Tanzania Reiseberichte Trekking Kilimanjaro Zanzibar

MEINUNG / ERFAHRUNGEN / ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Es gibt unzählige Möglichkeiten was man in Tansania unternehmen kann; von Aktivferien, über Strandurlaub, Erlebnisreisen bis hin zur Safari. Hinzu kommt das die Menschen hilfsbereit und freundlich sind und es überall gibt es etwas zu entdecken. Der Aufstieg und das Erlebnis auf dem höchsten Punkt Afrikas zu stehen (Kilimanjaro) mit toller Aussicht macht Mut zu mehr. Langsames Reisen zum Beispiel mit dem Zug oder Bus hat seinen Reiz da man viel mehr von Land und Leute mitbekommt. Zanzibar ist schön um eine gemütliche Woche zu verbringen mit baden, schnorcheln, lesen oder ein wenig rumwandern in den Gassen von Stonetown. Eine Menge von Nationalparks mit verschiedener Flora und Fauna warten darauf entdeckt zu werden.
HIGHLIGHTS / TIPS	NICHT GANZ SO TOLL / SEIN LASSEN
Die Besteigung des Kilimanjaro mit seiner wechselnden Landschaft je nach Höhe.	Es gibt immer noch viel zu tun damit die Kluft zwischen schwarz und weiss nicht grösser wird.
Der etwas andere Nationalpark Uzawangu der erst zu einem Bruchteil erschlossen ist.	Eine grosse Armut die immer noch bei vielen Menschen vorherrscht.
Die Insel Zanzibar wo man baden, schnorcheln, bummeln oder einfach nichts tun kann.
Eine Fahrt mit dem Zug oder dem Bus in das Landesinnere...
Die Herzlichkeit der Menschen und ihre Lebenslust trotz schweren Lebensbedingungen.

Moshi a pleasant and restful town with wonderful surrounding next by, but except of that there is not much. From here it’s possible to organize a trek to the Kilimanjaro and stock up with the most basic stuff for this expedition.

1st day after that the luggage, food, and other utilities are distributed to my two porters it goes to the Machame Camp. The first part of the trail is very muddy and the weather is foggy and cloudy. So not much of the rainforest is to see.

2. Day the weather is not better still foggy and many clouds. Steeply upward to the Shira Camp. In the evening I catch a first glimpse at the destination I like to reach the Roof of Africa (Kilimanjaro)

3. day along the flank of the Kilimanjaro massif through a kind half desert with wonderful vegetation like lobelias and giant heather we wander up to the Barranco Camp. The dinner is huge like always at least 3-4 plates including two main dishes (vegetable, meat, rice, potatoes…), a warm soup with chapatti bread, fruits as dessert and afterwards biscuits and tea...

4th day steep ascent trough the breach barrier, afterwards along the valley hiking up and down and finally steep up to the Barufu Camp (4550m) which is reached by early afternoon. This place offers a nice view to the Mawanzi another great mountain Africa’s. Dinner, walk to the camp with lot of tents and chatting with other trekkers and afterwards to bed at six to get a couple of hours sleep.

5. Day around midnight wake up tea and snack - now it goes to the summit. A steep and long ascent begins: the flashlights lights the way up in the icy cold weather (a very clear night) and straight with sunrise we achieve the highest point of Africa the Uhuru peak (5895m). About half hour we spend on this point before we descent first back to the Barufu Camp to have morning meal and after farther down to the Rau Camp. It is a very long and arduous day (10- 18 hours of hiking) but well worth the effort. The crater landscape, the glaciers close by and the view down are remarkable and impressive. Luckily I had now problems except of some headache after that long day which seems to be normal.

6. Day it is achieved, descended trough the muddy rain forest again and we reaches the Mweka gate. I receive the usual summit certificate and back to the "civilization". The jump in the pool of YMCA in Moshi after 6 days is certainly a highlight. After two days of washing and relaxing I say good bye and move on. A bus ride with a beautiful view: along the Usambara and Pare Mountains it goes to Dar es Salam and from there direct by speedboat to Stonetown.

ZANZIBAR
There are a huge lot of things to discover by walking trough the narrow streets of Stone Town: interesting museums, daily business on the markets, the old fort, the St. Josephs Cathedral, old Trade houses or just the sunset in a restaurant in front of the sea. For the night a good and cheap opportunity is the night market in front of the house of wonders and afterwards a drink or/and a game of pool in the Sweet and Eazy Pub which got at least once weekly an interesting live band with a mixture of traditional (Tarab style) and popular music. I visit Kizimkazi on the southeast of the island; with a wooden boat we drive out to snorkel with the dolphins. Even if a lot of plankton (not a great visibility) in the water it’s an unbelievable experience to swim as close as 10cm with those really elegant animals. On an other day I visit Nungwi pretty much on the other side of the island; “just” a pleasant and relaxing day to hung out on this wonderful beach. After a lovely dinner (a delicious red snapper on a spicy sauce) I’m strengthened for the next day snorkeling trip. Again a wooden old boat brings us to Mnemba Island where the snorkeling is interesting. Unfortunately it’s not allowed to visit the island unless you are able to pay overnight the small amount of 150.00 USD. Before I leave this wonderful island I go to the Spice tour, an interesting and instructive day. Surrounded by an attractive environment the farmers show us how spice cultivation like pepper, chili, durian, manioc, cinnamon, jackfruit and Muscat works, where it’s able to grow and when is the season to harvest. After one week I leave Zanzibar with the night ferry back to the main Land.

A railway journey
A railway journey with the Tazara Railway starts: along small villages and trough the Selous game park it goes to Mang’ula. Luckily ,because all hotels and guesthouses are full, I can come over in the guestroom of the head of the National park which itself is away for business. After big breakfast I wander to the Songe waterfalls in the Uzawangu National park from where I have a beautiful view down. On the way up I can see the endemic Iringa red colobus monkeys and a snake crosses my way. A friendly local with a car gives me a lift to the next bigger town from where I move on with a Dalla-dalla to Mikumi Town. I can join a Swiss couple for a game drive to Mikumi National park the next day: Except of the ordinary zebras, hippos, giraffe, crocodile and elephants we meet a jackal which just feeds a gazelle. A 7 hours ride brings me via Morogoro to Dar es Salam. The next day I walk to Oyster bay (Coco Beach) which is nice even if parts are just as waste dump and visit and buy some souvenirs at the Tingatinga art center. The night I spend with a drink at a pub, then in the casino and afterwards in a nightclub where the nights are wild and long… Another day in Dar in which I visit the National Museum, the botanical garden, the St. Josephs Cathedral and the harbor.