My Zanzibar holiday has finally come to an end. I absolutely loved it, and now have a few tricks to share from when I traveled the long journey on the train. Here are my 5 tips to surviving the train to make your Zanzibar holiday one for the books.
5 tips to Surviving the Train
- Bring snacks and lots of small change.
- Bring a book, or two or four!
- Let go of your environmentalist/public health standards for the duration of teh trip and don’t forget your shower shoes!
- Be open to meet new friends.
- Be prepared to wait, wait and then wait some more!
Bring snacks and lots of small change
Most vegans already know that finding a variety of veg-friendly food can still be a little challenging while traveling. The train is no exception. There is one veggie (always cabbage) and nshima dish available for 15K/4000TSH. However, I assure you, you won’t want to eat that for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire 2 day journey from Kasama to Dar Es Salaam.
I advise on bringing snacks. Lots of them. Bring snacks that are easy to prep, don’t need refrigeration and will keep you hydrated. I’m talking fruits and veg like apples, cucumbers, carrots and oranges.
Don’t make my mistake of bringing bananas. They just get smashed in your bag and make a big mess. If you want bananas, wait for the train stops along the journey. This is where the small change comes in.
You can buy a plethora of fruits and veg just outside the train windows at almost every stop. There are pineapples (already peeled and sliced), cucumbers, bananas, coconuts and various other in season tropical delights.
I also would recommend bringing a few light sandwich items like bread, peanut butter, jelly and avocado. Don’t forget the salt! I basically survived off avo sandwiches. On the return trip leaving Dar Es Salaam, I even added some roasted pumpkin seeds and fried chili plantains to spice things up.
As tempting as chips, fries and beer sound, make sure that isn’t all you stock up on. I promise you will be thanking yourself when you step off the train hydrated, happy and ready to hit the beach because of your healthy food investment.
Bring a book, or two or four
I finished my book within the first 8 hours of the train ride. And I am not a quick reader. You will have so much time on your hands, be sure to bring some books. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on those books that have been collecting dust on your shelves. Pick something light and inspiring for the journey.
I read Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. The book was full of charm and wisdom that fueled my adventure all the more. I went on to finish two other books as well. I like hard copies, but I only brought the one. The rest of the books I read on my kindle. Whichever you prefer hard copy or e-book is fine, but just be sure to bring some books to help pass the time.
Let go of your environmentalist/public health standards for the duration of the trip and don’t forget shower shoes!
This was extremely difficult for me as both a self-proclaiming environmentalist and trained Public Health figure. The train has a rather primitive sewage system, in other words, it is a hole in the train car’s floor. Yes, all the unwanted waste just slips out of the train cars and onto the track.
We actually have a name for this in Public Health, open defecation. I did everything I could to try and forget that as we rode by villages and towns, we left some unsavory gifts along the way. You either have to come to terms with this, or take a plane. Although, I am not sure if you’ve read too much on how planes get rid of waste either…
Then there are the shower shoes. I forgot mine, and seeming as the shower is found in the same small room that the hole in the train car is, I forfeited showering. Instead, I used a decent amount of baby wipes (the bio-degradable ones are best!) and splashed some water on my face. If you want to feel fresh by the end of the trip, and believe me you do. Then don’t forget those shower shoes!
Be open to meet new friends
Whether or not you are traveling in a group you will still want to meet new friends. If you are alone, it is obvious why you would want to pass the time with some company. And if you are in a group, you will still likely want a little space and change of pace. The cabins are extremely small and no matter how much you enjoy your travel group, it will be good to break away every so often.
On top of that, there are so many interesting people traveling on the train. Take some time to get to know them and hear their stories. We even let one fellow traveler take the extra bed in our first class cabin. Hearing his life story was enough of a payment.
Be prepared to wait, wait and then wait some more
One of the most important things I have learned in traveling, especially in traveling Africa, is to embrace the waiting. It is a guarantee that on any trip there will plenty of time to wait. Don’t get angry or frustrated. Instead, plan for it and make the most of it.
The train ahead of us got derailed on the way to Dar Es Salaam, and we were stuck waiting for over 5 hours. I took the time to have an informal Swahili lesson with some children along the train tracks.
Waiting doesn’t have to be torture. Just be prepared for it, because believe me waiting is the one guarantee.