Dar Es Salem feels like a prison

Aug 9 2009,

arrived in Dar Es Salem about 2 pm today with great expectations about starting our next two week Safari through some of the southern parks. Ooops, the first real glitch of our trip - my bag with my clothes and personal effects failed to arrive on our flight from Arusha. We are scheduled to leave at 8:30 am for an 8 hour drive to the Selous Park - needless to say we don't want to go for two weeks in the bush without my change of clothes - plus other things for Zanzibar etc.

Due to good management I have all my photo gear, computer gear and images with me. and one change of clothes in a second bag. I have all the really essential stuff!

I have filed a lost bag report and everyone assures me it will arrive tomorrow - but I am not sure until it actually arrives. It is Sunday here as well. Precision Air has a history of leaving behind bags if they think the airplane load is too high - but I didn't see anyone else filing a missing bag report, hmmm.

Dar Es Salem feels like a prison. Especially if your are white. Arusha was bad too. We are advised to not go out alone, even in daylight if we are carrying cell phones, cameras, jewellry etc., and definitely not at night. Especially do not carry all of your valuables and security id with you - but of couse that is a Catch 22 - and the bad guys know it. Just like bears learn that that back-packers have food in their packs, the bad guys know that tourist have all of their stuff with them when moving hotels.

But when going out, take a taxi, even if your are going only one block from your hotel. And only take a taxi if it has been ordered by your hotel. And only take what you will need for that outing.

Don't carry valuables with you, etc. Bad guys watch the hotels waiting for white people to wander out without protection. This hotel in Dar Es Salem offers to send security gurds with guests even off of the property. Every bank has security around the clock watching their ATMs etc. Sandy and I walked for a couple of blocks - every business was fenced with guard houses staffed with uniformed security people.

In Arusha Sandy and I left our hotel to have dinner at another hotels' Indian restaurant. It was a block and a half away. We figured we'd go early so we could walk back in dusk and that would be ok. But the restaurant was slow, dinner was longer than the sunset and it was dark when we proceeded to walk to our hotel. But the hotel security staff stopped us and insisted we take a taxi the two blocks, "not safe after dark - last week a tourist had her arm slashed because she tried to hang on to her passport."

Hmm, we do feel a bit like we are confined. One has to take taxis if one wants to go anywhere - ie, to an ATM, or a restaurant. Sandy and I like to be able to walk and enjoy a city.

Otherwise we have had an amazing time so far. The nice people are incredibly nice, warm and effusive. We have stayed in some amazing lodges. Will post some images, next.

cheers,

Brian & Sandy