Kipepeo beach resort is a popular getaway from Dar. The good thing about Kigamboni is that it takes some effort and time to get there so it is not overrun and there’s usually no shortage of loungers in the shade.
Three of us headed to the ferry on Saturday morning. We took our beach bags with towel, sun cream, novels, earphones and whatever we needed for a day on the beach. It felt like we were on holiday.
The Kigamboni ferry is a very short ride and apart from a single plum, I cannot remember getting anything else for 220 shillings. At the head of the queue in the cage in which we foot passengers have to wait are the bucket ladies. I don’t know what they have in their buckets but they carry them on their heads and when they have to wait, they ut them on the ground and use them as stools.
I was envious. It was already hot and sweaty even at 10am. Two ferries shuttle locals and a few foreigners across to another place. And it feels so different to Dar as soon as you get off the boat. The area around the ferry is full of life, street vendors, people pushing past with huge loads, cars and bajaj and motorbikes choking the road.
We walked through the crowds away from the dock and found a bajaj drier who was prepared to take three western-sized women in his bajaj to Kipepeo. We managed somehow to prize ourselves into the back of the small vehicle and 15 bumpy minutes later squeezed ourselves out like toothpaste, for the bajaj.
We paid our 5000/= and found a spot looking out over the Indian Ocean, laid our towels on the loungers and settled down for the day. Kigamboni beach is popular with young local boys who were playing in the water and wet sand. Occasionally the view was obstructed by beach vendors who tried but failed to sell us sarongs or coconuts. the signs at the resort asked customers not buy from them in order to stop them harassing customers.
We decided to walk back along the beach towards the ferry port past a line of trees with strange roots which at low tide protrude into the air. It was a strange sight to see roots growing upwards. Fishermen could be seen far out on the sand and in the distance container ships were waiting patiently to dock and unload.
Kigamboni is an ideal place to unwind and remind yourself why you’re in Tanzania – we are living other people’s dreams – a holiday every day.