Tanzania

Well where to begin. I have been in Tanzania for a week and so far I have fallen in love with everything this country offers- the warm people, the magnificent landscape, the wild animals, and the stunning beaches. Everything about this place is magical.

Right now we are in Zanzibar. We're staying up north on a beach that I believe is what you would call paradise. Never in my life have I witnessed such blue water with white sand beaches. If you ever need to escape the realities of the fast pace world we live in, I would recommend this place for sure!!

Before we arrived in Zanzibar, Karley and I spent a few days in southern Tanzania in a village where people walk around in vibrant tribal wear, carrying their spears in one hand. It was a neat village, and had a national park where we did our first safari- and yes, I saw an abundance of animals, the wild lions being my highlight.

As two girls travelling alone in Africa, in general, we have felt very safe and if anything have only received respect from the locals. The marriage proposals, the stragglers that follow us hours on end, and the men that insist on carrying our bags because 'women are weak, men are strong', can get annoying at times, but all in all it only adds to the experience.

Lastly, the biggest lesson I have learned from travelling here is that the sole reason why people should be afraid to come to Africa, is not because of the possible diseases or mugging, but because of the transport system. There is no reliable system, and the buses that do travel, do so at great speeds. There have been times that I thought the bus would tip over or that the wheels would fall off. In addition to the horrendous speeds, the transport system is a joke. When you take a bus, even the aisles are filled with passengers (people are stuck sitting on the floor for the whole trip- which can be up to 26 hours). And wow, I don't even want to get into the ferries. The ferry ride I experienced was something else. I was lucky to find a spot on the floor crammed up against the men's washroom where people laid on my feet, legs, and arms. Sitting there (but having to move every time someone felt the urge to pee), I just looked around and noticed what was surrounding me- chickens, people holding raw meat, and bodies of people everywhere- you couldn't even see the floor.

Anyways, that's it for now. Expect another update in about week. Oh, and we have changed our itinerary. Instead of going to Egypt we have decided to stick to this region. Our plan is to head up north after Zanzibar, then over to Rwanda, Uganda, and then fly down to Zambia (maybe), Malawi, and Mozambique.