I don’t remember a lot from the journeys further inland, mostly in south-western direction. But a few highlights stand out, just because I have some photographs left. I went to Dodoma once, to visit the Geological Survey and analyse core data from earlier oil exploration wells. The Geological Survey had been relocated already, because Dodoma … Read more
regrets In the 1980s I was much less of an avid traveller then I am now, although even in those days I already had lots of plans that most of my colleagues at work thought were ludicrous. I wanted to cross the Masai region in Northern Tanzania, an area difficult to negotiate, and with very … Read more
There are several islands for the coast of Tanzania. Zanzibar is the best known, and the one that gave the country part of its name, after the link up with Tanganyka, in 1963. More about Zanzibar later. The other two often mentioned are Pemba and Mafia Island; just because of the name I had to … Read more
Lindi Lindi cannot be omitted from this set of memories: it holds the dubious honour of having provided the worst hotel accommodation I have ever slept in, up to then in 1987, and all the years after that – and I have slept in quite a few dubious hotels during my travels. The problem with … Read more
Mikumi National Park Not only Bagamoyo was within driving distance of Dar es Salaam, there were also a couple of easily accessible game parks. The most visited by Dar residents was perhaps Mikumi National Park, at about 4 hours drive over a tarmac road inland, never mind the potholes. We would leave the office early … Read more
fishermen on the beach Just north of Dar es Salaam were a few struggling beach resorts, but drive on another half-an-hour, and you have the most spectacular beaches all for yourself. Well, almost, you may have to share them with the fishermen, who are active near shore, with ramshackle boats and with nets. The beach … Read more
Dar es Salaam Even though Dar es Salaam, at the time (we are talking 1987, here), already counted some 1.5 million inhabitants, you wouldn’t say so, if you wandered through the city centre. Essentially low-rise, either in the form of old colonial architecture or cheap 4-to-5 story apartment buildings, it had mostly a small-town atmosphere, … Read more