Kigoma

I stayed in Block B (or Block House B - Dad) whilst in Kigoma. It was cheap and clean and the people there were very friendly, and I met the first white person I'd seen for days there! Each night I went to sleep to the sound of bull frogs and each morning I woke up to the sound of children at the local school singing the national anthem.



There was a beautiful and deserted beach near by which I spent a few days relaxing at. You could get a dalla dalla there but often there weren't any so normally I just walked. It was quite a hike which I didn't mind so much but when you neared the beach you had to pass through a little village where everyone, adults and children, asked you for money. This I did not like. Although it's very easy to talk to Tanzanian people, in fact it's incredibly hard not to even if you don't want to, I've found it almost impossible to make real friendships with anyone. Everyone wants something from you and so (even if some people may be different) I'm always aware that people are probably only talking to me so I can give them money or a way of getting to England and I wish it wasn't like that.

In the village near the beach the younger children were so sweet. They too would ask for money or presents but weren't bothered when you said no and by the time you'd past through the village there would always be about six or seven of them hanging off each of your arms.


Lake Tanganyika is the worlds longest fresh water lake and holds 18% of the worlds fresh water! Sitting on the beach looking out across it, it's just like the sea. You can't see the other side and waves roll onto the beach. It's beautifully clear and lovely to swim in. The only thing is that there are monkeys on the beach and so I was ever conscious that they might be wanting to steal my clothes. I did manage to escape any monkey thefts though.