Home » Malawi Tanzania » Cycle to the Summit Part 17 - Dar es Salaam to Lilongwe

Highlights of the Dar to Lilongwe stretch of Cycle to the Summit have included some super cycling and World Cup football action. We cycled through Mikumi National Park where we saw elephant, giraffe, zebra and buffalo, before crossing into Malawi to see first hand the famine situation that is featuring in the UK press. We also learned about the increasing problems associated with the AIDS epidemic. We are currently enjoying the hospitality and company of our friend Sutapa in Lilongwe. Over the next few days we will visit WaterAid and plan for the final stages of our journey to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg.

Cycle to the Summit Part 17 - Dar es Salaam to Lilongwe

Toby Hammond
2006-06-25 20:12:13

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We cycled on, over more speed bumps that drivers still seemed oblivious to and then came close to a large group of giraffe and elephant. Both had huge ears. We stood for a considerable period of time and watched both the elephant flap their ears like giant fans and the giraffe munch on trees. Further along the road there was more litter - empty Red Bull cans, water bottles and food packaging and I was very annoyed when a bus came along and someone threw an empty yoghurt pot from the window. As we left the park, crossing more rumble strip I had mixed emotions - exhilarated at having seen so much wildlife yet dejected at the speed and litter.

2nd June 2002 - Near Mikumi to Kitonga - 91km

The next few days we enjoyed some amazing cycling. We set off early with the hills around us shrouded in mist and cloud and followed the Ruaha River along the edge of Udzungwe National Park. The clouds gave way to beautiful sunshine and the landscape was covered with giant Baobab trees for as far as the eye could see. We learned that England were playing their first World Cup match against Sweden that morning and joined a room full of Tanzanians in Ruaha at the only TV set for miles. We sat on wooden benches or on the floor and a hessian sack covered the window to prevent the strong sunlight reflecting off the TV set. After the 1-1 draw, we set off again, vowing to get a copy of the World Cup fixture list at the next opportunity. We spent the night at Kitonga where onions seemed to be the main trading good - you could buy a 20 litre bucket for 2000TS ($2).

3rd June 2002 - Kitonga to Iringa - 72km

The day began with a steep climb for 10km. The scenery really reminded me of the west of Ireland with lots of rocky outcrops which a local described as 'African Stone'. While in Kitonga the main good for sale seemed to be onions, the flat plateau was covered by tomatoes being grown and sold. I stopped at Ilula and spoke ...