Day 35 - back to Morogoro

Point of departure : Selous Game Reserve

Point of arrival : Morogoro

Accommodation: the New Acropol Hotel(www.newacropolhotel.biz)

Km travelled today: 210 kmCum: 7 850km (gravel 200kmcum 2 117km)

Countries so far: 5/16

Where to next? Arusha

Total number of photos taken: 8 (cum 1 790)

Not much to report today. As we had to be out of the park by 11h45 or pay for another 24 hours for the Beast, we decided on a reasonably early departure from the Lodge. So, after final packing, a relaxed breakfast on the deck overlooking the Rufiji, we headed out.

The first couple of kilometres were with Anaphi making sure we didn't mess up our navigation, but thereafter on our own… six and three quarter hours, 205km of poor dirt road and tracks.

The road seemed a bit busier compared with Tuesday, possibly because a lot of the villages were loading their pineapples, bananas and other produce in time for market in Morogoro over the weekend.There were lots of trucks, pedestrians, motorbikes and the inevitable buses and taxis.

Compared with Malawi, we noticed symptoms of a rural economy which has progressed beyond subsistence.This is particularly true with transportation and the incidence of motorbikes, not necessarily more than bicycles but more than Malawi.The movement of goods by truck rather than bicycle is also evidence of this.

We enjoyed the drive as much as is possible considering the road conditions… beautiful scenery, mountains in the distance, and the climb back up to about 500 metres after spending the last few days at below 100 metres. We arrived in Morogoro about 15h30 and headed straight for the New Acropol for a cold Kilimanjaro and a spot of airconditioning.