Mbamba Bay
Fri 4th Apr
I took it easy. Breakfast after 07:30. I got a boda to the Mbamba stage, arriving after 08:00. I paid my 12,000 (£4) and at 09:00 we departed. Just before 11:00 we arrived in Mbinga. Unfortunately it wasn’t until nearly an hour later that we left Mbinga. At least I had good company in the form of 2 young ladies. They gave me a chocolate biscuit and a slice of cucumber. We were taking pics and videos between us.
It was 2 hours to Mbamba but it should’ve been much less. We went very slowly initially waiting for someone on a boda to catch up, but they never did. But a nice leg of the journey due to the interesting hills and windy roads.
From the bus stand I went to Grand View guest house (where I stayed last year) and got a room for 15,000 but told it was only for one night as all the rooms were booked for the weekend. A senior politician was arriving in town with his entourage; exactly the same happened to me last year..Grrr!!
From there I went to Bagamoyo Camping, only to find it’s closed down and they’ve relocated to the overland campsite they set up about 2 kms up the road. I hopped on a boda to take me there. Kulu’s sister Nouru was there and I had a coffee in the beautiful surroundings of the lakeshore.
From there I walked all the way back. It was time to find a room for Saturday. All the guesthouses were fully booked. I stopped by Zambia pub to contemplate the fact that I could get a room for only 6,000, but it would be awful.
I was invited to join a group of men who turned out to be quite senior local ‘politicians’. The vice chair, the chairman etc etc. After a couple of drinks and a good chat, I went around the back of the Zambia and indeed there were rooms available. I made the payment in advance of 12,000 (less than 4Gbp) to claim a room.
I went next door to London Pub, which was partly flooded last year from rising lake water levels. I stayed longer than planned because it started to rain quite heavily and it lasted over an hour. During that time I ate a small packet of cashews, and that was my lunch/dinner for the day.
My room was only 5 minutes walk away.
Sat 5th Apr
I had a comfortable nights sleep, although I woke up a bit early. The shower worked, but the output was on the side of a drizzle. I packed my rucksack ready to leave after breakfast. Breakfast was very basic…black tea and a cross between mandazi and cake (3 of them).
I was in no hurry; I didn’t want to get to Zambia pub too early. As it was I probably waited 20 minutes until my room was cleaned and the bed made. Oh, when I first arrived the young lady had some money to return to me and I thought she was going to say the room was no longer available. But no, her boss said she overcharged me for the room and she refunded me 2,000. So the room only cost me 10,000Tsh, or 3Gbp.
I messaged Kulu…Bagamoyo Camping. Today was when the Political rally really hit town. Lots of people in the appropriate green colour of the CCM wandering around. Piki pikis making lots of noise. I lingered over a tea somewhere, observing..
I changed 30,000 into smaller notes at the bank.
I walked around observing the difference due to the tarmacking of more streets in Mbamba Bay….no more walking in mud during the rains. I bought a water.
Before 14:30 I was at Weather pub and persuaded them to put on the 14:30 English PL match..Everton vs Arsenal draw.
From there I went to London Pub and persuaded them to put on a 5pm match. They showed West Ham vs Bournemouth..which was fine. I had 2 beers there and bought a Valeur for later. I went from there to Zambia, where I spoke to Edgar then bought myself a beer. Mr Kikasse was there…vice chair of whatever…and over a chat he bought me 2 boiled eggs. First time ever to have street vendor eggs. Superb…chilli and salt. Seen them so often but never bought one.
I said goodnight and retired to my room. I said to the young lady, Rita, that if I slept well I would stay the next night as well.
Sun 6th Apr.
As it turned out, I did sleep very well. Despite there being no sink, no shower, no sit down toilet…but the bed was comfortable and the fan was good. I flinched the first time as the jug of water from the bucket was poured over me, but I soon got used to it.
I refilled from a big container outside as the tap in the bathroom didn’t work. I gave Rita 10,000 for my second day in the room. I went to a hoteli at the bus stand for a milk tea. Back briefly to my room where I had left a phone on charge.
At the roundabout I flagged down a boda who took me to Bio Camp for 3,000Tsh..just under £1..at a distance of about 7kms. At least it was a sunny morning and I lay on the beach for over an hour.
As there was hardly anyone around and with the quite steep bank of sand providing protection, and I didn’t want to be walking in wet shorts…I ditched the shorts and had a very enjoyable swim in the nude. With what happened in Matema in mind, I kept an eye on the waves.
After a little while I went to the 2 storey ‘tree house’ seating area with its nice views of the beach and the Bay. I ordered a coffee for 3,000. When it came I was told they were out of milk…that was fine. When it came to paying, on my way out, the guy had no change from my 4,000 so the coffee only cost me 2,000Tsh.
I walked to the main road and gently started in the direction of Mbamba Bay town. Soon a boda came along, but he stopped a bit further on by a lady who also wanted a ride. Anyway, we were able to share, and the ride back only cost me 2,000.
At the bus stand I bought my 12,000 ticket for the next day. I was feeling hungry and I’d promised myself I’d buy a proper piece of fish. Well, for 4,000 (£1.20), I got what for me was a huge chunk/slab/steak and I was struggling to finish it. The lady opposite had a large portion of rice with hers as well…no way. The fish was superb, with lots of lemon and chilli.
I went to my room and prepared lots of blogging. I walked a little way along the lakeshore, partly to get a close up look at the moored ferry. I confirmed that it was for vehicles & goods and not passengers.
I went to London Pub to ask if they were showing the 4pm football matches, but I got blank stares and the main man wasn’t around, so I went to Weather pub to watch the football. I went back to London for the 6:30pm match, but still nothing doing. I watched the first half at Weather, but then got tired of football and went back to Zambia.
I had a nice chat with an old boy and bought him a small bottle of something called ‘wine’ @ 16%proof. Then I went to my room.
I love Mbamba Bay as it’s prettier than Lindi, with the hills coming down to the lake, but Lindi does have a bay and it’s more fun.