DAY 12: Peponi Beach to Lake Chala camp site

 

Departure time

We would have driven straight through to the hotel were it not for a recommendation to stay at a relatively new camp site at Lake Chala.  Packed and ready, we planned to leave at 11:00; however, after having to wait for Nico’s new pants’ sewing to be completed, we only left the campsite an hour and a half later.

 

Arrival time

We possibly could’ve arrived at Suzie’s estimated time of arrival of 17:15 were it not for our indestructible convoy clan separating.  Whilst driving through Tanga, we realised Jimbo and the Land Rover were no longer behind us, and after failing to reach them on the walkie talkies, began a slightly panicked search through the unfamiliar Tanzanian town.  We eventually discovered them at a petrol station where Jumbo Jimny, the baby 4x4 in need of food every four hours, was refuelling.  Relieved to have relocated our friends, we continued through Tanzania, the most stunning African nation we had travelled in, with coffee and tea plantations, a hilly terrain and lush vegetation.  Anticipating the manifestation of a large mountain, we began photographing every hill that was larger than the last, believing it to be Kilimanjaro, until the mighty beast came into view, shadowing the others with its ice-capped splendour.  The great mass, named the Roof of Africa, kept us guessing as to its immense size by peaking above the clouds just to remind us of its presence.  Transfixed, Nico and the Soek-soek clan almost missed the warnings of traffic officers from the truck in front of us, and only managed to slow down just in time to avoid setting off the flash.  In quick haste, Nico radioed the other vehicles in convoy; however this was unfortunately missed by the Lovetts in the Land Rover who must have turned the radio off to avoid Elmien and Corinne’s walkie-talkie fun, resultantly receiving a light speeding fine.  Due to the great excitement the afternoon presented and the fact that the camp site couldn’t be located by Suzie, we missed the turn off and ended up driving quite a distance away from our place of rest. Annoyed by the unplanned delay and eager to set up camp, Nico clashed with Elmien, the bakkie and Suzie while Izel and I stared out the window, unable to blame him for his temper – the internet has yet to be connected.  Nevertheless, we eventually arrived at our destination, Lake Chala, a crater lake just a few short kilometres from Kilimanjaro that offered spectacular views of the mountain. 

 

Weather conditions

Of course the sun came out to play when we were safely buckled up in Soek-soek once more.  The aircon war continues as Izel and I complain about the heat and Elmien shivers from the cool air – poor Nico doesn’t know whose side to choose.

 

Campsite conditions

For a brand new camp site, the conditions were very good.  We expected cold water in the taps and rubble strewn across the land, although happy to be proven wrong, we had a donkey that provided perfectly pressured hot water, though only to the ladies showers.  The braai wasn’t quite built yet, so we cooked our steaks and veggies in the lodge fireplace beneath the stars, only a few kilometres from the Kenyan border.