The island of Ukerewe

The MV Clarius

We decided to hop on board a boat, the MV Clarius and head across Lake Victoria to get a better acquainted with this beautiful stretch of water. We made our way to its biggest island – Ukerewre.

At the port

Jay on board the boat

We made a new friend - Johanna from Finland who has come to TZ to volunteer in youth centre for 2 months then travel the country for the another month. The 3 of us set sail for the adventure!

Ukerewe is known for its traditional healers (witch doctors), its birds and its ‘un-touristy’ feel about the place. Some where it also has crocodiles and hippos. But we didn’t see any.

The pier at Ukerewe where we arrived

Ukerewe had some interesting birds and loads of these ones. They are the ugliest birds we have ever seen and so scary because they're massive - about the size of a small child. They come up close to people too..

It took us 3 and half hours to get there and once upon the shore we soon realised how un- touristy this place was, being that we were the attraction!

This was made apparent when we stopped for some lunch and a few drinks and had some strange encounters with the locals…everyone wanted to have us, take pictures of them with us! And a few people would approach us and sit at our table and talk non-stop to us in Swahili even when we told them “seilewa Kiswahili!” (we don’t understand Swahili!).

Us at the lunch spot, where we were quite the attraction!! Johanna is next to Jay

That evening didn’t help when we got carried away admiring the view at a local bar (and the drinking..!) that we got locked out of our guest house – Jason had to go around banging on the windows to wake them up! LOL

Jay taking in the view over the lake

Johanna and me

The next day after an uncomfortable night – it was so hot and we awoke to crazy loud Muslim prayer calls and heavy baselines of bongo flava music at 5 -6am, we had breakfast of chapati’s and chai (tea) then rented bikes and took off around the village.

The 3 of us and the bikes or should I say contraceptions of risk..!

We stopped for a break at a beach

The bikes were a great way to see the village, coastline and ‘beaches’. The roads were not the best for cycling at times but definitely so picturesque.

I gave Jay and Johanna so much jokes because I’ve not ridden a bike since a kid and took some time to get back into it!! It’s a disaster mobile!! LMAO

Thankfully, only once, I almost broke something but had to do some James Bond manouvre and jump off at the last minute, LOL!

'On yer bike Sam..'

The mama in the background, came running with baby to be in the photo!

Im touching Lake Victoria!!!

This friendship is so cute, you always see a cow and its bird companion

These lizards were everywhere, they are so beautifully coloured

Loving the fresh fruit, that you get everywhere, im eating a mango..yum!

More island freinds..

We have some crazy T-shirt tans going on but loving it still!!