Today we left Malawi and crossed into Tanzania but not before getting our first traffic fine of 10,000 Malawian kwacha (negotiated to US$50) for doing 65km/h in a 50km/h zone! Whilst Malawi is a beautiful place, its officials, like anywhere else are anything but.
Our experiences at the border posts have, contrary to what has been explained to us, been relatively pleasant and painless thus far. Like in most places when dealing with officials, if you smile, are polite and just generally accommodating of the fact that they dislike being there themselves, the process is pretty smooth and easygoing.
The frustrating part about the border posts are the vulture like black market money changers that swarm around you looking to change the currency of the country you are leaving (or USD) into the currency of the country you are going into. This is generally a nuisance because you are either getting fake notes (had that) or you are being screwed on the rate, or both, either way, it is our experience that if you have to change at the border post, change just enough to purchase the 3rd party insurance required (unless you purchased comesa insurance at home before leaving) and some fuel etc until you can get to a formal bank to do a proper change.
We rode about 450km to Mbeya, Tanzania from Nkhata Bay, Malawi and we are now 3 days ahead of schedule which is great as we intend having a 2 day break at the Old Farmhouse outside Iringa tomorrow night.
We have both found the change into Tanzania materially noticeable relative to Malawi with regards to general development, infrastructure and commercial organisation not to mention UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL countryside.
We are spending the night tonight at the Mbeya peak hotel which won the Tanzanian hotel of the year award in 1962, and they have done nothing about it since then, including the furniture and linen.
Mbeya is a typical sprawling African town which is actually great to be spending the night in. We watched the Netherlands / Spain soccer Final at a Shebeen called “2000 Grocery” which between the uber strong beer and the local ladies of the night proved to be a very entertaining evening.
Beautiful Malawian children
How not to negotiate the Malawian roads…
Enough said…
Magnificent Tanzanian Landscapes.
The Mbeya Peak hotel where a room costs R120 (US$15) a night.
The view that a R120 a night room buys you…
2000 Grocery, where the beers are cold and the ladies are scary.
