Hakuna Matata from Zanzibar!

 

April 8^th, 2024

Hakuna Matata from Zanzibar!

 

I just like saying Zanzibar.  We are in Tanzania.  A very poor country where the average annual salary is only about $850.00 per annum.  Zanzibar is an island about 22 miles off the east coast of Tanzania.  Despite the poor conditions and even poorer incomes, these are a happy people, quick to smile and talk to you.  English is a second or third language, but most have a grasp of it.

I mention Tanzania because this is the only place you can find Tanzanite.  And boy did Vialula find some Tanzanite!!  Pretty stuff.   In fact, her friends, Eloise and Blacky, found some, too!   They all look great in their new jewels.

Since we were here for two days, we took both a water excursion and a land excursion.  They were both adventures, but I will have to explain the water excursion!  Our friend, Kween K, had organized this excursion ... "come with us", she said, "it will be great!"  It was great ... and a comedy of errors, but in the end, it was a good day and an amazing adventure!  A 30-minute van ride takes us to where we are to get on our Dhow.  

Now a Dhow is a vessel with either one or two masts and triangular sails and they have been around in various types for a long time.  The only problem with our start up is that it was low tide and low tide creates about a hundred yards of open beach extending out to the sea.  

There were about 9 or 10 folks going out today so here we were trekking out from a nice sandy beach to a wet rocky bottom, to where the mud could and did swallow your feet so deep that stepping out of it took all your strength and balance.  We all referred to it as “sucky mud.”   And that only got you to the boat to take you out to the Dhow.

We over-loaded that boat and it took all of our 40 hp motor and a couple of men to push us out to open water.  50 yards away we had to transfer from our sinking boat to our Dhow.  And did I tell you it was raining?!  Not too sure all this was in the brochure!  But the fun isn’t over quite yet!  The seas are a bit rough for an overloaded wooden Dhow, but nothing too strong.  But a stiff headwind makes the going difficult.  This is because of a large tarp over most of the boat trying to keep us and things as dry as possible.   Didn’t work according to the plan even though LeRoy tried to help brace it all.  Pretty much everything got wet!

We made slow headway but eventually the little sandbar started getting larger and closer.   And none too soon as one lady on board was quickly turning green.  I mention the sandbar because during low tide the sandbar is high and dry and slowly descends below the waves as the moon’s pull causes the tide to rise.  While we were there, we walked in the shallow waters looking at the shells and sea creatures.  We found two starfish about the size of my hand.  Both different but similar.   They were still alive, so we took our pictures and then let them go be what they were.  Cool sea things. 

On to another island we went.  The idea of the day was to do some snorkeling and enjoy the sandy beaches.  The sun finally came out and it turns out we did get some water sports and beach time in, along with a great lunch where our desert was sliced up right in front of us.  Several native fruits from mangos, watermelon, sugar cane, passion fruit, grapefruits, red bananas, etc.

And what always happens after an island lunch?  That’s right, shopping.   Now, 6 women can do some shopping!  It was like a divide and conquer frontal assault!   These two want this dress or those two want that bracelet, pareo or sand painting!  The local venders never stood a chance as money flew around like a swarm of flies.  But if truth be told, the locals did okay. 

 

The local men had their coconut crabs out for a good picture too.    No, not those kind of coconut crabs!!    Keep it clean!  Just fyi, Eloise has a thing for the local guys… something about diesel, but I digress.

I must tell you about the Baobab trees.  When I say huge, I am doing them a disservice.  These massive trunked trees, while not overly tall, cover so much ground that you could make a house out of it.  The fruit of the baobab is monkey bread.   These fascinating trees can have a trunk over 30 feet in diameter and they create an entire habitat in and of themselves.   Look them up here because I don’t have enough space to explain them!  They are amazing.

A quick trip to a lagoon formed with coral outcroppings and lined with mangroves gave us another opportunity to see the diverse landscape that Tanzania offers.   As we made our way back to Zanzibar in the rain, we were all full of smiles.  

What was even better was that when we got back, it was a higher tide so no sucky mud!  Also, no dock!  So we all had to wade ashore trying to keep our things as dry as possible.   40 minutes later we were looking at our much-appreciated Zuiderdam.  A good day!

Tomorrow is Zanzibar by land.  See you then.

LeRoy and Vi