The River of Mosquitoes

The next morning, we leave for the Tanzanian border. There's a crash on the main road outside of Nairobi. Chaos ensues. Order and queueing are non existent. Our bus was so very close to falling over as we tried to get around the crash. Half of the bus had to go off the road to go forward. It seriously was at a 45° angle at one stage and we were trying to balance it with ourselves. It was a huge relief to be clear of it.

We pass through tiny villages and towns on the way to Tanzania. Rather bizarrely, beauty and hair salons are some of the most frequent types of businesses we see. We pass a donkey car wash. Or perhaps it was a donkey wash for donkeys. It shall remain one of life's mysteries. We arrive at Namanga and cross the border on foot. It's 12.55pm and the African sun is high in the sky and is scorchingly hot. After visas have been issued, we drive towards Mount Longido. We stop for lunch at the base of this rocky mountain. Giant butterflies flutter about. We make our own lunch by chopping up fresh vegetables and putting together sandwiches. The locals are out to see the eating habits of passing Mzungos. The locals are beautifully dressed in colourful ethnic attire.

I would love to have taken more photographs of Africa's people. However, many expect payment for the photos you take. Stories of people not paying and getting spears thrown towards them may just be a legend. I decided not to test the theory too much. Tourists paying locals for photographs apparently encourages begging and an unhealthy dependency. After lunch we hear of traditions from our guide, MJ and how it's not unusual for men in Tanzania to have at least six wives.

Parts of Tanzania are very green. Light green, dark green, yellow and navy. We are greeted by excited waving smiling children in Arusha. We eventually arrive in Mto Wa Mbu. Translated, this means 'The River of Mosquitoes'. We set up camp here at dusk. Leeches, cockroaches and some sort of huge black slow flying insects are abundant here. I try never to harm insects, but when one of those giant black ones is flying towards you with a vengeance, a torch can be used efficiently as a baseball bat. The tent I pitched up with help from fellow travelers was cosy. It rained that night. The next morning, while having a shower, a huge butterfly with large eye patterns on it's wings, remained.