A friend we’ve been meaning to catch up with for some time finally texted me. “What are you planning to do on the 30th?” she asked. I replied “Nothing.” Then, I asked, “What do you have in mind?”
She shared a poster about a group trip to Vikindu Forest Reserves organized by Watu Connect. I immediately said yes because it aligns with one of my goals for this year – to connect more with Mother Nature. Plus, I didn’t have anything planned and thought it would be good to spend time with her.
They say if you want to know someone, then travel with them.
The plan was to leave Mlimani City at 8.00 sharp. I arrived at 7.45 because I like to keep time. Wrong move. I ended up with time to kill, so I went to Grano for coffee. I texted Lilian to see if she needed coffee too. She said yes and came to meet me. We both ordered cappuccinos, strong, no sugar.
And, oh, how I loved travelling and hiking with her. We had great raw conversations. And I appreciate raw conversations. They were so healing.
We left Mlimani at around 9:45.
Getting There:
The reserve is located in Mkuraga District in the Coast region, situated between Vikindu village (hence the name) and Kipara Mpakani village. Depending on the traffic, it can take up to 2 hours to drive from Dar Es Salaam.
Access the reserve via Nelson Mandela Rd to Kilwa Rd. Even a small car is perfect for your weekend getaway.
Our group’s meeting point was Mlimani City for easy access. We boarded a bus – Coaster accommodating 25 of us.
We were welcomed by Sid who was a guide. He was so kind and he was open to telling us everything about Vikindu, even about trees that I don’t remember their names anymore. But I appreciated his enthusiasm.
Experience:
There are some activities for you to enjoy while there. Here are some that we experienced:
Forest walk
This was the best part for me. I went because there’s something about being in the middle of the forest that’s so healing. During the walk, the guide introduced us to different tree families and their origins.
Crossing “Daraja la Mto Mkangazi” made me feel alive and peaceful. The sound of the water streams, the sun having an affair with water, and the tree leaves dancing with the soft wind, it was absolutely breathtaking.
Nature is such an amazing teacher. Terms and conditions are always at play. There are places that we passed where we were not allowed to touch trees or to speak loudly. This was because these areas have bees, and bees hate noise. But, as you know, in a group of people, some just won’t listen. They got stung by the bees – they were okay, though.
At one point, we had to take our shoes off to cross to the other side of the forest. The water was so cold it brought some relief from the heat of that day. Walking on water with my shoes in my hand made me feel like a child again. It gave me such a nostalgic feeling. I was transported back years ago with my siblings at home.
Canoeing at Milaweni Dam:
Milaweni Dam is a natural dam that has been there for years. Its water is quite different from some other places such as Pugu and Magoroto. The water here does not reflect the colour of the forest. “The water colour is affected by the ongoing rains and so the dam tends to have mud this is why the colour looks like this”, Ibrahim told me as we were canoeing together. He has been at the reserve for more than 5 years.
This was yet another beautiful experience at the reserve. My favourite thing was the plants in the water (they are probably not a good thing that they are there but I loved them). They have an evergreen colour with beautiful purple blooms. They were such a cool backdrop for my feet and my book. Simply beautiful. While in the dam, you get to see some small fish swimming away. You enjoy the forest view as you ride on. Aah, talk about serenity.
Other activities:
- Learn about beekeeping managed by the Tanzania Forest Service Agency. I appreciate their efforts to conserve our forests because bees are quite important in the ecosystem.
- Bird watching
- Photography
Accommodation
Should you wish to spend the night at the reserve, they have two camping sites, namely the Mkangazi Camping Site and the Bwawani Camping Site. You can go with your tent or you can borrow one for a fee (15k TZS plus 2k entrance fee). But it’s safe, and they have small shops and a bar for some basic needs while you are there.
This was the easiest hike I have ever done. The landscape is mostly flat, making it easy to walk in the forest. There is no way you can compare this to Pugu. I went back home still full of energy.
This was my first group thing, and it was a good group. But the time management bit wasn’t the best, and for this reason, I will stay away from groups that can’t manage time. Other than this time thing, the organizers did a good job.
This could be your easy weekend gateway if you want to enjoy nature without a hustle.
Until next time,
Jane 🙂
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