Into Arusha; Day 2 of our Awesome African Adventure.

Having been to Tanzania several times before, we are well versed in the foibles of their immigration process. We had already prepared all of our paperwork long ago, allowing us to speed past all those others wandering aimlessly around, as if souls lost in limbo, having no idea what was required of this laborious and seemingly pointless paperwork exercise. Gotta keep those borders secure! 

After being processed in the usual unhurried way, the queue behind us was already hundreds long. It would take about two hours to clear immigration for those hapless enough to be at the back. We had a similar feeling in Schiphol airport as we sped past all those unfortunates without EU passports (aka the Brexit Brits).

The next few days we are to spend relaxing in Arusha with our friend Ian and his family. Here I am relaxing in front of the laptop typing this blog…

After lunch; an afternoon constitutional around this corner of a suburb of Arusha. The town is rapidly growing with houses scattered all over. 

It has some 6 million souls. Many of them drive  motorbikes (all from China) even to the point of transporting all of their building materials. 

There is plenty of green around here, but building work is going on everywhere and the road system is ‘finally’ being developed. Almost all side roads are dirt tracks of varied quality. Not fun in the rainy season which this year has been worst than most.

Most properties surround themselves with high walls and razor or electric wire. This seems a dubious endeavour as it sends the message “Shop for valuables here!”

Religion, as in many developing countries, is supremely important. We will see more of this tomorrow but here is a prime example of a church’s overpowering presence…

We have been invited to attend next weekend but sadly we will be elsewhere. They could probably do without my corrupting influence anyway.

And so to our first sundowner, here on the outskirts of Arusha. 

Electric cables add to the ambiance.

Tomorrow we head for our first taste of wildlife, Arusha town centre!

Next episode here