The bumpiest bus ride ever

The next item on the agenda was buying the ticket to Shinyanga. I went to one of the bus "offices" (a table on the street with a sign) and inquired. "47,000." Aha. I knew that it was 27,000, so I told them. They were laughing their heads off. I left and went to the other "office" Now of course four or five guys were running after me and yelling "No, wait. Friend. We'll give it to you for 27,000". Well, too late buddy. It's really tough as you always have to be well informed beforehand what stuff costs. No need in trying to find out from someone else.

I had asked the guy in the hotel to wake me at five and also inquired if it'd be safe to walk the less than ten minutes to the bus stop. He said "Yes". When I left in the morning, two taxis were waiting. They said it would be 2000. I was only willing to part with 1000 to avoid the short walk in then dark. Neither driver was willing to accept and I walked away. Meaning that 2000 apparently the going rate for a taxi in Arusha. There were already other people walking to the bus stop so it was safe anyway.

I then took a bus that Lonely Planet described as "the gruelling southwestern route". The first four hours over unpaved roads were tough, but OK. But the last two hours to Singida were a bit hard, as I was trying not to get bus sick. After that though the route was paved - newly done this year and something I will have to inform Lonely Planet about. Because I think that version, despite the bumpy six hours between Arusha and Singida (hey, we only had two flat tyres!), is much better and cheaper than the alternative, going via Nairobi. That will take around 25 hours, you will need a Kenyan transit visa ($20) and will likely have to argue your way b back in on your one-time entry Tanza visa. I was in no mood to have to pay another $50 - besides the fact that I don't have that many dollars left anyway. There is also a way to go via Serengeti. I am not sure how long it takes, but also requires the park entrance fee of $50.