Burundi`- Maasai Mara

[wildpix]

Anyone done this, either way? anything to expect?
cheers
martin

www.wildpix.net (http://www.wildpix.net)

[Marc Lurie]

I've done part of the trip.

I've done NE Tanzania which is pretty much where you'll be passing through.

My route up was pretty much Dodoma, Singida, Shinyanga, Mwanza, Geita, Bihiramulo then to Bukoba. The route down was Bukoba, Bihramulo, Kahama, Nzega, Singida etc.

There's nothing overly worrying about either route, however the Mwanza to Geita road was terrible. This was in 2001, so it might have been repaired by now considering the mining in Geita recently.

The Kahama to Nzega road is excellent.

The only thing you really have to be careful about (apart from the usual stuff: don't drive at night, watch for cattle and people etc) is the Tanzanian police who will try to catch you speeding at just about every town.

There is very little English spoken in this area, so it can be challenging finding accomodation and food. You must try to judge where you will get to during daylight hours, and if needs be, you must stop at a town quite early because you don't want to be driving at night trying to reach the next town. Please believe me on this. The chances of being in an accident is VERY high at night.

In all towns you will find safe and clean accomodation somewhere. In smaller towns it might not be luxurious or what you are used to, but it will be clean and safe. The food will be basic, but nourishing. It's usually chicken and chips, or goat stew and either maize or plantain porridge. In bigger towns such as Mwanza there is a wide range of accomodation and food. There is an EXCELLENT Indian restaurant in the New Mwanza Hotel. There's also a decent (by Tanzanian standards) Landrover dealer in Mwanza if you hit a snag or two.

Many towns don't have reliable electricity or running water so you will find that you will be brought a large bucket of warm water in the morning for washing. If you're lucky there will be running water for a shower. Make sure you carry enough bottled water for two or three days at the very least.

Here's a word of warning: STAY AWAY FROM "BIA BINGWA". It's one of the Tanzanian beers, and it's deadly :D

Whenb are you doing the trip? I'd think twice about doing it in the rainy season.

Regards,
Marc

[wildpix]

Hi, many thanks for taking the time to reply, excellent!!
hoping to do the trip next weekend! there and back (working in Burundi, setting up house near Mara!)
if i make it into Tanzania by nightfall, can I make the mara next day assuming early start?
or at least northern serengeti? although sounds better to stay out of serengeti ? faster roads? (and cheaper accomodation)
cheers again
martin
www.wildpix.net (http://www.wildpix.net)

[Marc Lurie]

Wow, getting from the border to the Mara in one day is quite an ask, and I very much doubt you'll be able to make it. It took me a whole day to get from Mwanza to Bukoba and that's not even halfway.

Marc