Day 12: Senga Bay - Mbeya
Up again at 4:30 am, the team was faced with their first challenge for the day, trying to pay the bill. After giving up the night before, we had assumed that some sense would have come to the hotel staff during the night. However this did not happen and eventually after a lot of explaining and a few stern words we eventually got everything settled. Then it was off down the road for about 150km till our first fuel stop of the day. Here we all filled up the tanks and tucked into our packed breakfasts. This morning we were also reminded how bad the poverty is in Africa. After discarding what was left from our packed breakfasts we witnessed three orphaned children dash for the rubbish bin, hoping to find something to break their hunger. Deeply moved by this, the team went into the petrol station convenience store to purchase some biscuits for these poor children. After the tanks were full, we departed a little heavy hearted, heading north along the west bank of Lake Malawi. On our drive along the west bank, we entered some mountainous country and having got used to the bikes, we all delighted in taking turn after turn with ever increasing speed, stopping occasionally to let the adrenaline subside and treat ourselves to some spectacular views. We arrived in Karonga, the place we had planned to stop for the day, at around 2pm and after a quick assessment of the accommodation and on learning that there was no running water, we decided to extend our trip for the day over the border into Tanzania, to the town of Mbeya. It took us about 40 minutes to reach the border crossing from Karonga and on arriving we were educated on some of the finer workings of the Tanzanian Border Post. Paul, being the person in charge of monetary transactions for the trip went off to go convert, on black market, some dollars into shillings, the local Tanzanian currency. Paul managed to pick a real con artist and after the con man refused to give Paul the arranged exchange rate, he tried to short change Paul when giving back the dollars. Rob tried to step in and sort out the situation, however eventually Paul called the Border police to sort out the situation. Only in Africa do you call the police to sort out a black market deal that has gone bad! Once we had correctly changed some currency and had got all the passports stamped, we were off through the mountainous, tea plantations of Tanzania. We finally arrived in the town of Mbeya, just as the sun was setting and after a few wrong turns we arrived at the Karubuni Camping Lodge.
Mark giving some biscuits to three local orphans.
Stopping on the side of a mountain pass.
The Team
Les, Rob, Grant, Mark and Craig
Les, Rob, Paul, Mark and Craig
A spectacular view.
Another spectacular view.
COMMENTS
ENJOY YOUR TRIP MARK-STILL REMEMBER THAT TON YOU GOT AT BLYVOOR-GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS-CARBS
by PETER CARBUTT on June 09 2009, 08:18
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No photo's of day 12???
by Marilyn on June 09 2009, 11:27
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Hey Rob, Enjoy your trip and travel safe. Look forward to the stories around a braai fire when you get back!
Love from Lynette (he really is my brother), Doug and Tamlyn
by Lynette Black on June 09 2009, 13:51
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It looks as if you are eating the miles - and enjoying the view! We look forward to your next update. With love from David, Gladys, Melanie
by David Esterhuizen on June 10 2009, 04:28
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I always enjoy reading the excellent report back and the pics. Well written.Thank you for sharing this with the people that care! Take good care.
by Annette on June 10 2009, 16:10
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Sorry I jumped the gun earlier - the photo's are wonderful - we just get anxious waiting for your updates!! Hope you have all rested well on the island - and you have enjoyed all being together with the girlz!!! Look forward with anticipation to the . .more
by Marilyn on June 10 2009, 16:20
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