Ben Wilhelmi

on the road, Tanzania

 

Some areas in Tanzania will see many girls or women on bicycles. Others, none.

 

 

 

A bit of nostalgi...my old dirt bike.

 

Architecture and mix of style and colors can be interesting...

 

The smart display.

Common scene in many bus stops or crossroads...some areas are simply annoying.

 

 

 

Sometimes a guy sits in a sofa and enjoys a VIP ride.

 

Rural transport, Tanzania

 

 

So I finally reached Uganda 10 days after I drove from Dar es Salaam. The drive itself is quite uneventful. The Corona factor was the issue. 3 days wasted in Mwanza for a test that was finally not accepted in Uganda. Is it about money extortion? Nowhere was it specified on any official website...so 2 more days wasted in a lousy border post, Mutukula, west of lake Victoria. There are some parks and reserves wedged between the lake and Rwanda, Tanzanian side but completely off the main parks in Tanzania. And so not many tourists seem to go there apparently, even in normal times.

The trip is quite pleasant for the joy of driving to central and northwest Tanzania instead of flying over, for the great landscapes in some areas, and for the details that differ between regions, for the life on the side of the roads...

Today I chose some pictures about the transport theme.

I want to make it clear that I shot a lot of pictures while driving and focused on the funny vehicles and contraptions that usually impress a travelling "mzungu". I didn't focus too much on the many cars, some of luxury type, the many buses and trucks that roam the roads. But I insist the country is not to be limited on the pictures below.

 

"Proudly Tanzanian"...this rider is my champion on the road so far. In fact we should praise the 2nd woman sitting flimsily on the baskets at the very back of the bike. Yes you can notice another passenger wedged in the middle of the cargo. Hats off to the would-be engineers who patched and roped such a burden on the bike. The helmet was optional...

 

 

Safer but more colorful, this tuktuk here called "bajaj" for the most common brand.

In the Tabora region, red, yellow or blue tyres are common. Unseen in Dar or Dodoma. Cycling girls and women are also numerous in the region, as opposed to other regions.

 

 

In Mwanza...dala dala are also more colorful and decorated.

Bicycle taxis are more common in the center. Too hot or too hilly somewhere else? Notice the cushion.

I couldn't believe it when L actually saw one man riding such an assembly. I thought the thing was meant to be pushed.

But here we go. Amazing.

 

Another case of a proud Tanzanian man. Such a painting is rare though.

Not too heavy I suppose but a bit unstable?

Arusha, street life photography

 

Arusha…officially a city. Go and figure… Local dwellers don’t always have proper sanitations nor running water, roads are in poor conditions nevertheless the IMF gave money for road building years ago. Arusha was rated in the 10 worst cities to visit according to a Lonely Planet survey… a bit harsh I would agree with that.

So here we are alongside the main road. Authorities are not embarrassed by their open laziness and incompetence apparently. Local newspapers are not that keen either, my rant is not just an expatriate’s point of view.

 

On a Sunday morning, I bet this girl was her way to some church. Africa is certainly not short of churches…

 

Typical street vendor walking all day long. Sunglasses, shoes, food, household items, dope (though in a bit more discrete manner)…everything made in China or locally is available, you just have to wait for the right guy.

 

 

Cop in half complete uniform… no bars, no ID tag.

 

Did he borrow his kid’s bike?

 

Various religions and fashions in Arusha.

2 well dressed Tanzanian girls…

 

Those hand carts are numerous and convenient.

 

Obama's portrait is to be seen on many t-shirts, woolen hats, caps, stickers… I met once a Kenyan guy who said to be disappointed by Obama because he hadn’t soaked Kenya, and mostly his supposedly tribal area, with billions of $. That tribal instinct is still embedded deeply on the continent, to the detriment of the general countries well being. Tanzania escapes that trend somewhat: the first president had displaced and scattered tribes to fight that nasty habit. Some delicate maneuver but the good results are obvious. Some tribes like Masai managed to gather again and stay themselves since they are stubborn and nomadic.