Whipper snipper

By around 5.30am we were at Mtwara Airport ready to travel back to Dar es Salaam. Security hadn’t turned up to staff the scanners so we loitered outside. A sign stated that ‘whipper snippers’ were forbidden on board the aircraft. Eventually we ascertained that this referred to brush cutters. Those who regularly manicure parks and gardens may already be familiar with the alternative term.

At exactly 6am, as the sun rose, the Tanzanian flag was raised. Everybody had to stand up and face the flagpole.

Dar es Salaam has been suffering deluges so the city was waterlogged and the traffic even slower. It was a hard landing after a week in remote places, but the mood is positive thanks to the productive discussions and being one step closer to some new funding.