DAY 10: Kisulanza camp site to Peponi camp site

 

Departure time

We arranged to eat breakfast at the Old Farm House and after waiting for Soek-soek, who once again hindered departure, we arrived an hour late.  Not to seem rude, we blamed our delay on neglecting to turn our watches forward an hour, however the friendly waitresses didn’t seem too bothered.  Eager to return to the beach, we began our estimated 8 hour journey through Tanzania.   

 

Arrival time

We were warned about the road works and the stop and goes between Kisulanza and Iringa, although the warnings did the waits no justice.  The continuous stops fortunately created opportunity for Nico to attempt using the newly purchased Tanzanian sim card and airtime to connect to the internet, however, with no luck.  Our internet situation has reached critical levels.  It’s been 10 days since Nico was last able to connect, therefore 10 days since Izel was last on Facebook – the emotional setbacks and mood swings from lack of connection to the rest of the world is beginning to reach boiling point.  In desperate endeavour to activate the sim card, Nico spent so much time attempting to communicate with the Swahili Customer Care agent that he eventually exceeded the maximum Customer Care Service limit.  It was beyond my knowledge that quotas on free calls existed, nevertheless, we were internet-less and stuck with a worthless useless sim card; I had never seen Nico so depressed.  The ever optimistic Elmien attempted to cheer up the Soek-soek clan by reading random Tanzanian history and cultural facts out loud, and due to lack of interest, attempted to educate the other vehicles using the walkie talkie.  I would like to offer a round of applause to congratulate Elmien for finally mastering the advanced technical device.   Unfortunately for the men in the other vehicles, her new-found peace with the buttons and radio waves sparked a keen initiative with Corinne where our dinner plans, pit-stop places and lunch breaks were negotiated over the walkie talkies.   The females enthusiastically stole the toys from the boys on what ultimately became a 14 hour journey, thoroughly entertained by Elmien’s imitation of Robbie Wessels’ “Bravo een, bravo een kom in”.  

We drove through Mikumi National Park, where in the first ten minutes, viewed excellent sightings of elephants, buffalo, giraffe and kudus, yet saw nothing more than Impala for the next 50km.  The beautiful scarlet sunset introduced nightfall a far 6 hours from our final destination, yet we eventually arrived at Peponi beach after midnight.  Having only last eaten at lunch, we were starving, and despite being barely capable of keeping our eyes open, Corinne and Riegardt began cooking.  After 02:00, bellies filled with stir fry, we finally closed our eyes. 

 

Road conditions

After Nico’s jinxed accident comment yesterday, we’ve noticed five overturned trucks.  I’m praying karma doesn’t overturn our beloved Soek-soek.

 

Weather conditions

If it wasn’t for the aircon I believe we would all have become Simba crisps, however, despite the hot, hot weather, Elmien sits in the front seat blanketed in her heavy woollen jersey.  Izel and I graciously welcome the cool air blown for 30 second intervals before Elmien asks us if we’ve cooled down enough to turn the aircon off.  Doomed by fate or an Isuzu-hating greater power, the moment we arrived at our camp site the heavens opened down on us, pouring weeks’ worth of moisture on the thirsty land.  We prayed the rain would cease, clearing the skies for a bright blue, sunny day in the short time between downpour and dawn.

 

Campsite

We put up camp in the middle of the night in the pitch black darkness, having not acknowledged more than the entrance gate, camping spot and disturbed neighbours.  Too tired to shower, we left the bathroom examination and evaluation for the following day.