2 long drive days and we are at the Ocean - whoop whoop! We finally arrived in Dar es Saalam, jumped out of the truck, threw up our tents and hit the water. Now you would think ahhh, that sounds nice a swim in the ocean, especially after tent erection which sounds like sweaty work. It was at least 30` and the air thick with humidity. Hit the water and stopped still…the water was like a tepid bath!! No shock of cold or hesitation over whether we really wanted to go in due to a shock of cold, oh no, it was hesitation due to whether we would actually get any reprieve from being in the water as opposed to out. I actually worried that I might sweat in the water! A few in our group were already out swimming, but considering they were the only white people in the sea it was pretty easy to spot them. The other disappointing fact is that it was low tide and so the water was thigh deep for what seemed like kilometres so it was more of a sit in warm water than a swim in the refreshing sea. We then also learnt that for coming days all water we came into contact with for use other than drinking was salt water. There started our feeling of just not quite being clean and fresh - but did I mention that we are by the sea and we go to Zanzibar in 2 sleeps... life is not all bad...

The campsite is picturesque and from my tent I have a view of the beach and sea. There are also a number of hammocks around the huts of the bar which I have put to much use today on our day of rest and relaxation. It was pure bliss this morning waking and knowing that my tent could stand tall for the day and there was no need to break camp and be thrown around the back of the truck on our way to yet another destination. We are all ready for a break in Zanzibar off the truck and out of the tents. I think we need some bed and hotel room rest and relaxation as tempers are fraying and little things are starting people b****ing much earlier than they have in the past. Our current target is our tour leader who for some reason has a truck full of food that we are not allowed to use to cook in case we break down and need emergency supplies (clearly going to be stuck for at least 3 weeks with no shops in sight going on current inventory). At present we have enough supplies to survive a war and our local payment money has gone to buying this food. We only recently discovered the extent of the pantry below the floorboards when we did a truck clean. Considering we had had 3 nights of carrots and cabbage in Sudan it made it a little hard to swallow. When I asked if we could use the cous cous the other night the classic response was 'no!, that is for emergencies and is really expensive. Actually I am going to hide that so it can't be used'. Hide from who? The people who paid for it who are on this trip and who should get to eat it…. Sometimes Ruth really shows her age and immaturity and if she doesn't smarten up a mutiny and our own food hiding is going to occur in coming days/weeks! Silly girl fails to realise that some days we are in the back of the truck for up to 10 hours driving, so we really have nothing to do beside read, sleep, chat, and do a truck inventory and exploration.