The bird life in the gardens is great and there are numerous species found in the area. Tony has compiled a bird list of those he has seen and he has reached 162 different species to date. The wagtails dip in the pool, the resident owl waits for us to walk to our tent before flying off at night and this morning we watched the swallows swooping around the valley. Gray thought it was a bit late for them to be heading north, I decided that once they arrived here they just didn’t want to leave.
The guy who took us on the coffee tour yesterday explained that not all of Tanzania is this lush, it is restricted to the highland rift valley area and that is why we see so much evidence of farming around here.
After breakfast Gray set off into Mbeya to get the car sorted out. An hour and a ½ later he arrived back and he was like a 5 year old on Christmas morning; not only had the brakes been sorted but the guy had given the car a service and charged him R200. It looks like we will be heading up to Mbeya for the annual service. One service they do not offer, is a valet and the car came back still looking like it has been off road in Africa – Gray is very proud of this look (no Sandton spray on mud here – this is the real deal). We are carrying sand from the Namib, mud from the Caprivi, bugs (hopefully, now dead) from Zambia and leaves and twigs from Malawi.
My job for the day was to sort out the tent. Our down duvet that has served us faithfully, each winter, for the last 20 odd years and is now our cosy camping comforter has burst a seam. Our bedroom looks like we ritually slaughtered the horny gay turkey in there. I took out all the mattresses and bedding, not as easy as it sounds, as all the bedding is king size and has to be carried down a 1 ½ m ladder. Then came the fun of trying to get all little white feathers out the roof top tent – they stick like poo to a woolly blanket. The next problem, my compact camping sewing kit as well as my lack of needle skills were no match for the job of repairing the duvet. As always, in Africa, plan B came into action – encase the duvet into 2 duvet covers and hope for the best. This job was done in the heat of day and left me glowing like a pig. With jobs well done Gray and I felt we deserved a restful afternoon chilling at the pool.
For those interested in our health; I have never been healthier; I think not having 165, five year snotting all over me this winter may have something to do with it. Gray, however, has had a return of the putsy foot worm, now making road maps on both feet. He has googled his ailment and it appears to be sand worm, the cure is a pill, obviously it is the only pill that I don’t possess in my travelling dispensary. He seems happy enough to host the little squirmies till we get to Dar to find the medication. We are pleased to report that Vicks vapour rub does appear to be limiting their movement.
During dinner we chatted to a Scotsman, Derrick, who has been given the dubious task of building a runway and roads for a new airport in Mbeya. He kept us entertained all night about the trials and tribulations of working in Africa. The job should have been completed in January and the end is still nowhere in sight. Needless to say his wife, who lives in the Caribbean, is not impressed with him.
Mbeya Taxi
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