I have been to Tanzania several times over the past seventeen years. Most folks traveling to Tanzania are doing so to see the animals and the mass migration. Tanzania is home to the Serengeti Plains and the largest numbers of Big Game animals in all of Africa. During the migration season these numbers multiply greatly.

This trip was not about the Serengeti or the Big Game, but about exploring more remote less traveled area of Tanzania, to introduce you to local folks not on the common tourist routes.

My best friend of forty-seven years Ned Litin and I started our journey by road in Nairobi the Capital City of Kenya. Accompanying Ned and I were our driver James and our cook Michael. I have traveled many times with James and Michael. We only spent two days making our way from Nairobi heading west through the tea fields of Kenya. We made our way into Tanzania at a small border crossing. We headed a bit south and west to our first destination, the eastern shores of Lake Victoria! We made camp for a few nights on the shore of the Lake close to a remote fishing village called Laronda. In addition to the four of us, our local guide Hussie joined us. It is always wise to have a local guide, as he knows the history and customs of his area. In this area we did some fishing with the guys, and met with a traditional healer/medicine man. As we departed the area we did so by boat making the long journey from the village to the large city of Mwanze, which is located at the southwest end of the Lake.

From Mwanze we traveled to the east for several days passing through remote villages along the way. Most of these areas are quite remote and are dotted with small farm plots where the local folks grow their own food. Whatever may be left over can be sold at local markets.

As we enjoyed all of these areas our next destination was the remote region called Maasai Step. This is a large geographical region that is ancient Maasai Land that still belongs to the Tribes today. It is a bit more arid than the farmlands, but very gorgeous scenery and for me it is very remote which I prefer. In a two days drive we only saw one small village in the entire area. The next day we came across some Maasai with their cattle. We stopped and chatted with the guys and they explained to us that due to it being the dry season back in their home village, they had to bring the cows out in this area because there is water and good grass for the cows. It was all men and boys out here tending to their cattle as the women stay back in the home village with the children.

This event is called “The Ronjo” and it takes place for two to three months annually. As I stated the main purpose for The Ronjo is to make sure the cows survive in the dry season, but I think it is also a way for the guys to be guys out in the bush. We want to thank the guys for letting us stay with them and to be a part of their Ronjo as they told us they had never had any white guys join them!

From the Maasai Step area and The Ronjo we made our way to the east coast of Tanzania, to the port town of Tanga. This was the first proper city we had been in since leaving Mwanze some two weeks earlier, so it was great to resupply with things like snacks and peanut butter! Once we did so we headed south along the coast to a small fishing village called Mwarongo where we spent the next couple of days. You may think finally the guys got to the modern world, but not so, it is still very remote with no electricity or running water, but lots of great white sand beaches and fresh seafood!

After a couple of days in Mwarongo we hired a small powerboat to take us over to Zanzibar. We were going to make the trip on a Dhow Sailing Boat, but at this time of the year the winds are not good for sailing. The boat we did take was also a Dhow, but with two small outboard motors. The journey took about five hours.

Upon arriving to the north coast of Zanzibar we spent the three days relaxing on the beach a well-deserved rest after such a long journey!

If you have any comments or questions, please contact me at info@stevekrenzen.com