JAHAZI issue 06 - Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, AZAM Marine

Issue 6 Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries

Ocean jewel The pristine paradise of Chumbe Island nature reserve

Secret Tanzania The little known places that should be on your travel list Zanzibar money Come for a holiday, stay to invest Also inside

TURUNESH Your Free Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Magazine

Singer's second album is a feast for the senses

In this issue Feature pages

Bookings: azammarine.com

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Welcome Safari njema

+255 22 2123324

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Dhows in numbers

Follow us: @azammarine

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Zanzibar’s best beaches Our guide to finding the sandy spot that suits you

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Investing in Zanzibar Journalist Ingrid Kim on why a holiday to the islands turned into a longer stay

kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

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Chumbe Island How award-winning nature reserve sets example of world-leading eco-tourism

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Secret Tanzania The little known places that should be on your travel list

Jahazi is the official magazine of

Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Opposite St Joseph Cathedral Sokoine Drive, PO Box 2517 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 22 212 3324 Email: info@azammarine.com Web: azammarine.com Jahazi is published by: Land & Marine Publications (Tanzania) Ltd. 4th floor, Josam House Block A, along Coca Cola Road Mikocheni Area, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 686 118 816 www.landmarine.com

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From dhows to designer furniture A team of Nungwi carpenters giving a second life to the historic sailing craft

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Meet Turunesh

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Sultry singer should be on your new playlist 32

Screen time How to stop being a slave to your smartphone

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Business talk Why teamwork is the key to productivity

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Swahili story time / Wakati wa hadithi Ndotu Tamu / The sweet dream

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Advertising sales: Catherine O’Callaghan Tel: +44 (0)7944 212063 (WhatsApp) Email: catherineocallaghan@landmarine.com

Jahazi regulars

Godfrey S. Urassa Tel: +255 (0) 686 118 816 (WhatsApp) Email: godfreyurassa@landmarine.com Editor: Mark Edwards markedwards@landmarine.com Head office: Land & Marine Publications Ltd. 1 Kings Court, Newcomen Way, Severalls Business Park, Colchester, Essex, UK, CO4 9RA Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: publishing@landmarine.com Jahazi is printed by: Jamana Printers Ltd, Dar es Salaam The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions. ©2021 Land & Marine Publications Ltd.

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Competition Win a VIP return trip from Dar to Zanziba

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In pictures Kilimanjaro IV caught on camera

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Our fleet Travel in style Upgrade options

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Travel information Our services, travel tips and ferry schedules

Top five

Puzzle page

Experiences you must try in Tanga

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Technology review

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Our destinations

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Route maps

New year resolutions

Read Jahazi online: qrs.ly/fhdijnv

Family fun and puzzles

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Welcome Karibu Safari njema It is my pleasure to welcome you onboard your ferry crossing with Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, the number one ferry company in East Africa.

We started out with just one vessel, the Mv Muungano, but now have a fleet of air-conditioned catamarans that provide the best possible services for Tanzanians, international tourists and business travellers. Our passengers are very dear to us and we have made great efforts to ensure your experience with us is a positive one all the way from booking your tickets to the moment you arrive at your destination.

Issue 6 Cover image by Chicop

Follow us: @azammarine kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

Our online ticket purchasing system is a quick and easy way to plan and pay for your journey in advance. Boarding is similarly hassle free thanks to the design of our vessels and our carefully organised boarding protocols.

Once we are under way, passengers can sit back and enjoy the journey with in-cabin features such as personal entertainment systems and a range of available refreshments competing for your attention with the spectacular Indian Ocean views from the cabin windows. Our ferry crossings are safe and speedy and deliver you right into the heart of Stone Town or Dar es Salaam for your business or leisure engagements.

Another bonus to travelling with us is getting to sit back and enjoy the latest edition of our onboard magazine, Jahazi! Once again, we have brought together the people and places that make the Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar so special.

You can now keep up with the latest Azam Marine and KFF news as well as some amazing images of our fleet in action on our new Instagram page @azam_marine

‘Your Safety is our Priority’.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries www.azammarine.com

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Sailing dhows

Dhows in numbers

Sailing dhows have been used for coastal trade in the Indian Ocean for centuries. They are still a big part of life in Zanzibar with the islands’ skilled boatbuilders making them by hand for use as trade vessels, fishing boats and leisure craft. Here Jahazi runs the numbers on these beautiful boats.

1,001 Nights

The classic collection of Middle Eastern folk tales – that includes favourites such as Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba – makes mention of dhows, including various ports where they harboured.

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There are two prevailing trade winds that sweep along the coast of East Africa. Kaskazi, Swahili for ‘northern wind’, blows from the northeast between December and March and bring dhows south towards Zanzibar and Madagascar. While Kusi, the ‘southern wind’, blows from the southeast between July and September, driving dhows from east Africa towards Oman, the Persian Gulf and India.

160 to 225 km per day In the 1700s dhows used as trading vessels would travel close to 5,000 km between the Middle East and the East African coast. They would cover 160 to 225 km a day downwind.

600 BC The first references to dhows can be found in ancient Greek texts dating back over two millennia.

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The number of nails used to build a dhow. It may stem from an ancient belief that there were magnets under the sea that would suck any nails out of a vessel, but even today dhows are built with cord made from coconut husks used to lash together the planks of the decks and gunwales.

30 people

3 months

The number of crew required for the largest dhows, but most will usually hold close to a dozen.

Since the dhows are made with wood or timber, they need maintenance every three months. The traditional method in Zanzibar uses ‘kalafati’, a fat cotton soaked in coconut oil, which is stuffed between the timber.

40 to 50

Made with different woods such as teak and rosewood, dhows were built to last and sail at sea for an average of 40 to 50 years.

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Competition A chance to win A VIP return trip from Dar to Zanzibar

How to enter To be in with a chance of winning this prize, answer the three questions below (they are all based on features in the magazine where you’ll find the answers). Email the answers, along with a photograph of you holding Issue 6 of Jahazi on your KFF journey to competition@landmarine.org by the closing date: 12 May 2022.

Answer these three questions Which of Zanzibar Island’s beaches hosts the famous full moon parties?

Which two Zanzibar islands will first benefit from World Mobile’s floating aerostat wi-fi coverage?

Healthcare organisation CCBRT has hospitals in two Tanzanian cities. Can you name them?

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ow do you like the idea of traveling between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in VIP style and all for free? Well, that’s exactly what’s on offer in Jahazi’s prize competition this issue. Thanks to Azam Marine and KFF, one lucky winner will win a VIP return ticket from Dar ferry terminal to Stone Town port on Zanzibar Island.

The journey across the Zanzibar Channel will be experienced in comfort and luxury in the catamaran’s VIP Lounge. They can relax in

the airplane-style leather seats and enjoy the great views and plenty of natural light from the surrounding floor-to ceiling windows. The winner will also enjoy free wi-fi, their own personal entertainment console with a library of films and TV programmes, complimentary drinks and snacks and – surely best of all – the latest issue of Jahazi to read at their leisure.

Last issue’s winner Competition terms and conditions: Prizes dependent on availability. One entry per person. Entrants must be 18 years or over. The decision of the organisers will be final. The competition is not open to employees and their relatives of Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, Azam Marine or Land & Marine Publications Ltd. The prize does not include travel to and from destinations.

Congratulations to Elle Shija who wins a VIP return trip from Dar to Zanzibar.

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Follow on pages

An unforgettable experience A golden daybreak and crystal clear, tranquil waters stretching to the horizon. These wonderful pictures of Kilimanjaro IV in all her glory show that travelling with Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries is an unforgettable experience. The images were captured by Kambi Juma Lila, a Dar es Salaam School of Journalism graduate who started out in 2016 taking pictures on his iPhone and now runs his own studio focusing on wedding photography, fashion and nature shoots as well as photojournalism. You can check out more of his work on Instagram @kambitroshot or get in touch via email at kambijuma25@gmail.com

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Photography: Kambi Juma Lila

IN PICTURES

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Beaches

ZANZIBAR’S BEST BEACHES Zanzibar Island (Unguja) is ringed with idyllic white sand beaches so how do you select the one best suited to your holiday goals? Here’s our guide.

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Picturesque Mnemba Atoll

For water sports…

Paje Located on the southeast coast, Paje beach is known for its water sports and excellent kitesurfing conditions. Its inland lagoon of flat calm, knee-high water is an ideal nursery for novices while beyond the reef there are swells and breaks to test the experts. On windless days there are stand-up paddleboards to hire, or you can snorkel or scuba amid the teeming marine life of the reef. The water sports community are a laidback bunch that blend in nicely with the peaceful village life here, which includes a street food market each evening and a host of welcoming beach bars and cafes.

For an exclusive escape…

Mnemba Island If you’re looking to splash out on a sandy stay, Mnemba Island, off the north-eastern tip of Unguja, is a blissful beach sanctuary. The private coral atoll’s lodge features 12 beachside bandas for a maximum of 24 guests with previous occupants including Tom Cruise, Naomi Campbell and Bill Gates to give you

an idea of the level of exclusivity were talking about here. As you’d expect the beaches are pristine and the turquoise seas surrounding the island offer irresistible snorkelling and swimming directly from the beach.

For the best beach parties…

Nungwi Beach With its long stretch of powder fine white sand and gently shelving waters, Nungwi Beach on the northwest coast is one of the most popular spots on the island. The popularity has brought investment and the numerous beach resorts, hotels, restaurants and bars provide plenty of choice for activities and entertainment that carry on well after the sun has sunk into the ocean.

However, Nungwi is not just for party goers. It is a thriving fishing village and the home of the ancient art of dhow building. You can take on a sunset cruise on one of these traditional sailing craft or head out snorkelling when dolphins and green turtles may well be your swimming companions.

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Beaches

For the best sunsets…

Kendwa Beach A short way south of Nungwi is Kendwa Beach, which has a quieter air. Unusual in Zanzibar, the tide here rarely changes, leaving excellent all-day swimming and snorkelling opportunities with the clear water revealing a host of starfish just offshore. Just as colourful are the legendary sunsets here, which usher in a distinct change of personality in Kendwa. As night falls the beach parties begin, including, every month, the full-moon festival at the Kendwa Rocks resort that attracts revellers from across the island.

dibrova / Shutterstock.com

As night falls the beach parties begin, including, every month, the fullmoon festival at the Kendwa Rocks resort

For a family holiday…

Kiwengwa Beach The long, uncrowded stretch of beach here is ideal if you have young children.

The water shelves gently so is ideal for safe swimming and once the tide goes out a fascinating marine zoo is revealed, which young ones will love to explore on foot with rock pools exposed filled with crabs and starfish.

The palm-lined beach also offers stalls selling handicrafts as well as a number of restaurants and snack bars for when hunger hits.

For the best swimming…

Pongwe Beach This isolated arc of a beach is a picture postcard paradise with hammocks tied between coconut trees fringing the sand and dense vegetation beyond.

When high tide arrives, the cove is cut off from the rest of the coast, creating a true haven of tranquillity. The beach also benefits from being protected by an offshore reef, which keeps the inner waters calm and safe for all to swim in.

Snorkelling and boat trips can also be arranged out to the reef.

To escape the crowds…

Beautiful views from Kendwa beach

Michamvi Beach Michamvi is a peninsula on the central east coast of the island with a spectacular shoreline of unbroken – and often unpopulated –beaches. The peninsula consists of two parts.

On the eastern side is MichamviPingwe, with a coral lagoon and palmfringed beaches set in a string of scenic coves between high coral-rag cliffs. On the western side is Michamvi-Kae, which faces west towards the glassy waters of Chwaka Bay. The nearby fringe reef and the lagoon offer excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities.

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Zanzibar

COME FOR A HOLIDAY stay to invest in Zanzibar

In August 2020, after months of lockdown, Russia opened its borders to just two countries: Tanzania and Turkey. Journalist Ingrid Kim opted for a beach break in Zanzibar and loved it so much she has returned for a year-long stay during which she hopes to encourage more of her compatriots of the leisure and investment potential here.

I

remember a Russian diplomat telling me about the wonders of Zanzibar, but I never thought that I would ever get to Africa.

But when, after months of lockdown, the Russian government opened borders in August 2020 for just two destinations, Tanzania and Turkey, I knew which to choose.

Having visited Turkey many times, I decided to venture to Africa for the first time. I flew by Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa.

The 10-day trip was well organised by tour agency Africa Escapes

Beach Bungalows, enjoying all the attractions of one of main island Unguja’s best beaches.

I fell in love with the place and did what many of my fellow Russian holidaymakers have come to do – I decided to return and stay a full year. I am very much enjoying my time here, but it has not been without its obstacles.

and I stayed at Kendwa Sunset

the historic buildings in Stone Town.

Accommodation Finding a place to rent is not easy.

The rental prices for private houses are very expensive, especially if like me you set your heart on one of

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Zanzibar

is providing good conditions for investors and partners, especially for the development conception of green and blue economy projects.

The economy of Zanzibar is flourishing. Only a lack of appropriate information of investment conditions and rules is causing some potential foreign investors delays or problems in realising it.

That is why I decided to open my consultation company to assist Russians or Ukrainians or other clients from all the world to launch their businesses and promote their projects. The challenge for Eastern investors is that few of them speak English so I am helping to translate from both sides.

Shutterstock.com

There is a lot going on here with different ideas and projects. All that is required is support from potential investors

Having had to put up with a lot of cold weather in Russia, a lot of my compatriots stay by the beach and make the most of the hot weather here. It seems that I am alone in wanting to stay in Stone Town where I can conduct all my business meetings and have the travel options of the port and airport nearby. I like that you can easily set up your own company

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even you are not resident and buy land and start a new business. As a result, Zanzibar is attracting plenty of business projects from foreign investors.

I like the stable political situation here in Tanzania and have been really impressed with how the youth of the country are so active here. I have seen many examples of them developing progressive projects in art, climate change or environmental pollution and business growth.

Government support I have not found Zanzibar a sleepy-island alternative to the business-minded mainland.

There is a lot going on here with different ideas and projects. All that is required is support from potential investors. The government

Investment drive

Zanzibar: ‘A tourism experience like nowhere in the world’

I hope that in the future Zanzibar organises more events for business networking on a level with fashion and music festivals that are already so well supported here. I also look forward to the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority, which is at the forefront of the investment drive in the archipelago, connecting with consultants such as myself so I can obtain fresh information about business conditions for my clients. The global tourism industry has taken a significant hit because of Covid, however during the pandemic Zanzibar has been working non-stop to create a tourism experience here like nowhere in the world. Let’s get the world involved.

More information To find out more about Ingrid’s investment consultancy services in Zanzibar, visit dhow-consulting.com or @ingridaworld on Instagram

Chumbe Island

Island sets example of

Oskar Henriksson

WORLD-LEADING ECO-TOURISM

Chumbe Island in the Zanzibar archipelago has been a private nature reserve for more than 25 years, protecting a diverse array of life on land and amid its surrounding coral reef sanctuary. All the award-winning conservation work is funded by ecotourism with day trips and overnight stays giving visitors a chance to share in the pristine splendour. Here, the island’s sustainable tourism consultant, Diana Körner, provides an introduction to one of Zanzibar’s most exclusive escapes.

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Chumbe Island

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n the early 1990s German aid worker Sibylle Riedmiller created Chumbe Island Coral Park (Chicop) Ltd, a not-forprofit company set up for the sole purpose of establishing and sustainably managing the Chumbe Island marine protected area (MPA).

The concept grew to become the first financially self-sustainable MPA in the world and to date it is still one of only two such areas in the world that is entirely self-financing. The reserve includes a fully protected coral reef sanctuary, forest reserve, education centre and ecolodge.

Flora and fauna The 550,000 sq m coral reef sanctuary has the highest marine biodiversity in Zanzibar and the 170,000 sq m closed forest reserve also has a rich array of life. The reef sanctuary is a fully gazetted 100% no-take zone so no fishing can take place in its waters. Effective management of Chumbe’s fish nursery in the reef sanctuary meets globally accredited ‘pristine’ standards.

The reef is home to 514 fish and 59 hard coral species. Hawksbill and green turtles visit regularly, as do dolphins. One of the conservation successes of Chumbe Island is the return of a healthy population of blacktip reef sharks.

There is also a large and thriving coconut crab population here, which has become a study base for international researchers and students. The forest reserve is home to at least 80 bird species, more than 20 butterfly species and the critically endangered Ader’s duiker. In order to improve the future of this threatened species, Chicop began to work with the Department of Forestry to establish

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an Ader’s duiker sanctuary in the Chumbe forest reserve in 1995. In 1998 and 2000 a small breeding population of six Ader’s duikers was then translocated from Mtende Region to the fully protected forest reserve of Chumbe Island.

Monitoring procedures such as hidden video cameras have since been put in place to monitor these shy creatures.

A recent survey in 2021 found 178 species of plants in the forest reserve, belonging to 159 genera and 63 families. Of these, 82 per cent are considered to be indigenous – making Chumbe Island an area of important biodiversity value among East African coastal forests.

The survey, which was supported by the US Forestry Service, revealed new and rare species for Zanzibar.

Ecotourism funding conservation Chumbe Island operates as a social enterprise with all revenues generated through ecotourism directly financing the conservation and environmental education programmes for local community members. Chumbe Island’s conservation work involves roundthe-clock patrolling of the private marine protected area by a fully trained team of patrol rangers.

Omari Nyange is Chumbe Island’s head ranger. As a former fisherman, he played a key role in building a relationship of trust and cooperation between Chumbe as a private marine protected area and local fishing communities.

Omari and his team of rangers have reduced illegal fishing attempts and poaching attempts in the park to a minimum, through a non-confrontational approach based on education and awareness

Images by Chicop

Guests to the island can enjoy Chumbe on a day trip from Zanzibar or choose to stay overnight in one of the seven eco bungalows

raising, thereby creating positive economic benefits for local communities while protecting the highly diverse Chumbe reef.

Omari and his team regularly visit surrounding local fishing villages to talk about the benefits of marine conservation and host local stakeholders on the island for educative visits.

Omari Nyange is the island’s head ranger

Ecotourism experience Guests to the island can enjoy Chumbe on a day trip from Zanzibar or choose to stay overnight in one of the seven eco bungalows, completely immersed in nature and with a clean conscience as solarpower, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets allow for a zero

One of the island’s eco bungalows

impact overnight. The bungalows

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Chumbe Island

Single-use plastics have been eliminated from all tourism operations and Chumbe Island works closely with local recycling initiatives

are inspired by African building traditions and constructed in an open style, entirely from natural and sustainable building material.

Activities on the island include snorkel tours, forests walks, climbs up to the iconic lighthouse as well as nightly walks through the forest to observe coconut crabs.

All activities are led by Chumbe’s guiding rangers who ensure an educative, fun and safe experience for visitors of all ages.

The food experience on Chumbe Island has been rated by many visitors as one of the best in Zanzibar,

sourced ingredients served as traditional Swahili dishes. Guest can dine overlooking the Indian Ocean under the stars at night and with their feet in the sand. Chumbe Island can accommodate up to 18 guests on the island, allowing for an exclusive island get-away in nature. Single-use plastics have been eliminated from all tourism operations and Chumbe Island works closely with local recycling initiatives. Its island boutique supports local artisans and women cooperatives.

Chumbe Island’s ecotourism model has won numerous international awards, including ‘Best in

with locally and sustainably

Africa’ of the Green Destination

Facilities

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Thriving: a coconut crab on Chumbe Island

Top 100 Sustainable Destinations.

It was also a Leader in Sustainable Tourism finalist in the ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ awards by the World Travel and Tourism Council, was included in the New York Times ‘1000 places to see before you die’ and named one of the world’s best eco lodges by National Geographic.

More information To find out more call +255 242 231 040, email book@chumbeisland.com or visit chumbeisland.com

Top five

EXPERIENCES YOU MUST TRY IN

TANGA

Initially intended to be the capital of Tanzania in colonial times, Tanga is now on few travel itineraries, largely overlooked in favour of the headline-grabbing attractions of Arusha and Zanzibar to its north and south, respectively. However, it would be a pity to pass this Swahili coast port town by. It’s the gateway to the drop-dead gorgeous Usambara Mountains, fringes a protected stretch of the Indian Ocean that is home to a fish unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs and its historic centre is full of fascinating architectural reminders of its cosmopolitan trading heyday. Make sure you check out these attractions on your next visit.

Go diving in the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park This recently declared park was set up to protect a 100km stretch of coastline from north of Pangani River estuary to Mafuriko village just north of Tanga City and its local population of prehistoric coelacanth (pronounced see-lah-canth) fish. This massive deep-sea creature – adults can grow up to two metres in length and weigh in at 90kg – was sought to have been extinct for around 60 million years with only fossils surviving to tell of its existence. However, scientists have

been shocked to find it alive and well off the coast of East Africa, turning up in fishing nets off Tanga, Malindi in Kenya and the Comoros Islands. Clues to why this prehistoric creature has survived in the Tanga waters and that there may be a resident population here come from the sharp slopes and steps in the reefs here which contain caves at a depth of 150 metres ideal to hide the coelacanth in the cool waters it enjoys. Here it drift feeds on smaller fish, eels and cuttlefish, steering with

paddle-like fins thought to be the beginnings of the first land vertebrates to evolve from life in the sea. The Tanga park has a record of harbouring bizarre marine creatures with its waters also home to the endangered dugong, with its mermaid-like tail, although sightings are now increasingly rare. You’ll also find sea turtles and hundreds of species of fish so the diving opportunities here are not to be missed.

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Top five

Take a tour of Urithi Tanga Museum

Visit Tongoni Village

These extensive caves are considered the ‘jewel in Tanga’s crown’ and exploring them with a guide on a torch-lit tour is a true adventure. The limestone labyrinth, located near Amboni village 8km northwest of Tanga, is thought to have been around since the Jurassic age 150 million years ago and many locals hold the belief that the network still houses ancient spirits with supernatural powers. Some of the caves have been designated ‘mizimu’ or sacred sites where shrines have been set up to make offerings to the spirits.

Your guide will show you some of them, including one believed to house a powerful deity that can alleviate sickness, suffering and increase fertility.

You’ll also get to see the sculptural stalagmites and stalagtites that have formed over centuries from mineral deposits in the caves. The tour focuses on a small section of the caves. Just how far the rest extends has long been the subject of local legend with the caves originally thought to reach all the way into Kenya and there’s plenty of cautionary tales about people entering never to be seen again. Better hold on tight to your guide!

Take the coastal road south to Pangani (also worth a visit if you have time) and you’ll come the tiny fishing village of Tongoni and its fascinating collection of crumbling ancient tombs overlooking the ocean. Among the ruins is the remains of a mosque and around 20 tombs, the largest collection of their kind in East Africa. Both the tombs and mosque date back to the 14th or 15th century, a time when Tongoni was a thriving Swahili trading centre whose visitors included Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama – albeit inadvertently, his ship ran aground there – was much taken with the quality of oranges grown here, professing them far superior to the ones at home.

Among the ruins is the remains of a mosque and around 20 tombs, the largest collection of their kind in East Africa Halidtz | Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA-4.0

Tanga became a key military post in German East Africa in the years leading up to the First World War and there are many colonial buildings in the city have survived. Most are in a state of faded grandeur, but the Old Boma has been renovated to now house the Urithi Tanga Museum, which has plenty of historical photos and artefacts from the area to document the city’s storied history. Staff are knowledgeable and there are regular tours to reveal the stories behind the exhibits. For example, did you know the District Official of Tanga under German rule Paul llaire was a keen botanist and discovered the first African Violet in the cloud forest of the Usambara Mountains. Subsequent cross breeding has made the beautiful blue flower popular across the world.

Explore the Amboni Caves

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Go shopping at Uzunguni Market Founded in 1903, this is Tanzania’s first modern market and it is still going strong today. Located in the city’s commercial centre, the covered market is packed with stalls laden with locally grown fruit and vegetables spices while next door is the fish market, selling the catch of the day. The market is also a great place for souvenirs with a fantastic selection of local handicrafts such as woven bags, sculptures, jewellery and musical instruments.

Taking time to browse here is a feast for the senses and an opportunity to soak up urban Tanzanian life in a friendly, relaxed way.

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Unzip Tanzania

Tanzania’s

BEST

ATTRACTIONS you may never have heard of

Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti and Zanzibar may grab the headlines, but the world-renowned triptych only scratches the surface of Tanzania’s wealth of natural wonders. Adventure travel company Unzip Tanzania aims to showcase some of the country’s more under-the-radar attractions through its group holiday adventures. Founder Fahad Fuad (right) explains how the homegrown company aims to get more Tanzanians exploring their country and reveals some of his favourite untapped destinations.

A

s a content creator, Fahad Fuad has been “privileged” to explore his home country extensively. Now he wants to encourage more Tanzanians to catch the travel bug and see more of the wonders of their own country. “Tanzania is so beautiful, and I want to enthuse more people to get out there and see it,” he says. Four years ago, he set up travel company Unzip Tanzania, which organises group trips to some of the country’s most remote and wonderful locations, such as the near-forgotten historic Swahili port of Pangani and hidden wildlife gem Mkomazi National Park. The eco-friendly trips – with plenty of hiking and camping they are designed to leave no trace on the environment – aim to enthuse young Tanzanians with a love of travel and an appreciation of their country. “You cannot protect what you do not love or do not know,” says Fahad. “Our customers get to see how beautiful this country is and are moved to champion and sustain it. That’s why we started Unzip Tanzania.”

The group travel means there is plenty of opportunity to meet new friends as well as new parts of the country. “The group travel means whoever wants to join in – single travellers, friends, whoever – are welcome. They

For an island wildlife getaway…

Mafia Island

A deserted beach on Mafia Island

For me, this is the most splendid beach destination we have in Tanzania. Its coral reefs attract whale sharks, which you can swim with for an unforgettable experience. The island is far less crowded with tourists than Zanzibar Island is a perfect destination for a beach getaway.

will have a beautiful experience.” Here, Fahad shares some of his favourite secret getaways.

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Unzip Tanzania

This lush, fertile area now has an area designated as a natural forest reserve

Kapologwe waterfalls, Mbeya Uyolecte | Wikimedia Commons | CC-BYSA-4.0

For a beautiful adventure…

For wildlife free of For a hidden human life… mountain gem…

Mbeya

Mkomazi National Park

Mgeta

This city might not have the wildest experiences such as in Arusha, but Mbeya is the most adventurous destination in Tanzania due its beautiful landscape and range of unique experiences such as Kaporogwe waterfalls, a natural huge water drop in the Livingstone Mountains. You’ll also find Matema beach on Lake Ngosi, coffee and tea plantations to explore, the beautiful ‘Serengeti of Flowers’

Tanzania has 22 National Parks and Mkomazi is one the most unique and underrated of them. It is home to breeding sanctuaries for the critically endangered black rhinos and wild dogs and you can get to see the most rare of antelopes, the gerenuk. As a safe place for these endangered species, it gives hope for the ecosystem and is the perfect wilderness getaway.

A true hidden beauty that lies within the Uluguru mountain range in Morogoro. This lush, fertile area now has an area designated as a natural forest reserve. A trip here is an opportunity to experience the real life or rural Tanzania and get to see the spectacular Hululu waterfalls.

Kitulo National Park and volcanic crater Lake Kisiba.

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More information To find out about the latest Unzip Tanzania adventures – including a trip into the Udzungwa Mountains from March 26 to 28 – visit the Facebook site @unziptanzania, email contact@unziptanzania.co.tz or call +255 769 966 190.

For close encounters with chimpanzees…

For history lovers…

For sensational sunrises…

Gombe National Park

Kilwa Kisiwani

Udzungwa National Park

This is the smallest of all the national parks in Tanzania, but with no roads and only forest trails it is one of the wildest. It borders Lake Tanganyika and is home to troops of habituated chimpanzees – a population that has been the key to understanding this close relation to humans through the pioneering work of primatologist Jane Goodall. The chimpanzees are one of the most rare species to witness when in Tanzania and making your way to Kigoma you can also get to experience sport fishing and learn more about the history of Tanzania and the expeditions

Lovers of Swahili culture must take an adventurous route to the island of Kilwa Kisiwani, a World Heritage Site that holds the remains of the oldest standing mosque in East Africa along with other vestiges of what was one of the most powerful Swahili settlements of the Middle Ages. When you’ve had enough soaking up the history, there are some amazing untouched beaches to enjoy here.

Last but not least is the Udzungwa National Park, set among forested mountains and containing a host of huge waterfalls, including Sanje Falls, the tallest and the largest within all the national parks of Tanzania. If you get the chance, make sure to camp and experience the sunrise at the Sanje campsite.

Your eyes will never have seen such beauty.

of British explorer and missionary Dr David Livingstone.

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Dhow Furniture

From Dhows to designer furniture Dhow boats are built to last with many of them sailing the Indian Ocean upwards of 60 years. However, a carpentry workshop in Nungwi, on Zanzibar Island, is giving these boats a second life even after they are no longer seaworthy by building amazing one-off furniture from their timber. Owner of Dhow Furniture Charles Elihaki Issack reveals how the handcrafted pieces created in his workshop are steeped in a uniquely Zanzibari history.

I

n 2008 when the owners of The Zanzibari, in Nungwi on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island, were looking to kit out the beachfront boutique hotel’s rooms and public areas with furniture that was both sustainable and entwined with the history of the Zanzibar archipelago they set up an experimental workshop, the Dhow Wood Recycling Project with local artisan Charles Elihaki Issack.

Dhows are intrinsically linked with the Swahili coast’s storied history of maritime trade with the handcrafted wooden vessels transporting goods from Persia, Arabia and India, their sails filled by the Indian Ocean’s monsoon winds.

While the sailing boats are still a familiar sight from the Zanzibar shore bobbing on the sparkling waves, wander the vanilla sand beaches here and you’re also likely to come across a number of abandoned boats – deemed no longer seaworthy by their owners

The project team set about stripping the wood from these old dhow boats with Issack and his carpenters then using it to build unique tables, beds, doors and sofas. Even the Zanzibari’s hotel bar was fashioned from a complete dhow, sail and all.

after many decades of service.

It has now been running 14 years

Handcrafted The sustainable furniture was made entirely from the reclaimed wood – with nothing wasted and no trees cut down – and each handcrafted item had its own story to tell. Feedback from hotels guests was hugely positive and Issack was soon getting a host of new commissions from other hotels and private homes on the island for more dhow-inspired work.

He set up his own studio, called Dhow Furniture, in the heart of the Nungwi fishing village and assembled a team of crack carpenters sourced from all corners of the island to help him meet demand.

A bookcase carved from the hull of a dhow

and has supplied some of the best-known hotels and restaurants in Zanzibar. Clients include PiliPili Family and Passion Boutique Hotel in Jambiani; Mr Kahawa restaurant and beach villas and beachfront resort Mahali Zanzibar in Paje; Kendwa Rocks Beach Resort; PiliPili National Park; Marafiki Beach Hotel and SeVi Boutique Hotel in Mateme; and Z-Lodge on Kiwengwa beach.

The furniture at The Zanzibari is still very much a part of the hotel’s charm some 15 years

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Dhow furniture

on – testament, Issack says, to the quality of his products, which inherit the renowned hardiness of the dhows themselves. “Dhows can have a life at sea of 60 years or so, sometimes even longer,” he tells me. “The wood can be local rosewood, teak, mango tree or acacia and it has all been treated with the salt water over the years at sea, so it is already insect and fungus proof.

We can guarantee our furniture will last for 20 years at least.”

The years at sea not only protect the wood they invest it with romance. A huge part of the appeal for Dhow Furniture’s customers is to be able to sit in a chair or lie back on a bed that has a past life of adventures across the ocean.

Issack says: “People love the history behind our furniture. Each piece is different and each has its own story to tell.”

Bespoke designs Issack extends the one-off nature of the furniture by working to his own designs. Larger pieces such as the Rubondo armchair, Bububu baby cot, Jambiani bed and the exquisite Kilimanjaro chair are a masterful merging of functionality and character. No wood is wasted, and Issack also designs far smaller items such as cutting boards, candle holders, jewellery boxes, soap dishes and dolphin-shaped salt and pepper dispensers.

The Dhow Furniture website has pages of Issack’s designs to choose from, but he will also work to customers’ bespoke requests or collaborate with them. His client base is now international. An outlet selling the furniture in Germany has helped spread the word in Europe and work has winged its way to Australia, Poland and Italy with a recent container filled with furniture and decorative items going to one

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address in Bulgaria.

Still, orders from Zanzibar and the mainland predominate. Today, Issack employs a team of around 25 to keep up with demand. “Some are professional carpenters, some are apprentices that we are training within the studio,” he tells me.

Issack sees the set-up as a way of promoting the “Made in Zanzibar” concept throughout the world and in the process creating many job opportunities within the local community.

Studio tours Visitors can come to the studio, browse and buy from the showroom and watch the skilled artisans at work. Each carpenter focuses on one piece of work at a time and sees it through from start to finish. This imbues the furniture with even more of a personal story and ensures the best results. “The members of my team all have their special strengths,” Issack says.

“Some are good bed makers; others are good with chairs. When I’m allocating a project, I take this into account and give it to the most qualified person.”

And what about the supply of wood? Nungwi is a busy fishing

The members of my team all have their special strengths. Some are good bed makers; others are good with chairs. When I’m allocating a project, I take this into account and give it to the most qualified person

The furniture graces hotels and restaurants across the island as well as in private homes

village and renowned as the centre of dhow boatbuilding on the island, but are there enough disused boats here and across the island to keep up with the orders for furniture?

“Usually, yes,” says Issack, “but, recently we have had to bring in broken dhows from the mainland and Pemba. My supply line in Zanzibar is strong. I have a good relationship with the fishermen here and when they find an abandoned boat, they’ll give me a call.”

It’s the start of a second life for the abandoned vessel and one that cherishes it once again for many years to come.

Examples of Dhow Furniture’s work at its workshop in Nungwi

More information To explore the range of furniture available or to contact the design team about a bespoke commission, visit dhowfurniture.com

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29

Turunesh

Turunesh released her second album, ‘Satin Cassette’, late last year

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Images by Jenn Xu @jennnerally

New Tanzanian talent:

TURUNESH Meet Turunesh, the self-styled ‘Swahili sex symbol’ whose latest release ‘Satin Cassette’ – a sultry slice of alternative Afropop – showcasews one of the hottest new artists on the continent.

Tanzanian singer-songwriter Turunesh is a versatile talent whose smooth and sexy music is a singular blend of neo-African soul and more traditional sounds. Towards the end of last year she released her second album, ‘Satin Cassette’. Tracks such as recent singles ‘Cigarette’ and ‘Rum and Butter’ are an unashamed celebration of sexual pleasure with the sultry voice of the self-proclaimed “Swahili sex symbol” and her hypnotic soundscapes combining to create a synaesthetic sensual experience. The Dar es Salaam singer got her first break as a 16-year-old performing at the city’s then regular showcase of emerging live music talent, ‘Alternative Nights’. Now in her early 20s, she has supported Afropop giants Burna Boy and Wizkid in Canada and is heading a wave of leftfield East African hitmakers with two EPs and two full albums released.

Turunesh also puts her own brave spin on traditional Tanzanian genres. In ‘Zanzibar Spice’, on the new album, she emulates taarab legend Bi Kidude, who she sees as paving the way for women such as herself to embrace their freedom of expression. The song makes coded references to the Swahili coming-of-age ritual of unyago in creating a modern anthem about women owning their sexuality.

Connect ‘Satin Cassette’ is available to stream or buy online. To connect with Turunesh, visit her Instagram page @turunesh.wav

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31

Screen time

How to stop being a slave to your

smartphone

Smartphones have revolutionised our lives, but are they also taking them over? If you want more ‘me’ time than screen time, Jahazi has some tips on streamlining your smartphone use.

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

There are lots of reasons to use Facebook such as article sharing, friend tagging and keeping up with your clubs, but the news feed rarely has anything positive to offer beyond whatever Facebook’s algorithm thinks will keep you clicking. To take back control, whenever you see a post from someone that annoys you, click or tap the three little dots in the top right corner of the post and select Unfollow to stop seeing their posts in your News Feed. You’ll keep them as friends, and they won’t get any kind of notification that you’re not following them. Their stuff just stops showing up in your feed.

If there are certain subjects you know are going to trigger some upset or will plunge you deep in a scroll hole, then you can mute them. It could be mentions of a particular TV show (you might be trying to avoid spoilers) or celebrities that annoy you. From the Twitter menu on desktop or mobile, choose Settings and privacy, followed

by Privacy and safety, then Mute and block, and Muted words. You can add new words and phrases via the Add button.

Whenever we get a notification on our phones through Instagram Direct we are tempted to open the app to see who ‘likes’ our latest photo or that meme a friend sent. So, turn off those notifications and then check them all at once when you mindfully decide to open the app. Tap Settings in the top left of your screen. Tap Notifications. Tap Push Notifications. Tap next to Off below the type of notification you want to remove (such as Reminders, Comments, Likes).

Restrict your news feed

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Mute words from your timeline

Turn off notifications

YouTube

Email

Watching videos on YouTube can be entertaining but watching one video can quickly turn into watching fifty if you’re not careful. YouTube makes falling down this video rabbit hole all too easy with its ‘suggested videos’ sidebar. To seal the hole, restrict your viewing to on your desktop and install the extension YouTube Rabbit Hole, which hides some of YouTube’s most attention-grabbing, time-wasting components. The extension offers the ability to hide the homepage, sidebar, comments, and the trending/subscription pages. You can toggle each option on and off at will by clicking the extension icon.

Several studies have shown that checking email frequently leads to higher levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Best then to set aside set times in the day to devote to reading and sending of emails. Pick three periods during the day – aside from the highest-energy periods – when you can set aside 30-60 minutes of your time to focus on emails. Batch your responses to emails during these time periods only. This should help you take control of your time, alleviate stress and set proper expectations of your email usage.

WhatsApp

TikTok

Set a time limit

LinkedIn

Disable your read receipts Getting your kicks from blue ticks can mean many anxious returns to WhatsApp to see if your message has been read by its recipient. It can also be stress inducing to read a message and then feel you have to respond immediately. Remove these stressors then by going to Settings, then Account, selecting Privacy and toggling read receipts to off.

How can videos which are so short take up so much of your time? TikTok is the Bermuda Triangle of social media, and many have got lost. The app is aware of how addictive it is and has time-limit options embedded. Go to Settings, Digital Well-being and the Screen Time Management to select a time limit of 40, 60, 90 or 120 minutes a day. Once your time is up, your screen locks until you enter a passcode or come back the next day.

When you follow someone on LinkedIn, new content posted or shared by the person will be displayed in your feed. These posts are often a cavalcade of annoying feeds from self-proclaimed ‘disruptive thinkers’, ghosting headhunters and sales pests. If they are getting to you, consider unfollowing them. Unlike removing or unfriending them, the person in question will be unaware of the move.

Install the extension

Pick a time of day

Unfollow anyone irritating

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33

NEW YEAR TECH If you’ve made a heap of New Year resolutions, but doubt your discipline to stick with them, let the latest gadgets take some of the strain. Jahazi has rounded up some of the best tech to keep you on track in 2022.

Getting organised...

Todoist

Read more... Libby Rather than disappearing down a Reddit rabbit hole of spurious opinions and general mean spiritedness, it is far better to focus your reading on more enlightened material. A good book will improve your vocabulary, memory and understanding of the world while the whole contemplative practice is a great way to reduce stress levels. Free app Libby gives you access to your local library’s collection of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines wherever you are in the world. If you can’t find the book you want in your library’s digital collection, subscription services Kindle and Audible have a huge choice from new releases to the classics.

As the saying goes: fail to plan, plan to fail, so top of your new year to-do list should be… make a to-do list! Of course, there are plenty of apps to help you keep tracks of all your daily tasks, but managing tasks is a personal thing so you want to get the one that feels right for you. Worthy of your attention is Todoist, which is flexible enough to adapt to workflows in your personal and professional life. Less powerful, but more fun is Habitica, in which you have a character who levels up when you get things done and takes damage when you put things off. You can also earn in-game currency for buying offline rewards, such as a snack, or in-game items like weapons or even silly hats. You can even get your friends involved. It all makes for quite a to-do! todoist.com Free to start (up to five active projects). Upgrade to Pro (US$3 a month) or Business (US$5 a month) Image: Doist Inc.

Eating healthier...

Russell Hobbs Slow Cooker Starting a healthy eating plan means avoiding the temptation of takeaways and ready meals in favour of homecooked food. This will affect your time as much as your taste buds.

Cooking from scratch can take a while, especially when you are a novice in the kitchen. A slow cooker, then, is an essential piece of kitchen kit. There’s a huge variety of dishes anyone can make. You just dump a bunch of ingredients in the pot, then set it and forget it until it’s time to eat. This Russell Hobbs slow cooker is familyfriendly and easy to use. It has three settings – high, low (for supremely tender cooked meat) and warm to keep your dish bubbling away for whenever you want to eat.

Apple App Store or Google Play Free

amazon.com US $34

Image: OverDrive, Inc

Image: amazon.com

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TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

By Mark Edwards

Build better habits... Done Habits can make or break your chances of achieving and maintaining your new year resolutions. To help you stick to your new year good habits and ditch the bad ones, there are a number of habit-tracking apps available. One of the best options is Done, which lets you log when you’ve completed a new habit you’re trying to build or when you avoided a bad habit that you’re trying to break. You can also add notes on your progress made each day in its Journal feature. Getting started is free but setting up anything beyond three daily habits requires subscribing to the Premium version. If you want a free app, try Forest, which plants a virtual tree for each new habit tracked

and you can watch it grow each time you hit your habit. There’s also Habitica, which treats habit-forming like a game, allowing you to create an avatar that levels up every time you log a task.

Apple App Store - US $59.99 yearly Image: Reflectly ApS

Getting fit...

Fitbit Inspire 2 Getting fit is one of the most popular new year’s resolutions, yet progress in the short term is often subtle and many will become disheartened. The key to staying the course is to track each small win to reveal you are – however slowly – improving. A fitness tracker is very helpful here as it monitors your progress and shows your daily data about your steps, sleep patterns and more. Fitbit’s Inspire 2 is a good first choice. It’s reasonably priced and records all the data a beginner will need such daily steps, calories, heart rate, sleep and more, and it comes with 20 goal-based exercises that you can manually track or let the device’s automatic SmartTrack feature monitor for you. It also comes with a year’s Fitbit Premium membership for personalised guidance, exclusive insights and sleep tools.

Fitbit.com US $ 120 Image: Fitbit Inc.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Teamwork

EVEN THE BIGGEST TREE CANNOT MAKE A FOREST BY ITSELF Charles Joseph Nyahucho (right) has more than 14 years of experience in supporting business undertakings as a trained accountant and business analyst. Here he shares life lessons for professionals which he has learned over the years.

S

ina dormitory was my residence for one year as a high school student at Tabora School. Just after the entrance, turn to your right then go straight to last cube on your right. In that cube, my friend Lameck, aka ‘Kwisha’, and I would rest after attending classes.

One day I visited Lameck with a problem from Advanced Pure Mathematics, written by CJ Tranter. After getting help with the solution, my attention was drawn to statement on the wall of the cube, which read: ‘Even the biggest tree cannot make a forest by itself’.

This statement inspired me to compose some practical lessons on daily living which I’d like to share with you. A forest is a complex ecosystem that includes but is not limited to an area of land, trees and streams of waters that support a myriad of life forms. Trees are the catalyst in enabling a conducive environment for animals and plants within the forest. They remove the pollutants from the air, offer a protective canopy, cool air on hot days and preserve heat during the nights.

Reflecting on the statement, I saw

teamwork within an organisation. Trees carry out roles we would all do well to follow.

how it could be applied to the role of

no matter the size of the tree.

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Be like a tree...

One, trees have a protective role – guarding the soil from heavy rain.

Two, trees have a creative role – providing a environment for inhabitants Three, trees have a supportive role – sustaining a diversity of life forms.

Four, trees have an enabling role – cooling the air and absorbing pollutants.

However, regardless of the benefits of each individual tree, their impact is far greater as a forest. All roles performed by trees are in vain in the absence of a forest,

Life can be a forest and human beings play almost all the roles performed by trees within it. Let’s look at the four roles performed by trees in the forest and how they equate to our own lives in the workplace.

Protective As a leader in your workplace, you should be a buffer to protect those in your team.

Also, if your team experiences any failures you take responsibility. Think about the last time your achieved this in your work.

Creative In creating a conducive environment for people to work in you need to take a holistic approach, including the feelings, beliefs and tastes of team members. As a leader in dealing with challenges in your team do you go above and beyond your job description in analysing performance? If you look back at your recent dealings with team members, can you say they were done with a holistic approach?

Supportive In our life encounters we respond differently depending on our emotional

intelligence. When a colleague comes to you with a challenge are you supportive or do you see it as a chance to enact a long-awaited revenge? If you are a true tree of the forest, you need to be thinking ‘how can I support my colleague in this?

Enabling There will always be differences of opinion in the workplace. It is human nature.

However, as a leader you need to be able to cool a charged environment and absorb these shocks rather than fueling conflict. The way you speak and conduct yourself will dictate how well you carry out this role.

Thank you esteemed readers. I would like to leave you with the reminder that a forest is never made by a single tree, but

However, regardless of the benefits of each individual tree, their impact is far greater as a forest. All roles performed by trees are in vain in the absence of a forest, no matter the size of the tree

each individual tree has a role to carry out.

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37

Swahili story time / Wakati wa hadithi

NDOTU TAMU The sweet dream na Joseph Shaluwa A man and a woman are in love, but is their goal to get married more than just a dream? Find out where love leads in this latest exclusive short story for Jahazi magazine by published Tanzanian author Joseph Shaluwa.

B

ADO akili yake haikutaka kukubaliana na kile kilichotokea.

Alikuwa na maswali mengi sana kichwani mwake, huku muda mwingi akiendelea kusubiria mwisho wa ndoto hiyo nzuri ya kupendeza!

Hakujua ni kwanini alifikiri ilikuwa ni ndoto.

Lakini haikuwa ndoto!

Ni kweli!

Kila kilichokuwa mbele yake, kilikuwa cha kweli. Kwamba alikuwa ameshaachana na maisha ya ukapera baada ya kufunga ndoa. Pamoja na kwamba katika sherehe ya ndoa yake alimwona mama, baba, na marafiki zake wakimpongeza kwa tendo hilo la kihistoria katika maisha yake, lakini bado hakutaka kukubaliana na jambo hilo moja kwa moja.

Kilichomshtua zaidi ni juu ya historia yake iliyopita! Alikuwa na historia mbaya, tena yenye harufu kali, isiyofaa hakika.

Haikuwa rahisi kuamini kwamba eti alikuwa ndani ya ndoa! Akiitwa mume, naye akiwa na mke.

Baada ya kutuliza akili yake kwa muda, sasa akaamini kweli alikuwa mume wa Vera. Mwanamke mrembo ambaye siku zote aliota kuwa mkewe.

Ingawa alikuwa na tabasamu pana usoni mwake, Vera hakushindwa kugundua kwamba mpenzi wake alikuwa katika dimbwi zito la mawazo, alimjua vizuri sana mpenzi wake, kwahiyo isingekuwa rahisi kushindwa 38

kugundua tofauti iliyopo.

“Niambie baby, what’s wrong with you my love?” Vera akamuuliza Vincent kwa utulivu sana akichanganya na lugha ya Kiingereza.

“Nothing honey, nipo sawa, usijali.

Najaribu kuwaza maisha yetu yetu mapya, labda niendelee kukuhakikishia kwamba nakupenda sana na kamwe sitakuacha lahazizi wangu....” Vincent akasema huku akimwangushia Vera mvua ya mabusu midomoni mwake.

“Ahsante sana mpenzi wangu, unanihakikishia kunipenda daima?” Vera

akauliza, akionesha tabasamu mwanana.

“Hiyo ndiyo ahadi yangu mpenzi, ahadi ambayo niliahidi siku nyingi kabla, lakini leo nikuahidi pia mbele ya Mchungaji na wazazi wetu, huku Washarika wakishuhudia. Hii ni ahadi yangu ya milele kwako mpenzi wangu,” Vincent akasema kwa sauti ya taratibu sana ambayo ilipangika vyema.

“Kwahiyo unataka kusema unanipenda, baby?”

“Yeah! Of course.”

“Thank you, honey!”

“You’re welcome.”

Katika siku muhimu zilizowahi kutokea katika maisha yao ni pamoja na siku hiyo, kwao ilikuwa siku kubwa sana. Vincent na Vera ni wachumba waliodumu kwa miaka mitatu, wakifanya starehe zote isipokuwa ngono!

Hata mara moja hawakuwahi kukutana kimapenzi, huku Vera akiendelea kushikilia msimamo huo, akidai tando hilo lingefanyika siku ya ndoa!

Yaani leo!

Ona wanavyotizamana kwa macho ya uchu, Vincent ana hali mbaya sana kihisia, mwili wake umelipuka na anatamani sana kukutana na mkewe

halali wa ndoa, maana tayari walikuwa wameshapata baraka zote.

“Vera...” Vincent akaita.

“Sema sweetie...” Vera akaitika kwa sauti laini huku akihema kwa kutweta kidogo.

“Unajua mapenzi yetu yana historia kubwa sana, tumevuka vishawishi vingi sana, lakini leo hii, tupo pamoja, tupo katika ndoa ya milele. Nina furaha sana.

Lakini jambo la msingi ambalo nataka kukuhakikishia ni kwamba, sitakuumiza katika siku zote za maisha ya ndoa yetu.

“Tegemea kufurahi siku zote. Akilini mwako waza kwamba umeolewa na mwanaume ambaye anatambua thamani yako, anayekupenda na hafikirii kukupoteza. Ukiwaza hivyo mpenzi wangu, utakuwa na nafasi kubwa zaidi ya kuboresha penzi letu....sawa mama?”

Vincent akasema kwa sauti ya upole, akiitoa taratibu akitaka imfikie vyema Vera.

“Nimefurahi kusikia ahadi yako hiyo mpenzi, hata mimi pia nakuahidi hivyo hivyo. Tegemea penzi la dhati kutoka kwangu. Wewe ni mwanaume wangu, mwanaume wa maisha yangu. chaguo langu sahihi. Sioni sababu ya kuwa na mwingine zaidi yako maana wewe wanifaa,” maneno haya yalichombezwa na tabasamu la uhakika kutoka kwa Vera.

Ni saa tisa za usiku, saa tatu tu, baada ya kuingia chumbani hapo wakitokea ukumbini kulipokuwa na sherehe ya ndoa yao. Vincent akiwa bado amevalia suti yake na Vera akiwa katika gauni refu na shela yake! Vincent anasimama kitandani alipokuwa amekaa, anavua koti na kulitundika kabatini, anavua tai, shati na kubaki na fulana nyepesi ya ndani!

Anamwangalia Vera na kumuonesha ishara kwamba naye avue nguo zake.

Vera akasimama na kunyoosha mikono yake juu. Hiyo ilikuwa ishara tosha kwamba, alikuwa ahitaji kuvuliwa!

Vincent akamsogelea, akapadisha lile gauni juu baada ya kuwa ameshafungua zipu. Taratibu akawa analitoa lile gauni mwilini mwa Vera.

Hisia kali za mapenzi zikizidi

kumnyanyasa! Kuna kitu kimoja alikuwa hajakifahamu Vincent. Ni kweli siku zote alikuwa akifahamu kwamba Vera ni mwanamke mzuri, lakini hakuwahi kuufikiria uzuri ule ambao aliouona mwilini mwa Vera! Mwanamke huyu mrembo ambaye alikuwa amesimama mbele yake akionekana kusubiri amri kutoka kwa Vincent.

Alikuwa na macho makubwa meupe yaliyopambwa na mboni nyeusi, mwenye nyusi zenye mpangilio wa kufurahisha. Nywele zake zilizokaribia kabisa kufika mgongoni zilizidi kunakshi urembo wake. Hakuwa na shingo fupi wala ndefu, ilikuwa katikati!

Tumbo dogo lililopewa sapoti ya kutosha na kiuno chembamba ambacho kilibeba makalio ya kutosha na kufanya umbo lake lionekane likiwa katika mwonekano wa tarakimu namba nane, vilizidi kuutanabaisha ulimbwende wake! Hiyo haikutosha, hips zake zilikuwa kivutio kingine ambacho Vincent hakujua kabla.

Hakujua yote haya, kwasababu mara zote Vera alikuwa akipenda kuvaa nguo za heshima ambazo hazikuchoresha sana mwili wake. Wakati mwingine walipotoka pamoja na kwenda mbali kupumzika na kuamua kulala huko, kila mmoja alilala kitanda chake na hivyo hakuna aliyepata nafasi ya kumjua mwenzake.

Leo ndiyo kwanza wanajuana! Leo ndiyo leo. Vincent alikuwa na uchu usio wa kawaida. Aliendelea kumvua nguo zote hadi Vera alipobaki mtupu kabisa!

Macho ya Vincent yakaganda juu ya umbo zuri sana la kuvutia! Akamvutia Vera upande wake, akijiandaa kwa mashambulizi...

Mara akashtuka!

Alipotulia kwa muda, akagundua alikuwa kitandani, peke yake. Vincent alikuwa kwenye ndoto. Macho yake yalifumbuka taratibu, yakawa yanakabiliana na mwanga wa asubuhi!

Yes! Ilikuwa asubuhi. Asubuhi mpya ya ndoa yake na Vera. Ilikuwa ndiyo siku ya kufunga ndoa na Vera wake.

Hiyo ni baada ya kukaa kama marafiki na baadaye kwa miaka mitatu sasa. Leo hii ilikuwa ndiyo siku ya kutimiza agano lao la ndoa.

Ndiyo kusema ndoto yake ilikuwa yenye ukweli. Pamoja na kuchelewa sana kulala siku hiyo, lakini akili yake ilimuwaza Vera tu. Aliwaza ndoa yake na mpenzi wake wa siku nyingi, lakini zaidi akiwaza penzi la siku ya kwanza baada ya ndoa.

Kengele ya getini ndiyo iliyomlazimisha kuamka na kwenda kufungua geti. Walikuwa rafiki zake wamefika kwa ajili ya kumpeleka saluni kufanya maandalizi kabla ya kwenda kanisani kufunga ndoa.

Ni raha kiasi gani, ndoto ya muda mrefu kutimia?

“Leo ni siku yangu, natakiwa kujiachia niwezavyo,” akawaza Vincent.

MWISHO.

KUHUSU MWANDISHI Joseph Shaluwa ni mwandishi wa habari, mtunzi wa riwaya za Kiswahili nchini Tanzania. Amepata kuwa mhariri wa magazeti kadhaa yakiwemo Ijumaa, Risasi na Mtanzania Wikiendi (burudani) kwa nyakati tofauti.

Ameandika vitabu vingi, vikiwemo MATEKA UGHAIBUNI, CHOTARA, MOYO WANGU UNAUMA na MATONE YA MACHOZI YA DAMU vinavyopatikana kwa oda. Wasiliana naye kwa simu 0621 044191, joeshaluwa@gmail.com au Facebook: simulizi za joseph shaluwa au @Joseph Shaluwa

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Our fleet Experience the finest, modern and swift ferry services in Tanzania

Our Catamarans We have a fleet of eight vessels with a speed range of 25 knots up to 40 knots allowing passengers to be in Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam within 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Kilimanjaro VII

Kilimanjaro VI

Kilimanjaro V

Kilimanjaro IV

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Travel in style With Azam Marine and KFF

Our fast, efficient and safe service connects our passengers between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar City in just 1 hour and 40 minutes on average. However, it’s unlikely our VIP Class and Royal Class passengers are looking at the clock. There’s too much to enjoy and all in sumptuous comfort. Is it time you upped your travel game?

VIP CLASS BENEFITS

ROYAL CLASS

Exclusive access to the air-conditioned VIP lounge – where our VIP and Royal passengers get to relax and enjoy complimentary soft drinks and snacks.

For our most exclusive level of travel, available only on our Kilimanjaro VII ferry, passengers get all of the VIP benefits as well as these extras:

Priority boarding so passengers have plenty of time to settle into their seats and avoid the crowds. Passengers’ luggage is safely and conveniently stored in VIP trolleys. Also included:

• A coffee machine

• • • • • •

Panoramic views Free WiFi Blankets Soft drinks and snacks Headsets Entertainment screens showing a range of films and TV shows.

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• A more extensive menu option for drinks and • Wider seats with more legroom and which can be reclined to lie flat if you fancy a power nap.

• Entertainment: a wider selection of movies and magazines (including yiur own personal copy of Jahazi!)

Bookings With four trips a day (launch times are 7am, 9.30am, 12.30pm and 4pm) there’s no more convenient or comfortable way to travel between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar Island. To book a spot call

0800 785555 Follow us: @azammarine kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

Travel information For further information and to book visit www.azammarine.com

Our services Onboard hospitality services:

WiFi Free Internet on board all our catamarans

Entertainment Library of movies and TV shows to watch

Snacks Enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or Juice

VIP Lounge Luxurious Lounge Dedicated to VIP and Royal class passengers.

Need to know

25 Kgs

Permitted Luggage is 25 kgs per person.

Any additional will be chargeable.

Consumption and carriage of alcoholic beverages is highly restricted.

No refund policy on missed travel date or time. In case of cancellation, office should be informed at least two hours prior to departure.

Online bookings are not considered

Travel tips

Ferry schedules

All foreign passengers (not Tanzanian citizens) are required to carry their passports when traveling between the islands of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.

Foreign passengers are required to pay for their tickets in US$. We do however accept payments in UK Pound Sterling (GBP) and Euro (€). All other currencies are not acceptable.

Foreigners with resident permits or exemption certificates are allowed to pay for their fares in Tanzanian Shillings and will be charged the normal fares applicable for citizens. Tanzanian citizens are encouraged to carry some identification to prove their citizenship. We recommend all passengers to buy their tickets from our offices in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Pemba and from our approved travel agents throughout the country. Please do not buy tickets from people in the streets claiming to be our agents.

DAR - ZNZ Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar 7 AM 9.30 AM 12.30 PM 4 PM

ZNZ - DAR Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam 7AM 9.30AM 12.30PM 4PM

ZNZ - PEM Zanzibar to Pemba 7.30AM (WED, THU, SAT, SUN)

PEM - ZNZ Pemba to Zanzibar 7.30 AM (THU, FRI, SUN) 9AM (TUE)

PEM - TAN Pemba to Tanga 2.30PM (SUN)

TAN - PEM Tanga to Pemba 11PM (MONDAY)

confirmed until a payment has been made.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Our destinations Let us take you to Tanzania’s coastal cities and the islands of Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam This fast-expanding city – population four million and counting – is Tanzania’s commercial and cultural hub. Traces of Dar’s beginnings as a Zaramo fishing village can be seen at the Kivukoni front where dhows dock at dawn laden with the night’s catch for the bustling fish market, but now gleaming skyscrapers dominate the skyline. This modern metropolis rocks around the clock with a vibrant music, food and art scene, but if you prefer to relax there are a string of serene beaches in easy reach as well as the nature escapes of Pugu Hills and Mikumi National Park.

waters while its vibrant and unique Swahili heritage will fascinate culture vultures and its famous spices perfume the air and flavour the food. Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries delivers you to one of the island’s greatest attractions, Stone Town, the capital’s ancient port. Here you can explore its maze of bazaars, cafés, mosques and mansions that are vestiges of the island’s pivotal role in trading along the East African coast.

Pemba

Unguja, the largest island of the Zanzibar archipelago, is a treasure trove for tourists. Those who snorkel, scuba or windsurf will

As its Arabic name, which translates as “the green island”, suggests, Pemba has a lush landscape, combining the cultivated and the wild. There are plantations of banana, coconut and cloves as well as expanses of mangrove forest. With far fewer hotels than its Zanzibar big brother Unguja, 80 km south, it provides an exclusive escape for the adventurous traveller with remote attractions including the dense canopy of monkey-magnet Ngezi Forest and the private paradises of isolated sandbanks. Its white sand beaches are ringed on all sides by coral reefs which offer some of east Africa’s best snorkelling and diving – with marine life including humpback

love its reef-protected cerulean

whales in July and August.

Zanzibar

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Dar es Salaam waterfront Gideon Ikigai / Shutterstock.com

Pemba Island

Tanga When its sisal farming was in full flight, Tanga was earmarked as the capital of Tanzania, but it now offers more low-key charms. It still has a busy port – the second largest in the country – with our ferries crossing to Pemba – and plenty of attractions for the visitor.

Its history as an Arab trading post before the Germans and British vied for colonial control in its sisal

Contacts Bookings: azammarine.com +255 22 2123324 info@azammarine.com Follow us: @azammarine kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Opposite St. Joseph Cathedral Sokoine Drive, PO Box 2517 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania heyday has left a town with some fascinatingly eclectic architecture, especially the gothic Bombo Hospital. The ocean offers great dhow sailing, there is a rich coral reef for diving enthusiasts and Tanga’s proximity to the Saadani National Park makes it the only city with a wildlife sanctuary incorporating a marine park in the region.

Other nearby attractions include the Amboni Caves and the Swahili

Email: info@azammarine.com www.azammarine.com Tel: +255 22 212 3324

Tanga

trading outpost of Pangani.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Puzzle page Beach fun and puzzles

BEACH MAZE

ALPHABET GAME

Can you help the turtle find its way down the beach to the sea?

Can you find the word by using the alphabet code? Starfish is ‘O’...

O

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you find the five differences between the two pictures of the crab?

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Routes For further information and to book visit www.azammarine.com

Tanga

Pemba Island

Wete

Korogwe

Mkoani

Zanzibar

Zanzibar Mkokotoni

Stone Town Bagamoyo Kibaha Kichwele National Forest

Dar es Salaam

KiwengwaPongwe Forest

Chwaka Bay

Stone Town Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

Chumbe Island Coral Park

Kiwani Bay

Zala Park

Follow us: @azammarine kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

Menai Bay Conservation Area

Pemba Island Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Routes For further information and to book visit www.azammarine.com

wengwaongwe orest

Tanga

Pemba Island

Wete

Korogwe

Mkoani Chwaka Bay

Zanzibar Mkokotoni Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

Stone Town

Bagamoyo Kibaha

Zala Park

Dar es Salaam

Pemba Island

Mkoani

Bookings: azammarine.com +255 22 2123324 info@azammarine.com 48