Tanzania - Namanga to Daressalam

We enter Tanzania through the border town of Namanga. The landscape is dominated by some of the most impressive mountains of Africa. If only we could see them. Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are somehow shy and we can only see the feet of their magnificent outlines. The rest is hidden behind clouds. Nevertheless we enjoy cycling through this beautiful landscape and watch the people of the different Masai tribes who inhabit this area. There are no photos of these very interesting and unique tribesmen because they all want money for photos. It is not only beautiful here but also touristic and this takes its toll.

Unfortunately the driving habits of the locals are just utterly bad. Our rear mirror becomes our daily life saver. We never feared more for our lives than we have in Tanzania! 

Roadwork in progress, the tarmac really needs it. 

There is a hidden caterpillar somewhere...

Cattle herding Masai.

Maybe next time we will take one like that.

Walking back home from the market. In the Meru region. 

From female cyclist to female cyclist, one of the few women on a bike in Africa so far. Maybe there are more to come?

Lovely invitation from a Norwegian family living in Moshi, at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thank you so much!

BAD driving in Tanzania. For the first time on our trip we literally had to jump into the ditch several times a day to save our lives...

This strange, almost invisible whitish thing in the back is actually Mount Kilimanjaro. That evening we were very lucky: a family in a little village gave us a small house to stay for the night and from the very doorstep of this house we could see the MOUNTAIN of Africa. 

The wind in Tanzania is blowing from north to south for six months of the year . The other six month it is the opposite. Guess, how it is now...! ;-(

Any seat left for a lift?

"Feinstaubpartikel" oder eher schon Grobstaubpartikel???

Waiting for the rain to stop. 

Lush green hills are dominating this beautiful landscape.

As it is still the rainy season there is occasionally some rain.

Maybe there are even more than ten thousand feet on this one.

And they are not of the small type that we are used to have in Europe. We are not sure if  it is only exploring or has some other hidden dark thought at the back of its brain. And where would this brain be anyway..

Washing day in the countryside. 

A little rest for a hard working bike.

Mama Esther, the local nurse, is showing Mama Bicycle the way to a guest house. She also makes sure that we choose the safest and best room in the hotel. 

Chapati and Chai for breakfast, what can you wish for more? 

Alien visitor???

It's not always easy to become or stay a beauty.

Cool!

Street live with drying sisal. Notice the fully covered Moslem women driving a bicycle!

Finally we reach the capital of Tanzania, Daressalam. The name means "haven of peace" in swahili,  that will do for us as well. We are going to rest our tired legs and buttocks at friends' house for a while.