Today we are leaving Tabora and travelling to Dodoma, a journey of around 320Km. We set off about 8.30 and then once we are out of Tabora Robert suddenly remembers we should have filled up with diesel.
We drive on for a bit but the roads are very empty and there is no sign of a petrol station. At this point I can see Robert is starting to get worried so when we drive through a village we stop and ask someone who tells us that there is one in the next town, around 30 Km further on. We drive on and keep our fingers crossed that we will make it. Luckily we do!!
Tabora region is famous for its honey (Asali), if you remember a school gave some to us as a gift. So today we see lots of people selling it along the side of the road. We stop at one place and both Aaron and Robert buy some.
Our journey continues through a village where there are a lot of street lights for what appears to be a very small bus station!
After a while we drive through an area which produces a lot of cooking oil. Again Robert’s wife has asked him to buy some. However when new stop several sellers all rush over to the car thrusting their oil through the window in order to try and secure a sale. I have no idea how he decides which to buy!!
A bit later we see a windmill which is a fairly rare sight in this part of Tanzania.
We continue on through the town of Itigi which marks about half way on our journey, until we reach Manyoni where we stop for lunch.
On arriving in Manyoni we stop and ask a boda boda driver, where is a good place for food. He directs us to a place on a petrol station forecourt. On arrival it doesn't look too hopeful but they actually has some pilau, beef, greens, beans and salad which is actually ok, the beef is really tender (a rarity it Tanzania🤣). Robert needs to work while he eats.
It takes a further 2 hours to reach Dodoma. At one point we drive alongside the railway again and drive over it on a newly constructed bridge. As we get nearer to Dodoma the landscape changes from flat agricultural to more hills and rocks. Roadside sales change from oil to tomatoes and onions.
Our first stop in Dodoma is at the small shop Robert has opened here. It is run by Dido who we met on our last visit.
On leaving the shop we go in search of a hotel. We don't have anywhere booked but have a couple of suggestions. We are now definitely into town traffic and we pass a huge market where you must be able to buy almost anything.
We drive passed a hotel called Gold Coins Hotel (not one of our suggestions) which looks ok and Robert thinks we should shop and have a look. The manager says he has rooms for TSH 80,000 so well within our budget so we take a look. The hotel is typical of the type used by Tanzanian businessmen, the rooms are large and with everything we need so we book in.
We unpack and then get a drink in the bar. The manager is very friendly and really helpful. While we are having our drink a man approaches us and much to our surprise says he recognises us. Apparently he was the manager of the JB Series Hotel in Tabora when we stayed there last year. He is now the General Manager for this group of hotels in Dodoma. Amazing that he remembered us. We had a nice chat with him.
Robert picks us up about 6.30 and we go out for dinner at one of the chicken restaurants just round the corner from the hotel. We have eaten in one of these restaurants before (I can’t remember which one) but the one we choose this time produces some good chicken very quickly. This is good as Robert has an online meeting he needs to attend at 7.30.
Once we have finished eating we return to our hotel which has a nice bar that is fairly quiet. We order a bottle of wine which we all share while Robert does his meeting and we play cards. After the meeting has finished we have a chat while finishing the wine before we all retire to bed.
The next day is Thursday and a rest day for us. We get up a bit later than normal and have a leisurely breakfast. This is the usual Tanzanian offerings of soup and eggs, along with some cooked bananas and greens as well as some lovely mandazi , fruit, juice and tea and coffee.
When we woke this morning it was raining heavily but it gradually subsides and we spend the morning sitting in the bar area sorting out photos, doing the blog, emails etc.
Robert picks us up and we go to a local bar for lunch. We have fish and chips and a really lovely fresh mixed fruit juice. During the meal we are joined by Robert’s friend Japhet who lives in Dodoma.
This afternoon we had hoped to visit a vineyard as Dodoma has quite a growing wine industry but in the end it’s too far to go in an afternoon, so Japhet gives us a tour of the town instead.
At one point we drive past all the new government buildings known as Government City.
At one point we head out of town up the hill to UDOM ( the University of Dodoma) where Robert’s son Peter is studying. We meet up with Peter who then gives us a tour of the university. It’s is a large fairly modern university and is still expanding.
Peter shows us where he is living, sharing a room with 3 others which seems to be pretty standard. He seems to be enjoying university life.
Apparently the UDOM sign was painted on the rocks by the first students to graduate from the university.
We leave Peter and the university and head back into town.
Below is the largest building containing Legal offices in Tanzania.
Japhet takes us to the new train station where the high speed trains depart for Dar es Salaam. It’s certainly a futuristic looking building.
After we have finished looking around Dodoma we head to a bar for some dinner and wine. We have a great evening enjoying the food, wine and conversation. We laugh that the wine is served by the glass dispensed from 5 litre plastic containers.
Luckily for us we have Aaron with us who isn’t drinking and is able to safely drop us back at our hotel at the end of the evening.
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