There are many ways to see another country.  Overland truck was our option for East Africa.

In two weeks time we traveled over 2000 kilometers, over 600 were dirt roads.  Travelling by truck allowed us a different insight into the land we traveled over.  If someone needed to pee, we knocked on the cab and they pulled over.  Men on the right and women on the left.    If clothes got wet, they were hung to dry on the rafters. Behind the cab was a 200 liter water tank.  Extra parts for the truck decorated both sides of the back and behind the cab.  We were prepared for just about everything.

When driving small vignettes of life would reveal themselves.  Here were some that stood out:

Border crossing

Crossing the boarder from Kenya to Tanzania was done in a small town.  Shanties were up all over to cross an imaginary line between the two countries.  While everyone queued to cross through the gate, Massai headers crossed with their herds and were not required to check through the port of entry.  Moreover the terrain and housing changed so abruptly.  Houses and a more dense population on the Kenyan side gave way to a more pastoral and bucolic landscape.

Vendors

In an open air truck vendors had ready access to us for better or worse. In Arusha kids would jump on on the side of the truck or run beside it trying to sell nick knacks. In Kisi, people would jump on the side of the truck and grab things. When passing a group of people with large sacks of coal on their shoulders, our driver stopped and bought one from one of them for our nightlight campfires.

Slices of life

On many occasions we saw families, children, men and women bathing in small pools roadside. Traffic was much lower in Tanzania, and a passing truck clearly surprised them. Outside of Dar Al Salaam they were paving the roads and we had to wait a bit. We gained a new respect for the workers paving the road in 43-48 degree (110-120F) weather. The road was so hot it burned my feet through my sandals.  Overnights were in different locations every night.  We stayed in a hotel only twice.  Most of the time we tented.  In Naivasha and Arusha it was a camping park.   Outside of Kisi, it was at a farm where we got fresh (unpasteurized)  milk in the morning.

Truck side attractions

We rarely left the truck. Surprisingly most wildlife didn’t care about us. Many times we were able to get within 20 meters of carnivores and prey alike. Sometimes the attractions weren’t the animals but other things like trees. Some of the Baobob trees were massive with trunks exceeding 14 meters in circumference and can be over one thousand years old.