Images: The long journey

After a longer work period at the fire station it was time for some change. On Tuesday, 14th June, we boarded Tazara train from Dar es Salaam, taking to Mbeya in the west of Tanzania. From Mbeya we took a bus first to Sumbawanga, then to Kasanga where we arrived in the afternoon. After enjoying two stunning sunsets over Lake Tanganyika we climbed the gangway to MV Liemba, spending the next two days on the upper deck, watching boats pass by, visiting a church ruin left behind by British settlers during one of the numerous stops along the route. Finally we arrived in Kigoma where we were most friendly welcomed by a frisbee teammate who hosted us in his Norwegian-style bungalow. After four days of hiking, swimming and relaxing we started out on our way back. Arriving in Dodoma by train we stayed in a deserted upper class hotel before leaving for the village of Katesh to climb Mt. Hanang, Tanzania’s fourth-highest mountain. A guided is said to be compulsory to be admitted to the Forest Reserve the climb featured beautiful views across saltlakes and the plains, yet it was not incredibly challenging to reach the top. Ambitioned mountaineers might rather want to spend their money in the Alps rather than going for a 3D safari in the middle of Tanzania. Arriving in Dodoma again I turned twenty-one standing on the empty platform of the railway station, my co-traveller Marianne singing a birthday song for me. Later we had cake at the station master’s office. Taking the express train we arrived in Dar es Salaam in the evening of 29th June, just in time to make pizza for a small birthday gathering which marked the happy ending of our long journey.

Waiting at Tazara Station, Dar es Salaam
Waiting at Tazara Station, Dar es Salaam
Aisle, Tazara train
Aisle, Tazara train
The washroom, Tazara train
The washroom, Tazara train
Through the vast hinterland
Through the vast hinterland
Telephone boxes, Mbeya
Telephone boxes, Mbeya
Lake Tanganyika view, Kasanga
Lake Tanganyika view, Kasanga
Taking a first look at MV Liemba, Kasanga
Taking a first look at MV Liemba, Kasanga
Unloading long-awaited goods, Kasanga
Unloading long-awaited goods, Kasanga
Boarding time, Kasanga
Boarding time, Kasanga
Church ruin, Front, Kipili
Church ruin, Front, Kipili
Church ruin, Interior, Kipili
Church ruin, Interior, Kipili
Workers, MV Liemba
Workers, MV Liemba
The captain, MV Liemba
The captain, MV Liemba
The engineer, MV Liemba
The engineer, MV Liemba
A traveller, MV Liemba
A traveller, MV Liemba
Shuttle boat, Lake Tanganyika
Shuttle boat, Lake Tanganyika
Passengers, Kigoma
Passengers, Kigoma
Kigoma Railway Station, Administration
Kigoma Railway Station, Administration
Kigoma Railway Station, Facade
Kigoma Railway Station, Facade
Market, Kigoma
Market, Kigoma
Railway housing compound, Kigoma
Railway housing compound, Kigoma
Toad, near Gombe National Park
Toad, near Gombe National Park
Thunderstorm over Lake Tanganyika
Thunderstorm over Lake Tanganyika
Owl with a broken wing at a friend's place, Kigoma
Owl with a broken wing at a friend’s place, Kigoma
Villagers selling potatoes and sugar cane, Central Line
Villagers selling potatoes and sugar cane, Central Line
Deserted railway station, Central Line
Deserted railway station, Central Line
Tabora station
Tabora station
Tabora waking up the UK leaving the EU, do you see the concern in the people's eyes?
Tabora waking up to the UK leaving the EU, do you see the concern in the people’s eyes?
Landscape near Dodoma
Landscape near Dodoma
Mt. Hanang camp
Mt. Hanang camp
Clouds, Mt. Hanang
Clouds, Mt. Hanang
Morning, Mt. Hanang
Morning, Mt. Hanang
On the way up, Mt. Hanang
On the way up, Mt. Hanang
The view from Mt. Hanang summit
The view from Mt. Hanang summit
The guide and us, Mt. Hanang
The guide and us, Mt. Hanang
Flower, Mt. Hanang
Flower, Mt. Hanang
Mt. Hanang slopes
Mt. Hanang slopes
Dodoma main road
Dodoma main road
The station master, Dodoma
The station master, Dodoma
Freight yard, Dodoma
Freight yard, Dodoma
Waste dump in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam
Waste dump in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam
Coming home to Dar
Coming home to Dar