Day 12: Dodoma to Singida to Arusha (Tanzania)

Breakfast was tea, bread and margarine, kasava (like sweet potato but more powdery) and peanuts. I did some basic laundry in the bathroom in my room and planned to leave before 9am. Mornings are for relaxing a bit right?

10:00 after chatting with locals from th Christian institute, as well as a muslim gentleman from the National Muslim Council o Tanzania, I am off with advice to go north via a town called Singida. So here goes.

My stop at the roadside mechanic's place.

My roadside mechanic (he really understood the motorcycle very quickly and adjusted my chain as well as sold me petrol (2liters))

12:00 Had to stop at a roadside scooter shop. Needed fuel just in case
12:15 Filled up at Afroil. 12.5 liters, 387km since last tank fill, price 2158 tsh/liter.

I had paid 6000 tsh for 2 liters (from a 2 liter bottle), and I also asked for a chain adjustment, and chain oil. Service charge was 4000 tsh with about 10 assistants, and super quick service.

 The road was good up to Singida. Though dry, the surface was world class. It was hot. Quite hot. But on I went. Singida was a dry town but nice somehow. Singida was west of my destinaion, but Ahmed in Dodoma had advised me the road was good. When I got to Singida I filled up and drove eastwards to Arusha. The road was well tarred, scenic, but speed bumps (sleeping policemen) as they are known here slowed me to 30km/h.

Baobabs at sunset

Ancient transport being used in 2013

Leaving Singida I came across a rope being pulled across the road. The guy was well spoken. He Asked if I had insurance, I did. Ge wanted to see. He was ok, but his friend with the AK 47 had a nicer smile. After checking each letter on my insurance ty asked for money, I said they can come with me and get drinks tomorrow (today), because its my birthday (said I, indicating my date of birth. I eventually bored them and they said... Ok you can go.

After passing 3 more towns where old men guarded the strings I coined the phrase, 'ATM culture'. Allowed, (to) Take, (your) Money. They see a tourist, and want money. These are a minority of people, but it happens. Fortunately the next 3 ATMs were too late to stop me because they never noticed I wasa tourist till too late. Remember, there are lots of piki-piki (motorcycle taxis), so they must have thought I was one, until too late.

On the way: Iringa to Dodoma

Now, with 70km to go I was happy I would get to Arusha soon. Then, it happened........ 'Diversion Ahead'.... Noooooooooo. The diversion means you ride in a 4*4 trail next to the road under construction.
Now, for those of you who love 4*4 trails, this is it. Bumps, grooves, corrugations, ups, downs, unexpected dips, drops, sand, loose stones, everything, everything. Share that with trucks, buses, taxis, and the dust, everytime a truck comes 'speeding' past you can't see for further than 5m in front of you till the dust settles. Only 70km of this, and I woud be there.

Chinese-led construction teams in the distance (Tanzania)

Now, imagine doing that in the dark, because as the sun set, this diversion began.

Alog the way I 'cheated' by driving on the new road and got stopped by a construction team. They said I made a huge misake doing this. I said sorry, they said, now, how can we help you...... ATM remember? This meant, give us money because you are in trouble. I played dumb (easy, I've seen it done many times by certain politicians). I then did my best to bore them nd keep them talking till they said, ok go, but go down to the 'diversion'. 2m down a steep embankment and I was back in 4*4 heaven/hell depending how you liked it.

Eventually I got to town and a place called Meserami Snake Farm where the music was playing loudly in the bar. I was worried it might be too loud. But when I got to the bar, a friendly South African lady greeted me, ma Lin, wow. I felt right at home. She even gave me a sleeping bag, remember, I lost mine on the way.....(2 times).

In these parts its about fitting as many people onto a vehicle as possible.

Unfortunatelly I only have pictures on the camera (the ones You see on the blog are from my phone) and will upload them once I'm back home:)