Bagamyo Road Dar Es Salaam

T his must be my favorite          market just to see the carving in  road in the whole of Dar es     action. The abstract carvings,     Salaam; or should I say out     the carvings of demon-like         of Dar es Salaam. Not because it      figures are fascinating with many  has anything especially               of the carvers [when I visited]    attractive about it - not because     enveloped in clouds of marijuana   it has any exciting attractions       smoke.                             along it, however it has a                                               special place in my heart.            On the move again traveling                                              northwards to Kunduchi - I would   It ploughs north out of Dar along     suggest finding a local bar and    the coast. The north coast is a       taking lunch here, with the        bit of a has-been in Dar - the        locals villagers and maybe the     South coast is prettier, safer        odd stray tourist. Choose a place  and less crowded and more African     to eat with care in respect for    Bush like. However, the North is      your stomach but once you find a   special, not so safe, more            nice place relax and enjoy roast   housing, more people - however -      goat or beef and katchumbari       the shabbiness of it has a            salad. Many of the bars in         special attraction.                   Kunduchi village are out in the                                          open or set in gardens and it is   Leaving Dar along Bagamoyo Road       very pleasant.                     and arriving at Mwengi crossroads                                        turn left and park. There is a        There are hotels in and around     craft Market here lots and lots       Kunduchi village, however now the  of small booths selling curios -      tar road extends all the way to    the special attraction to this        Bagamoyo it is better option to    curio sanctuary is that there are     ravel to this extraordinary        local craftsmen carving wood. It      little town. Bagamoyo is where     is well worth a visit to this         many of the first explores landed  to reach into the interior of         promote Bagamoyo. It is an         Africa; including Dr Livingstone.     alternative to Zanzibar, which is  Many slaves were brought to this      a little over communalized for     town before being shipped to          some people. It is also a cheaper  Zanzibar and many of the prisons      alternative to Zanzibar. Other     and forts survive.                    alternatives are Pemba or Mafia                                          Islands or even to travel to       Bagamoyo is a pleasant bay with a     Sadani National Park where you     number of sleepy hotels. Most         have wildlife and beach in the     tour operators organize and           same place.                        About the Author: All profits from http://www.betheladventre.co.uk go into the Patmos Community Initiative, which is a Non-Governmental Organization in Northern Tanzania - no. 11778. We are currently building a nursery school in Sokon One - Arusha. We offer and encourage voluntary positions vacations to our charitable projects. Swahili Language courses are availa Source: www.isnare.com