Day 304 – Tanzania

August 5, 2010 – Dar es Salaam to Arusha, Tanzania

Once again we’re up before the roosters and we’re up before the mosques. However, we’re not up before the taxi drivers – they’re waiting for us as we step outside the hotel on our way to the bus office. It’s located literally 2 minutes away, so we pass on their offers and enjoy a quick stroll.

Today’s ride to Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania, is supposed to be 11-12 hours long. It’s going to be long, but apparently this bus company has a reputation for being on time… we’ll see about that.

With snacks in hand, books on the ready and music tuned up, we jump on the bus and settle in. As far as long bus rides go this one turns out to be pretty okay. Once again we’re provided with snacks and the entertainment is played at a reasonable volume level. I’m able to take a good nap and get a large portion of my book read, while Eric actually manages to both start and finish his book.

Around 5:30pm we pull into Arusha and are greeted by touts wanting to sell us safaris. Arusha is conveniently located near both the most popular national parks – Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti – as well Mt. Kilimanjaro, so it’s where most people coordinate and start their safaris.

However, since we’ve already booked our safari back in Dar, we disappoint almost all of the “salesmen”. I say “almost all” because one guy persists in following us as we walk to our hostel – he thinks he’ll get a commission if he shows up with us. Eric and I are very polite with our constant “no thank you’s” but he’s not taking the hint. I finally ask him how long he plans to follow us and then I explain how we’ve pre-booked our accommodation, so there’ll be no commission for him. Surprisingly this seems to work – he’s gone in a flash. Even though he was annoying, I figure there’s no point in wasting his time.

We check-in to our place, throw our stuff into our room and head immediately over to an Indian restaurant across the street… we are starving!!! It’s a good way to end our travel day – Indian food has become our comfort food.