Category: Destinations

I took a South African to Tanzania for a week... Here is why she wants to go back

21/8/2019

In July 2018, I had the privilege of taking a friend and work colleague with me to Tanzania.

Tanzania is one of those places where you need to immerse yourself deeply to fall in love. You need to shed any preconceived ideas you may have about the place in order to enjoy it. I guarantee you will visit, and leave wanting to go back.

I left Tanzania when I was six years old. I became a child of the continent, but the roots of my land are firmly planted in me. I rejoice when I hear Swahili spoken anywhere in the world. I cringe when words of this beautiful language are mangled or barstardised. And every so often, I go back to rub shoulders with my folk and kin, to eat “home” food, to snuggle up next to my parents, and laugh with my siblings and extended family. And to explore. For the country is changing. New roads are being built every day. New hotels - making tourism that much more accessible to everyone.

When I set up Peku Peku, one of my plans was to take as many people as possible to explore parts of Tanzania with me…. Life interfered, and I have only taken a handful of people with me…. But I have encouraged many people to go without me.

I digress…. So, in July 2018, I took a friend and work colleague with me to explore business opportunities. I was her guide, her counsel, her translator, her companion and her confidant. It was a short visit, I had had heartache and a personal tragedy that rocked my world and I was lost and needed my parents. And yet, I recognised that the opportunity to take her with me would be the start of something special, and the realisation of a dream for both her and I.

We had a week, a short, short week. But at the end of it, we both left with hearts filled. Mine with the love of my family, and yummy fruit – it was pineapple season… I ate until I could eat no more, and my companion, left full of the taste of spicy rice, coconut rice, plain rice… to this day, she talks about the taste of rice and appreciated that it is important to know where your rice was harvested when you make your purchase at the market.

Our week was filled with long days spent on the road getting from point A to B – the road network is not vast or varied, so patience was needed. But it gave us both valuable time to soak in the landscape and escape from our devises.

In that short week, we took in Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Mufindi and its tea, avocado, and timber plantations, and Iringa, the town my parents live in. Tanzania engages ALL one’s senses, the land is open and vast, the people are warm, friendly, open and inviting, and there is a vast array of fruit and vegetables - a vegan and vegetarian’s paradise.

Take a look at some of our photos…. Be enticed, and then, make contact to book some holiday specials with us.