GAME & MARINE PARKS

In the immediate vacinity of Mikindani there are no game parks. One of the reasons for this is that up until recently there were no decent roads in or out of Mikindani/Mtwara. As a result of the lack of good roads the tourist industry, of which game parks are apart, played no part in the local economy. The good news is that now the road to Dar es salaam is good and the local tourist industry is slowly growing. In the future I am sure we will be hearing more about game parks in the south of Tanzania.

What is available?

Selous:  Selous Game Park is only half a day drive north. It is highly recommended. Just do a Google on "Selous - tanzania" and lots of info. will be available about where it is etc.

Lumesule - Lukwika: These game parks are even closer to Mikindani than Selous but they are hunting game parks. Personally, I am totally opposed to this type of industry but do a Google search on them and maybe there is something there for you. You never know there might be an off season when you can just go and cruise around and not shoot anything!

Ruvuma: The Ruvuma River seperates Tanzania and Mozambique, and in this river live pods and pods of Hippos! The Ruvuma is only one hour drive from Mikindani and a visit there is highly recommended.

Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park:

If you are facinated by all things to do with the sea then you can't go past this 650 km2 marine park. Beautiful does not describe the beaches in it.  It is in it's initial stages of development but  as more money and experts get involved the marine life in the park will become even more prolific than it is at present. For more information on the park see the link, do a Google and check out Eco2 site list in our links.

marineparktz.com

WHAT'S THERE TO DO?

Here are 20 things to do in Mikindani ....

1. 
   
   Walk around the village, meet the people and admire the architecture. You can do this by yourself or with a guide.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Sit and talk with the locals (be patient their English is not took good).
   
   
   
3. 
   
   Take a dhow (boat) trip. Pack a picnic lunch and forget the worries of land.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Walk or run around the hills of Mikindani.
   
   
   
5. 
   
   Go diving with Eco2. 
   
   
   
6. 
   
   Go fishing. Talk to Abdallah (one of our watchmen) and he will organise for someone to take you out.
   
   
   
7. 
   
   Go for bike rides.
   
   
   
8. 
   
   Play with the locals. You can play soccer, drafts or even learn how to play a local board game.
   
   
   
9. 
   
   Go for a swim at the Yatch Club (a nice beach with a jetty not far from Mikindani).
   
   
   
10. 
    
    Have refreshments at Muku's Bar or 10 Degrees South. www.tendegreessouth.com
    
    
    
11. 
    
    Visit Mtwara. The fish market, the fruit and vegi market plus Adea craft shop are worth seeing.
    
    
    
12. 
    
    Go for a swim at the Boma.
    
    
    
13. 
    
    Go hippo watching on the Mozambique border (organized by the Boma).
    
    
    
14. 
    
    Go to idealic Msimbati Beach (organized by the Boma).
    
15. Do something charatable there are at least two charities in Mikindani: Trade Aid and Educaid. Talk to The Managing Director to see how you could get involved. 
    
16. Create. Use the new environment to inspire your art. Plus, investigate the arts in Mikindani. There is music, carving.
    
    
    
17. 
    
    Study. You can bring your books with you and use the quiet to help you study or you can study a field of knowledge unique to Mikindani eg Swahili language, religion, craft, herbal medicine etc.
    
    
    
18. 
    
    Potter around the farm (this is what Sarah and I usually do).
    
    
    
19. 
    
    Tag along with other people as they go to their farm (it will open your eyes as to how hard it is to grow your own food).
    
    
    
20. 
    
    Do nothing and relax.....
    
    
    
    
    
    

MOSQUITOES

Malaria is a problem in Mikindani. It is a problem becasue the mosqitoes that carry the malaria parasite love Mikindani as much as humans do. Mosquitoes love Mikindani because much of it is under sea level, meaning that there is lots of stagnent water around. The good news is that the mosquitoes don't like our house that much. They prefer to stay close to their beloved low land.

I am not a doctor but I know a few things about malaria. Malaria has a bad reputation and rightly so - it kills so many people a year. But, remember this: malaria is a coward. Malaria usually kills the old, the very young, the sick and the poor. So, if you are healthy and in your middle ages and have enough money to buy some medicine, then malaria should not cause you too much discomfort or inconvinience. Personally, I do not take preventative medicine for malaria. Instead, if I feel I have malaria, I go to the doctor for a blood test to confirm then I take medicine.

Malaria symptoms:

• 
  
  tiredness
  
  
  
• 
  
  headache
  
  
  
• 
  
  sore joints
  
  
  
• 
  
  upset stomache, vomitting
  
  
  
• 
  
  fever
  
  
  

Ways to aviod malaria:

• 
  
  Do regular physical activity (sluggish blood is like stagnent water).
  
  
  
• 
  
  Put mosquito repetent on your body in the evening.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Make sure your net is tucked in all around your matress.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Don't touch the net with your body parts while you sleep.
  

BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are simple but clean. The back door of the house opens onto an enclosed backyard. From the back door it is  2 meters to the bathroom and toilet. The bathrooms are just square concrete cubicals. There is no shower in the bathroom and the toilet is an asian (squat) style. Buckets with water in them are located in each bathroom.

THE BOMA

Vistiting the Boma is definitely one of the things to do while at our place. It is just a few minutes walk away and is a great civilization fix. It is a clean comfortable environment, stylishly decorated and the staff are very friendly. There is a beautiful pool, restaurant and bar. Internet is available too. If you need help or you just want to get back to the "first world" visit the Boma.

For a more information about the Boma visit http://www.mikindani.com/

FOOD

Food in Mikindani is healthy and fresh.

Fish and other sea food is the main source of protein. Following that there are  eggs, chicken and a wide variety of beans. Red meat (beef and goat) is available in Mtwara. Vegetables such as spinach, carrots, eggplants, capcicums etc are usually available in Mikindani, if not Mtwara. Rice is the most popular staple but is too expensive for most people to eat every day. There is also corn flour, cassava flour, millet and spagetti. Sliced bread is avaialble but most people eat chapati or deep fried dognuts. Fresh milk is always available in the village plus some type of fruit or nut is always in season.

Because there  is no electricity some guests may find it difficult to cook. But one meal that isn't is breakfast. Our watchman lights a fire every morning to boil water, so all you have to do is crack a few eggs in a pan. Re: Bread our watch man will also run down the hill to get you some fresh chapati. Re: lunch and dinner. Becasue there is no fridge, fish and meat have to be bought on the day. There are three ways to go 1. Buy your produce and cook for yourself, 2. Eat out, or get someone to cook for you. All of these will be discussed in future posts.

WHERE IS IT?

 Our homestay is in a small town called Mikindani. Mikindani is a sleepy village looking out onto the Indian Ocean at the bottom of Tanzania. About 10 kms away is a bigger town called Mtwara, and not far from Mtwara is the Mozambique border. From Dar es salam (the biggest city in Tanzania) it is a short flight or a half day bus ride to Mikindani. In the foreground of the top photo is the village of Mikindani. Our house is on the top of the hill in the back ground. The coast road takes you south to Mtwara where you can enjoy (some) modern convieniences.

We have about 9 hectares of land. There are 110 cashew nut trees scattered around, 3 Baoba trees and lots of small fruit trees. There are two neighbours (about 200 meters away) one of which is my wife's brother and he speaks good English. There is vehicle access. To the front and right the land slopes away gradually and there  is only low scrub. Needless to say that the house is  very private and quiet (the hill location deters lazy visitors from just dropping in).

The bottom picture was taken before the house had its roof put on. You can see the road up to the house which goes past the passion fruit vines and around the big Baobab tree. On the horizon (on the second peninsula) is Mtwara town.