in words the vastness of the place. we had endless roads like this - beautiful scenery and empty roads, punctuated only by the occasional white-clad policeman striding into the road with a gloved hand aloft.
there is also great variety within the country - from semi-arid plains, forested highlands, ocean and beach. tanzania also happens to contain the highest (mount kilimanjaro) and lowest (floor of lake tanganyika) points in africa respectively. it also contains the largest inactive volcanic caldera, ngorongoro, which is really something special. when it was a volcano it would have been even more special, because it covers 260 square kilometers.
we were feeling a bit sad since our trip was coming to an end, so tanzania kindly sent us off with a beautiful drive into arusha. everything was perfect - the sky, the road, the temperature. we kept on stopping because i had to take one more picture, quite similar to this blog, in fact...
we drove slow, as though we could stretch out our trip for an extra few hours. but of course, inevitably we got to arusha, the picturesque town nestled at the foot of mount meru. round the famous clock tower in the center of the city and to the missionary home where we were welcomed warmly by steve and karil. they say when they were doing circuit work they were hosted by dad and mom, so i guess we are benefiting from their kindness!
the next morning we drove back into nairobi with an odd mix of feelings: sadness that our epic trip was over, but also elation that we did it! woohooo!! and then finally....'when are we going back?'
but first, a history lesson. tanzania was formed by a merger between 2 states in 1964: tanganyika (the mainland) and zanzibar (the island). tanganyika, apparently, and fittingly was named from 'tanga' (sail) and 'nyika' (wilderness) because it really is huge - you 'sail' into the wilderness. zanzibar, at some point in the future will have to be on this blog because everyone who goes says it is wonderful.
it is difficult to capture in words the vastness of the place. we had endless roads like this - beautiful scenery and empty roads, punctuated only by the occasional white-clad policeman striding into the road with a gloved hand aloft.
there is also great variety within the country - from semi-arid plains, forested highlands, ocean and beach. tanzania also happens to contain the highest (mount kilimanjaro) and lowest (floor of lake tanganyika) points in africa respectively. it also contains the largest inactive volcanic caldera, ngorongoro, which is really something special. when it was a volcano it would have been even more special, because it covers 260 square kilometers.
we were feeling a bit sad since our trip was coming to an end, so tanzania kindly sent us off with a beautiful drive into arusha. everything was perfect - the sky, the road, the temperature. we kept on stopping because i had to take one more picture, quite similar to this blog, in fact...
we drove slow, as though we could stretch out our trip for an extra few hours. but of course, inevitably we got to arusha, the picturesque town nestled at the foot of mount meru. round the famous clock tower in the center of the city and to the missionary home where we were welcomed warmly by steve and karil. they say when they were doing circuit work they were hosted by dad and mom, so i guess we are benefiting from their kindness!
the next morning we drove back into nairobi with an odd mix of feelings: sadness that our epic trip was over, but also elation that we did it! woohooo!! and then finally....'when are we going back?'
