TAZARA Far More Luxurious

 
I recently traveled on the train. Though in many ways the journey was what I hoped it would be, it also had its share of surprises. It was far more luxurious (meals could be ordered and brought to the cabin, for example) but also took a fair bit longer than I thought it would. Here's what it was like to spend several days on board for the price of a pair of movie tickets.

Ben Mack (to be continued) 

Train to Dar es Salaam - Scenic Train Ride

Even though I didn't get to see much wildlife, the scenery was incredible, the train was comfortable, and the price was so affordable that I'd do it again. The Tazara is a local passenger train that goes from Zambia to Tanzania —

 and is supposed to be one of the world's most scenic train rides, according to The Guardian, offering a chance to see some of Africa's famous wildlife, like elephants, zebras, lions, giraffes, and more as it travels for days. The BBC reported that it was like going "back to train travel of a bygone era."

Ben Mack (to be continued) 

On TAZARA train to Dar es Salaam

 Hoping to experience an African safari on a budget, I recently traveled first class on the Tazara train from Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for $20.

The journey was supposed to take three days, but because of several delays it ended up taking four.

The views were terrific, the food was surprisingly good, and there were numerous amenities including a lounge, but after a while it did seem to drag on.

Ben Mack (to be continued) 

Sudan to Egypt 25 Would I Recommend Taking the Ferry from Sudan to Egypt?

 Despite how the above ended up sounding, I’d still recommend it. If I’d been feeling less completely done with long bus rides, I’d probably have taken that instead, but I’m glad I didn’t. Despite the discomfort and the hassle when arriving, it was a border crossing with a difference. If you’re tight on time or arriving in Wadi Halfa on a day that’s nowhere near when the ferry from Sudan to Egypt leaves, though, just take the bus. It’s not worth waiting around for, but I’d say that it is worth doing if your days line up.

Sudan to Egypt 24 Time for a beer

 A few minutes later, he was back with our friend the colonel in tow, who soon had us out of the dock and on our way into the city.

Not the most relaxed entry to Egypt that we could have had, but honestly, considering how long we’d been awake (not really counting an hour or two on the boat) and the amount of needless bureaucracy that we were encountering, I’m not surprised that we were both feeling irate with the whole process. Time for a beer.

(to be continued)

Sudan to Egypt 23 Pointless Delays

 Nope, still not going anywhere. What, you want to leave the port? How about instead you spend over an hour sitting in front of the locked exit gate? How does that sound?

As you can probably imagine, we weren’t too happy by this point at all of the pointless delays that we were encountering. I pestered a few police officers until we were able to find out what the hold up was – apparently, someone had lost their passport. So everyone else had to wait. Of course, that makes perfect sense. I complained at the only officer who’d been helpful so far, and he said to leave it with him.

(to be continued)

Sudan to Egypt 22 Confusion

 They kept asking if my visa from last time was my new one, no matter how many times I told them I needed to buy one. In the end, they stamped me in, and as they didn’t have any stickers, added a note to the stamp in Arabic that said to issue me the sticker and take payment in Cairo. 

Ruth had an e-visa, and we were pretty sure this must have been the first time anyone had come through this particularly checkpoint with one from the amount of confusion that that caused them. But, stamps obtained, we could finally head out into Aswan.

(to be continued)