Day 62, 63 and 64

 Day 62

Today we are travelling back to Moshi. We are driving to Dar and then flying from here to Kilimanjaro with Air Tanzania.

We are being driven by Kassim who usually works in the company office in Dar. He drove up to Saadani yesterday and stayed at the lodge overnight. Our journey back to Dar will be longer than we had anticipated as one of the rivers we need to cross has flooded so we cannot drive straight down the coast road which would be the shortest way. Instead we have to drive across the National Park and then head inland to cross the river before we can head back to Bagamoyo and continue down the coast road to Dar. Luckily Kassim is driving a Noah which is very comfortable and has air conditioning. Tino is also travelling with us as he is going home for a few days.

So we are up at 4.45am, have some coffee and cake and leave the lodge at 5.45. We are at the park gate at 6 so the first part of our journey is a “night game drive” although we don't have time to stop for any game viewing!! It is a couple of hours before we reach the tarmac road, something we are all pleased to see. The journey all goes smoothly until we are about 40Km from the airport when there is then a marked increase in traffic. Our progress from here on is very slow. There are numerous junctions with frequent traffic lights which lead to long queues. 

At around 11.30 Tino gives us our lunch boxes and suggests we eat in the car as he doesn't think we will have much time at the airport. We eventually arrive at Terminal 2 at about 11.50, 25 minutes before check-in closes so we are fine. However the journey does show how bad the traffic can be in Dar and that you really do need to allow a lot of time for any journeys.

We check in and have time to grab some water and snacks before our flight boards. The terminal is not particularly busy nor is the flight. We wear masks and notice that most people (but not all) are also doing this. The flight departs about 10 minutes late but arrives pretty much on time. The descent into Kilimanjaro is quite bumpy but this always seems to be the case here when arriving in the heat of the day.

By the time we have disembarked our luggage is ready for collection and Robert is waiting for us in the car park. He drives us back to More Than A Drop where we are met by Millie. We have our same room which is nice.

This afternoon we spend some time investigating various flight options to the U.K. and speak to KLM to see if there is any chance they can offer us a flight back to the UK with a sensible connection time in Amsterdam (the current flights they have booked us on give us a 48 hour connection time!!). It seems that the first flight available with a “normal” connection is on the 19th March!! We decide to look at other options and ask them to send us a quote for a refund. We will spend more time on this tomorrow.

This evening we meet up with Robert for dinner at Woodlands Bar before returning to MTAD for an early night.

Today our journey from Saadani to Dar was 285 Km (178 miles) and then a further 45 Km (28 miles) from Kilimanjaro to Moshi. This brings our total distance travelled by road this trip to 4835 Km (3022 miles).

Day 63

Today has been a quiet day. We got up late and had a relaxing breakfast. Robert came over at about 11 for coffee so we could discuss our plans for the next few days. He has had some sad news concerning a friend of his which will mean he will be away for several days next week. This may mean that we delay our departure from Tanzania in order to make sure we don’t leave before he has returned to Moshi. After such a long trip we feel we should say “Goodbye” properly.

After coffee Robert drops us in town so we can get some money, do some shopping and get some lunch. We then walk back to MTAD. By the time we get back we are quite hot so stop for a cold soda on the terrace......and this is pretty much where we stay for the rest of the day.

Day 64

Today we have lovely views of Kilimanjaro as we eat breakfast. I know I have included pictures before but thought I would include a couple more from today.

After breakfast we need to move rooms as Millie has a booking for the bigger room for tonight. We move to the room directly opposite which makes it nice and easy. This room is smaller and so cheaper than the bigger room. I have put a few pictures below for anyone interested in the type of rooms available at MTAD.

For our new room we share a shower and WC with 2 other rooms.

Robert picks us up at about 10am this morning as we are visiting Kaloleni Primary School. This is the final school that we are supporting this year. Today we are loaning them 2 more computers bringing their total to 7 plus 1 printer. Today we are taking Bakari, one of the ACTT technicians with us as the school have reported a problem with the printer.

We are met at the school by the Headteacher, the Deputy Head, the Acadamic Teacher, the Chair of the School Committee and the Ward Education Officer. As always we go through the Loan Contract and update it with the 2 extra computers. We then have a chat with the teachers about how they are using the computers and how they are benefitting the school.

We then move to the school library, where the computers are kept and Bakari and Robert connect up the 2 new computers.

Some Standard 7 children then come in to see the new computers and to say thank you.

The Headteacher, the Ward Education Officer, and the Chair of the School Committee all make short speeches thanking us for supporting the school and explaining how the computers are benefitting the school and the whole community. They then want another group photo outside before we leave.

By now it is lunchtime so we decide to go to Kili Home Bar for lunch - a favourite of ours. 

Lunch is good as always. Robert then drops us back at MTAD where we spend the rest of the afternoon and evening.