Driving in Tanzania

If you enjoy driving where there are no rules then Arusha, Tanzania may just be the place for you!  I’ve decided to share some advice that may be appropriate to read prior to coming out here to help ensure your safety and sanity when attempting to experience the motor vehicle experience in Arusha.

Finding a Car

The first step is finding a road-worthy vehicle.  If your stay is a month or two then renting is an option.  If it is longer, seriously consider purchasing.  If you want a nice car and have several months to spare prior to getting it consider getting a Japanese vehicle and having it shipped here.  One site, http://www.japanesevehicles.com , offers vehicles shipped to Tanzania for about $950 on top of sticker price…seriously easy to get a great car for under 5K then sell it when done for 6K, do the math.  Four wheel drive is not necessary but it sure is nice, regardless I’d recommend a vehicle with serious clearance so that when you hit a speed bump going 60 miles an hour you don’t wreck the vehicle.  FYI – Keep yourself buckled or your head will hit the ceiling when this happens…just ask my daughter Zoe.  When you need to sell it, or if you want top simply take advantage of the local market, I recommend working with my friend Gastor Sylvester at Reggies Limited in Arusha who helps people find houses to rent/buy and cars to rent/buy.  He handled all of the registration paperwork for me and was a treat to work with, I promised I’d plug him as a great resource to take advantage of if you need it.

Driving Tips

This is a very aggressive place to drive a vehicle.  I’ve got the following tips to share:

·         Drive on the left side of the road…easy to forget in the beginning, particularly remembering that when you turn left you stay in the left lane

·         Drive straight all of the time resisting the urge to go a little to the right to see if you can pass unless you are absolutely sure there is no one already passing you or a motorcycle that has decided to create a lane to the right of you

·         When overtaking a vehicle consider honking the horn and even flashing your brights to let them know you are passing them

·         If you decide to pass on the left, which is crazy, make sure that the car in front of you is not slowing down to let people cross the street or to let a car in…you will be in for a nasty surprise if you don’t look!

·         Keep your doors locked and windows slightly up if you are stopped at a stop light

·         Keep all valuables out of site

·         Keep a first aid kit with iodine, a triangle (to display behind the car if you are broken down) and a fire extinguisher with you so when the police stop you, you can prove you have the items, otherwise risk a fine

Which brings me to the police…they love stopping people here and I’ve been stopped about 30 times but only fined a few of those times.  I love law enforcement and my favorite client is Clear Creek County Sheriff with Central City Police close behind but this is interesting “law enforcement” out here.   Three out of 4 times I get pulled over by the police they are genuinely interested in checking license, insurance and required equipment but I’ve been stopped 5 times simply by people that want money.  Seriously, I don’t blame them and really don’t mind playing the game.  I get it that it is part of the salary some police get.  …mostly because my windshield is cracked.  Cops do not have cars here, they can’t really afford them, so they simply stay on the side of the road.  Here are some tips to not get stopped:

·         Travel close behind big trucks so that you just pass the cops

·         Wear sunglasses and look to the right when you see them to pretend that you don’t see them

·         Gun the engine and simply pass them

·         Wear an old person wig (seriously, this is actually done by people here) and pretend to totally not notice them

·         Observe speed limit signs when traveling on the highway unless you have a spotter vehicle ½ kilometer in front of you…just watch their brake lights

But still you will get stopped, no way around it, and when you do keep the following in mind:

·         Try to make them speak English to you and repeatedly say “I don’t understand you” just for fun

·         Be very nice to them

·         When they ask where you are going keep in mind an answer like, “out to lunch with a friend” will immediately get you a “I’d like to have lunch today, too” accompanied with an outstretched hand

·         When they tell you there is a 30,000 shilling fine ($18 USD) then try and give them 5,000 but if pressed go for 10,000

·         If you want to play the “I’ve got no money” game make sure you’ve got a few extra minutes, they may even decide to get in your car and have you take them down to the police station to sort matters out. This can take several hours.

·         Do not argue and always be extremely pleasant