My vacation started in Tanga where I went to visit some friends from university at their home. Tanga is north of Dar-es-Salaam, and one of Tanzania's largest cities (after Dar), but Tanga is much different from Dar especially in transportation and greenery. In Tanga many people use bicycles to get around where it's not very common in Dar. Tanga is absolutely beautiful and the vegetation is much more lush and green than can be found in Dar. In Tanga I spent a wonderful day at the beach with my friends.
From Tanga we traveled to Mombasa Kenya, another coastal town. Crossing the border between Tanzanian and Kenya proved to be very difficult for me and full of corruption. Because I am a student at the University of Dar es Salaam, I am a resident of Tanzania and therefore I am also a resident of the East African Community due to the East African Common Market. I have a valid residence permit which due to the common market should allow for free movement of peoples all of East Africa, however; when I got to the border they told me my residency isn't actually valid until I leave East Africa and return, so apparently I won't actually be a resident until I go back home. So I managed to pay as a US citizen and then some. While in Mombasa I didn't do or see much of Mombasa. I stayed in my little banda on the beach and had a few nice relaxing days. So it was very nice. Once again I noticed the transportation differences, I think I just like to notice that most. But in Mombasa they also use what Tanzanians call Bajajis but instead they call them Tuk-Tuks and they actaully follow the rules of the road and stay in traffic! This is very weird to me now because I like taking bajajis knowing that I can take the backways and off road and avoid traffic.
Afterwards we left for Nairobi. Nairobi was really cool, I got to see baby elephants and pet (and kiss) giraffes! We also went on a safari in Nairobi which is cheaper than doing on in Tanzanian because they have what is called resident prices for people like me living in East Africa but aren't citizens while Tanzania doesn't have that =( . The only complaints I have about Nairobi is that is is very cold in comparison to Dar and for me ahha also it is pretty expensive in comparison as well. A major difference between Kenya and Tanzania that I noticed was the language. Both Kenya and Tanzania has its national language as Swahili, but the Swahili is very different, much like the difference between British English and American English - completely the same yet totally different. Also there is no denying that Nairobi is more developed than Dar es Salaam and resembles more closely any city found in America.
From Nairobi I went to Mwanza, TZ and had the WORST bus experience ever! It was scheduled to leave Nairobi at 930 at night but didn't even arrive until 4am! Then we spent even more time waiting and changing buses and we got into an accident on the way there and had to change buses again. We were meant to arrive in Mwanza at 10am but instead didn't arrive until around 6pm. But once we got into Mwanza it was wonderful! Mwanza is also one of Tanzania's largest cities and is located in the north-east by Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior. Mwanza is one of my favorite places now and it is so beautiful! I was also able to stay at a REALLY nice hotel for very cheap so overall my experience in Mwanza was great. Mwanza is beautiful and quiet and not many people yelled mzungu at me which made me very happy. =)
We made a last minute decision after that to go to Arusha and Moshi, another famous tourist destination for people who come to Tanzania because there are many many national parks and the Mt. Kilimanjaro. But to be honest I didn't like Arusha very much, I felt very disadvantaged there because everywhere we went or tried to stay in a hotel etc there were "white people" prices. I feel this is unfair because I'm living here and I'm a student and I'm not working so I don't have "white people" money haha. I also didn't get a good feel of what's really in Arusha to see and do so I think I need another trip to really make a decision about it. But on the bright side I was able to see Mt Kilimanjaro so I feel satisfied!
I am now back in Dar and eagerly waiting to start my next semester. It was scheduled to start this past Monday, 27th of February, however the students have not been awarded their loans yet by the government so no one can pay their school fees yet. So it's starting to look like I will be dealing with the same issues as last semester.
From Tanga we traveled to Mombasa Kenya, another coastal town. Crossing the border between Tanzanian and Kenya proved to be very difficult for me and full of corruption. Because I am a student at the University of Dar es Salaam, I am a resident of Tanzania and therefore I am also a resident of the East African Community due to the East African Common Market. I have a valid residence permit which due to the common market should allow for free movement of peoples all of East Africa, however; when I got to the border they told me my residency isn't actually valid until I leave East Africa and return, so apparently I won't actually be a resident until I go back home. So I managed to pay as a US citizen and then some. While in Mombasa I didn't do or see much of Mombasa. I stayed in my little banda on the beach and had a few nice relaxing days. So it was very nice. Once again I noticed the transportation differences, I think I just like to notice that most. But in Mombasa they also use what Tanzanians call Bajajis but instead they call them Tuk-Tuks and they actaully follow the rules of the road and stay in traffic! This is very weird to me now because I like taking bajajis knowing that I can take the backways and off road and avoid traffic.
Afterwards we left for Nairobi. Nairobi was really cool, I got to see baby elephants and pet (and kiss) giraffes! We also went on a safari in Nairobi which is cheaper than doing on in Tanzanian because they have what is called resident prices for people like me living in East Africa but aren't citizens while Tanzania doesn't have that =( . The only complaints I have about Nairobi is that is is very cold in comparison to Dar and for me ahha also it is pretty expensive in comparison as well. A major difference between Kenya and Tanzania that I noticed was the language. Both Kenya and Tanzania has its national language as Swahili, but the Swahili is very different, much like the difference between British English and American English - completely the same yet totally different. Also there is no denying that Nairobi is more developed than Dar es Salaam and resembles more closely any city found in America.
From Nairobi I went to Mwanza, TZ and had the WORST bus experience ever! It was scheduled to leave Nairobi at 930 at night but didn't even arrive until 4am! Then we spent even more time waiting and changing buses and we got into an accident on the way there and had to change buses again. We were meant to arrive in Mwanza at 10am but instead didn't arrive until around 6pm. But once we got into Mwanza it was wonderful! Mwanza is also one of Tanzania's largest cities and is located in the north-east by Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior. Mwanza is one of my favorite places now and it is so beautiful! I was also able to stay at a REALLY nice hotel for very cheap so overall my experience in Mwanza was great. Mwanza is beautiful and quiet and not many people yelled mzungu at me which made me very happy. =)
We made a last minute decision after that to go to Arusha and Moshi, another famous tourist destination for people who come to Tanzania because there are many many national parks and the Mt. Kilimanjaro. But to be honest I didn't like Arusha very much, I felt very disadvantaged there because everywhere we went or tried to stay in a hotel etc there were "white people" prices. I feel this is unfair because I'm living here and I'm a student and I'm not working so I don't have "white people" money haha. I also didn't get a good feel of what's really in Arusha to see and do so I think I need another trip to really make a decision about it. But on the bright side I was able to see Mt Kilimanjaro so I feel satisfied!
I am now back in Dar and eagerly waiting to start my next semester. It was scheduled to start this past Monday, 27th of February, however the students have not been awarded their loans yet by the government so no one can pay their school fees yet. So it's starting to look like I will be dealing with the same issues as last semester.
Hakuna Matata,
Kimberly
Kimberly
Wonderful blog!! You're very talented! It's always good to find fellow KY bloggers on here :) You officially have a new follower. Feel free to follow my blog as well. Keep up the good work!!
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