Uluguru Mts., Morogoro, 15-16th May 2004

 

 

 

 


Two 'stein bra' (jolly good) days in the mountains
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hans-Jacob, DK,
Kawasaki 650KLX		 Idar, N,
Honda 250XRL		 Henrik, DK,
Honda 600XR

 

 

 

 


The view of the mountains from our hotel
Breakfast. Idar

Preparing the bikes. Henrik and Hans-Jacob
Ran out of petrol going from the hotel to the filling station!!!! So I had to borrow from Idar. Henrik

 

 

 

 

The map on the left is a printout of GPS-recorded tracks, added up with artwork. The right one is a scanned map. The GPS map is the most precise, yet the other gives more information. Saturday we rode on the western side and Sunday on the eastern.


Using GPS we tried to find a way over the Uluguru Mountains from the area around Bunduki village to Mambani village. We didn't succeed, the mountains were too steep. Another day, with more time, we can try some small walking tracks, however, it will involve carrying the bikes over obstacles. We talked to a villager who volunteered to show us a possible track another time, so now we know where to go.
 

 

 

 

 

On the road up to Mgeta, there were sections with tarmac. Henrik and Hans-Jacob
Henrik

 

 

 

 

Refuelling in Mgeta. Hans-Jacob

 

 

 

 

Between Mgeta and Bunduki. Hans-Jacob and Henrik
Idar and Hans-Jacob
Idar
Henrik

 

 

 

 

In Bunduki village

 

 

 

 



Climbing up from Bunduki, initially there was a car road, later walking tracks. Hans-Jacob
Looking down at Bunduki village. See map
Half way to where we turned around, realising that we were not to cross those mountains, at least not that day. Hans-Jacob and Henrik

 

 

 

 

Towards Luwale. A 'soft' fall! In the grass. Had he fallen an additional meter to the right he might not have been 'visible' -- we were indeed in the mountains. Idar

Ten minutes later... Good it's a Honda and Idar is a Viking. He got a bit of pain in a shoulder, but as he said, "that's the price you have to pay for riding!" Idar
Idar after the two falls. Compare to the picture on the top of this page


 

 

 

 


Returning late afternoon to Kola Hill Hotel, just outside Morogoro town.

At the hotel there was another (kind of) bike. "Message sent", it says


 


 

 

 



Sunday two of us went up on the eastern side of the mountains, to try to get over from the other side.

 

Hans-Jacob was down with amoebic dysentery Sunday, -- we didn't take any pictures of that...

 

After Tegetero, towards Mambani.

As everywhere else in Tanzania, you meet villagers the most unexpected places. They were happy to get visitors that high up in the mountains

Henrik
Idar

Idar

Henrik
Looking over the final ridge that separated us from the valley with the Bunduki village. See red line for the challenge of the next trip. Mambani village to the right in the picture. Henrik
Reaching Mambani village, we had to turn around. No more time. Yet, we talked to a villager and he said he could go with us another day to cross the last ridge that separated us from the valley in which Bunduki village is. According to the GPS it's only eight kilometres. Children gathered to watch us!
Stopping for re-hydration while heading back to Morogoro.

 

 

 

 

Couldn't get a new tyre before the trip. It was a bit of a challenge to ride with this worn-out one, -- good we didn't encounter a lot of mud. Henrik