Mon 21st…awoke to catch a boda to the bus stand in Arusha for my 06:00 Loliondo bus to Mwanza. We only left about 2 minutes late. Impressive. I had seat no. 2 at the front which I booked the day before.
Before long we were travelling through Maasai country. Then passed the turnoffs to Ngorongoro and Tarangire game parks. Apart from a very short stretch of hills , the majority of the route was flat and boring. However, the soil was obviously very fertile and much evidence of maize planting especially. The one surprise was the miles and miles of paddy fields. There had obviously been a lot of rain and rice production was in full swing.
Well, a very long journey…13 hours in the end, and I only got off the bus once. But somehow time goes by. I didn’t like the idea of arriving in the dark, but escaped the touts and after making enquiries at a couple of hotels, I ended up at JA htl, as recommended by Mark. Choices were 20,000 but no Internet; 85,000 ( dropping to 75,000); or the 35,000 at JA with everything.
The next morning I commented on some of room’s having a sofa, and I was kindly offered an upgrade at the same price. So for the rest of time in Mwanza I’ve been very comfortable…Big bathroom; good TV; sofa which I didn’t use; and a nice balcony.
Basically, I have spent the time getting to know Mwanza…much walking around. Being on the shores of Lake Victoria gives the place a relaxed feeling. There are incredible rock formations…rocks perched/balanced on each other; I must read up on their origins. One exciting thing I did on the 24th was to take the ferry on the just over 2 hour journey to Ukerewe Island. A massive island, but I only had time to spend 2 and a half hours there before heading back. A couple of coffees, a couple of beers then back. Couldn’t go far from the port so not a lot to see. At least I was VIP for a day as I had a first class ticket; I didn’t realise I’d bought a first class ticket…of which there were 20. Comfortable journey.
What else ? Oh, Bismarck rock is the main tourist attraction…only 100mtrs offshore. I went to the Rock City Mall. Relatively new…opened about 5 years ago…doesn’t seem to attract too many customers; still an outdoor market society. I made a few visits to the tourist office for info on various things. For a few days I was complaining about the lack of bars on the water front, then I found 3 smart hotels in a row facing the lake but not where I was expecting. And they are only about 15 minutes walk away. Ryan’s Bay and Tilapia htl are very expensive. Bonasera is smart but affordable; I don’t recall any rooms. My hotel beer costs 2,500tsh and at Bonasera it’s 3,000. Minor, considering the difference in location.
I discovered, a bit late, a great outside eating place just around the corner . Mark had told me about it but somehow it didn’t register where it was. The chicken was really delicious…a tandoori style. The first evening I ate there was on Dad’s birthday, so a good way to celebrate and think of the old man.
Oh, Samaki ( fish) roundabout on town is also mentioned as a sight ! And as if to emphasise the exclusivity of the Tilapia htl, it has an old Saab, a 1958 rolls Royce silver something, and a 1926 Model T Ford parked in its grounds. Have enjoyed Mwanza thoroughly….my first visit to this part of tanzania.
Sun 27th. Am about to check out and go about 10kms out of town so I can be near the bus terminal for an early morning start to Kigoma tomorrow.