Time to say “badaaaye” to the beach. On our final day we managed to fit in a trip to the only remaining colony of red Colobus monkeys in Zanzibar. They were completely habituated to humans and just went on doing their monkey thing as if we didn’t exist at all.
Back in Kiwengwa the girls said goodbye to Bimu, Aisha, Saleh, Ahlam, and Faitham. They gave them gifts of t-shirts, friendship bracelets and shared the food we had left. Even Geoff made a friend, Chopper was one of the guys on the beach selling boat rides out to the reef. He had a great sense of humour and we exchanged a lot of banter during our walks up and down the beach. We went out with him a couple of times on his boat. During one especially funny exchange he said that Geoff reminded him of an English actor, Geoff was hoping it might be someone handsome and rugged but when he eventually came out with it, it was……..Mr Bean. Much laughter from everyone except Geoff. We gave him Geoff’s waterprooof phone case as is phone holder was broken and he was very touched. (He’s stayed in touch via whatsapp since we got back). We left gifts and a message in Swahili for our housekeeper.
Drew and Cara squeezed in a last dawn walk on the beach and a cheeky little sea urchin gave Cara a parting gift of one spine in the bottom of her foot – ouch! We did one last crazy African drive back to Stonetown, rush hour made it extra exciting, with buses coming head on towards us to miss the potholes on their side of the road. I have now taught myself not to scream in terror when this happens, I just think “oh well… I’m sure it will all be fine, hakuna matata”. I hope that when I’m back home and I pull out in front of someone onto the Hayling bridge they will have a similar hakuna matata outlook on life, but somehow I doubt it.
We decided to fly back from Zanzibar, it wasn’t a great deal more than the ferry and although that was an experience, once in a lifetime is probably enough.
A short plane ride and we landed back in Dar Es Salaam. There we spent a night in a luxury hotel, ate the best breakfast of my life in a Lebanese Cafe and began the inevitable process of catching up with real life in preparation for our trip home.
Whilst chilling at the hotel beach we indulged in strawberry daquiris. We were playing our Swahili songs and Cara was singing along much to the amusement of the waiter.
Africa, you have been a place of surprises from beginning to end. Breath taking landscapes, unexpected animal encounters, unique experiences and most of all generous and hospitable people. You have surprised us at every turn and we will be back.
Pirate Travels 