In he morning Monday 9th Feb., 11:05am me and my friend Jacob we left Arusha town ready to explore Northern & Southern Pare mountains, Mkomazi national park, West & East Usambara mountains, Tanga city, Pangani, Saadani national park, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar and Dar-es-salaam.
We had rough arrangement two day before including fix the bicycles, get a map, here camping gear, etc.
The cycling between Arusha- Moshi road 80km it was confidently because both of us we are familiar with the road. We had several stop for birds identification as it was a time when farmers preparer the farms for planting as they disturb and cult down the weeds they disturb the amphibians and other invertebrate which are the food to birds, we stop for 1 hour in Sanya when it was rain, we reached Moshi town 5:15pm.
We continue with our journey cycle through Moshi- Dar es Salaam road we had the closest view of white caped mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro. After 24km we reached Himo junction here we turn off right then we stopped and have a dinner from the women who sell the food during the night. After dinner we cycled for 15km in the dark by using our headlight but this isn’t safe to cycle during the night, we reach at the Kifaru village where we camp in somebody back yard.
In the next day we woke up 4:45am we made a coffee and start cycling 5:45am, 2km from where we overnight we turn left cycled towards north-east then east-south through the dirty road and Challenge Mountains. We passed through cultivated fields (Ma-Shamba) in Masiwa, Unyasa, Kwakoa and Gitingeni villages before joined the high way again at Gitengani. We cycled towards eat-south. After 25km we reached Same town ship. We had our dinner at Same then after our rice and beans dinner we cycled for 1km out of town and camp at the field.
We wake up early in the morning after having a cup of coffee we start cycling. In this day we cycled through the mountains of Southern Pare, cultivated valleys then after 30km we reached Kisiwani. Kisiwani village is boarded with the newest Mkomazi National Park formal Mkomazi Game Reserve situated in the acacia savannah between Southern Pare Mountains and Usambara Mountains, stretch north wards and share eco-system with Tsavo National Park in Kenya.
We kept on cycling through this beautiful and fascinating landscape with the reward of Flora and Fauna. As we cycled in the plains we was able to see clearly Shengena peak (2462m) and Hemwera (2137m)
The southern and Northern Pare Mountains named after the Pare people the inhabitants who believed to be the descendant of between Chagga/Maasai or Taita ethnics groups, migrate and made the home in these mountains. Both Northern & southern Pare mountains have the established culture tourism which organize and arrange different activities such as hiking, culture tour, natural work, etc.
We finished our day by cycled south-east through Mkomazi valley then North-east and camp at Mnazi village in Tanga region, northern slopes of Usambara Mountains.
In the following day we wakeup early after having a cup of coffee we broke down the tent and start cycling through the mountains and lush green forest of Usambara. In this dirt road we had the view of Lake Kalimawe and Mkomazi National Park. The Usambara slopes support a rich bird life as well as many species of colorful butterfly.
Cycling through shamba, forest and valleys passed villages we reached Msalaka village where we overnight.
Early in the morning in the next day after have the cup of coffee we start to cycle through the path in the forest. After 6 hours of cycling in the forest we reached Amani Natural Reserve Headquarter. We overnight here.
On Sunday of 14th Feb early in the morning we left Amani Natural Reserve descend for 35km in the dirt road where we passed the vehicles which have to go slowly due to the holes in the road. After 1 ½ hour, we reached the lowland at Muheza junction. We had the breakfast here then we take on another 37km to Tanga. In the late after noon we was cycling around Tanga city looking for somewhere to camp, after tried several places finally we find the Pamori Hotel which situated 5minuts walk to the shower of Indian ocean nearby the Tanga harbor. Actually they didn’t have the camping service but after long conversation with the man in the reception (Augustino Safe tinosafe@yahoo.com) he offers us the free camping ground with breakfast.
TANGA: The ruined mosques on Toten Island in the Tanga harbor indicate the presence of small trading center in the Omani and Shiraz eras as do similar ruins at several other sites within a 20km radius of the modern city. But, while it seems reasonable to assume that some sort of fishing settlement has existed on harbor main land for millennia there is no written or archaeological evidence of more substantial settlement prior to early 19th century. The city’s name which means “Sail” in Swahili is most probably derived from Mtangani; in the contemporary name for the nearby Tongini Ruins. It could well be that the foundation of the modern Tanga was linked to the decline and eventually abandonment of Mtangani.
By the mid 19th century, Tanga was an established and substantial center of the ivory trade neither as renowned as Pangani, nor as architecturally distinguished, but nevertheless sufficiently profitable to be governed by an agent of Sultan of Zanzibar.
Next day we spent to fix our bicycle in Tanga then in the evening we tried them for 15km to Amboni Caves. Amboni Caves probably the most extensive caves system in east Africa, and certain the most accessible and impressive.
After a finishing fixing our bicycle on 16th Feb. mid afternoon we left Tanga city. We Cycle towards east-south through the coast dirty road. We visit Tongoni Ruins 20km from Tanga. We continuo cycling heading pangani passed through the coastal forest, 35km from Tanga we reached Peponi Campsite in late evening. We camp at Peponi campsite which locates in the beach of Indian Ocean.
In the next day we spent the morning at the beautiful beach and boat trip for snookering. 01:16pm we left Peponi and cycle for short time, about 20km to Pangani. We overnight at Tinga Tinga lodge and Campsite.
Pangani in common with Bagamoyo further south that has been pivotal 19th century trade central that has been largely passed by 20th century development. Endowed with a number of crumbling old buildings, dating from earliest years of its existence through to the colonial era, Pangani retains the most traditional Swahili character of any port on the north coast. It also has a superb location, on the north bank of the mouth of the forest-fringed Pangani river where a gorgeous beach stretches northward as far as the can see.
In the morning of 18th Feb after having a breakfast in this ancient town we went to the ferry which was few meter from where we was sitting. As we was waiting the ferry to come in our side we met a Canadian(Otto Cootes www.mytb.org/otto-masher )who started cycling from Kenya then Uganda, Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania he planned to cycle up to India. After cross the Pangani River we cycle together for 93km then we stopped for lunch at Mkwaja village after having the lunch we continue to this sand road. After 20km from Mkwaja we reach Mbuyuni where there is an entrance gate for the recent established Saadani National Park.
We stopped at the gate for a while negotiating with game rangers who wanted us to pay the entrance fees, finally they let us pass.
We kept on cycling through the national park in the sand road, after 30km we reached Matipwili village just outside of the perk. From the village we take on 9km to Kisampa Lodge and Campsite where we had an invitation from Dk. Robby the own.
We spent two night at Kisampa be we crossed Wami river which hasn’t the connected bridge or ferry. Then we embark on 70km to Bagamoyo, we reached Bagamoyo ancient town 1:43pm after lunch we made tour around the town and visit the historical features such as Shiraz and German harbor, Arabs and Germans grave yard, the place where they used to lock up the slaves before ship them to Zanzibar market.
In the next day after breakfast we visit Kaole ruins and Museum the Back to Bagamoyo for lunch. After lunch Jacob who wanted to get back to Arusha to participate in Kili marathon left to Dar es Salaam with a Canadian man who will cross to Zanzibar.
Late evening I took a Dhow to Zanzibar, I spent the whole night at the ocean before reach stone town 9:40am. I had breakfast at stone town then I made a tour around visit the slave market, etc. In the mid after noon I cycled towards south for 90km passed through cloves and palms plantations I reached ras kasim mkazi in the late evening where I overnight.
In the following day I cycled back to stone town then took a boat to Dar es Salaam where I finished my cycling feasibility study.
I would like to say thanks Korogwe White Parrot Motel, Pamori Hotel, The student of Bagamoyo Art College, Kisampa Lodge & Campsite, Tinga Tinga Lodge & Campsite and all who support me in this cycling expedition.
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