I have written about the hazards of the Dar es Salaam traffic. We tried again yesterday, this time taking the ferry, but the trip still took us about 7 hours there and back, just to buy some food for the week. I know some of my readers think of Africa as some hot, sultry, sexy place to get a good tan and lie under swaying palms, or get wild in the game reserves, but the reality could not be further from this picture most people have in their minds. Sure, there are some incredibly beautiful places to holiday – but therein lies the crux – TO HOLIDAY! To live is a different kettle of fish!
See for yourself and let me know if it is worse where you live – having been in Nairobi – Kenya, Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, Paris – France, London – United Kingdom, to name but a few bustling cities, Dar es Salaam surely is the worst of them all. I believe Lagos in Nigeria is a notch above, and hell no, I shall NEVER set foot there if I can help it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3HYYxLqitg&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJtP-4C-Ljc&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLnf-uLJcdw&feature=youtu.be
suletta 
You may think me total ‘eyes wide open with wonder romantic’, but I honesty would endure it all just to be there! In my mind Africa has always been a symbol of pulsing heart of humanity in all its awfulness and all its glory!
Kind Regards,
Daniela
Daniela, I LOVE Africa, and all major cities have traffic problems, some just worse than others. One learns to work around the day to day irritations. I would still urge everyone keen to travel, to come and experience the raw beauty of Africa.
Terrible traffic– doesn’t look like any fun. Driving in Bankok, with some 16 million people, is many times not even worth the effort. Bangkok has Sky Train(overhead rail system) which is the saving grace for me. I learned many of my driving skills in parking lots where you have to retract your mirrors and cars block the way, but the owner leaves it in neutral so it can be pushed about to make more room.
As Daniela said, I could put up with all the traffic just to see Africa– but I also understand living there it is a pain in the backside to get things done. I tell friends who come to visit here– Pick what you want to do today, but only pick one thing– because it takes all day to do that. Ha!
Dannie, interesting facts here!! And yes, we are only able to one thing per day as well – I mean, a shopping trip takes at least 7 hours!!