Arusha

This morning there was a flurry of activity at the campsite as the riders struggled to remember their red box, breakfast and bike riding routines after 3 days rest in the safari capital of Tanzania – Arusha. The talk was not of directions, distances, road surfaces, temperature or illness but rather of national parks, plane rides, lions, tigers, cheetahs, giraffes, birds, snakes at the snake park, masai warriors and pretty much anything but…biking! For those who stayed in Arusha, Masai Camp was a little tree-laden oasis providing great music, excellent enchiladas, cold drinks and a good spot to rest. For those who chose to head out into the wilds of the Serengetti, there was an incredible experience of sunrises, sunsets, elephants, cheetahs, water buffalos and giraffes! A weary bunch arrived at camp yesterday but their adventures far outweighed any tiredness.

Today we headed out along the road south of Arusha towards Dodoma. On each side was a myriad of greenness, huts, cattle herds, goats, donkeys, far off mountains flanked by the monster Mt Meru and building thunder clouds. A fairly straightforward day on the tarmac. Not for much longer though as tomorrow we hit the dirt again and the famous Dodoma Road known for eating many a cyclist up and spitting them out caked in mud, dirt and dust. We have hit the rainy country and when it rains in Tanzania – the roads turn to mud! Bring on the off road tyres again! So tonight as we battle fireflys, bugs and insects there is some nervous anticipation about the ability of the trucks to make it through the boggy patches, about how clogged the bike components will get and what tyres to use? Some are still caught up on their safari adventures…