We started our day bright and early this morning with breakfast at Wistas Inn. After loading all the bags onto the bus, we set off on our journey to Iringa with our bus driver, Shedrack, and Godluck. As we began the drive, the group placed bets on how long the trip would take and how many times we would stop at police checkpoints.
We started our day bright and early this morning with breakfast at Wistas Inn. After loading all the bags onto the bus, we set off on our journey to Iringa with our bus driver, Shedrack, and Godluck. As we began the drive, the group placed bets on how long the trip would take and how many times we would stop at police checkpoints.
After the first few hours of driving, we made our first stop at a gas station for a quick bathroom break and to stock up on snacks for the next leg of the journey. Once back on the bus, some people passed the time playing guessing games and debating various topics, while others caught up on a few hours of sleep. Around 1 p.m., we stopped for lunch at a hotel in Morogoro, located along the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains. Lunch included rice, steak, chicken wings, fresh mango, and cooked greens. While we were eating, a local cat wandered in but was shooed away by the hotel staff.
After returning to the bus and getting back on the road, Matt surprised the group with a three-round geography challenge naming African countries. Zane impressed everyone by naming all but five countries and sweeping every round.
Along our journey, we passed through Mikumi National Park, where we had the chance to see giraffes, baboons, impalas, zebras, and elephants, all from our matatu (bus). After exiting the park, we began the climb up the Udzungwa Mountains. Our speed slowed considerably due to the large number of trucks on the road, but our bus driver skillfully maneuvered up the mountain with ease. We made a quick pit stop for bathrooms and ice cream in the afternoon.
After a few more hours of driving and one final bathroom stop, Matt claimed the stereo, and everyone joined in a game of "Guess That Tune." The playlist included songs from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, along with a few tunes his daughter snuck in. As we eagerly awaited our arrival in Iringa, students began to get anxious about the time and kept pestering Ken for updates. Once we came to a complete stop at the Lutheran Center, it was announced that Zane won for the most police checkpoints, and Adam won the time estimate by one minute. We ended the night with a late dinner at the Lutheran Center with leaders from Saint Paul Partners and Bega Kwa Bega.
