Tanzania - Day 8: Eco Banana Farm

After a restful night in our alternatively styled 'Ngorongoro' room, Roli started the day motivated, while Tanja struggled in the shower, crouching under a faucet, washing her hair without water pressure.
Since the banana farm is set up to be almost self-sufficient with 'self-supply' and due to its own biogas plant - naturally constructed in an African style - its own vegetable garden, banana and coffee cultivation, huge rainwater tanks, and the keeping of goats and cows, we were particularly looking forward to breakfast.

Expecting to enjoy fresh bananas, avocados, mangoes, papayas, and other produce from their own yield, as well as homemade coffee, we sat down in the breakfast room, which was right next to the open kitchen. We were the only guests. On all the other tables, used dishes, dirty glasses, and cups were piled up. After a few minutes, the cook, who also acted as a waiter, came and asked us what we would like for breakfast, but he had no options for us. There was a pre-made breakfast platter with egg, pastries, and a banana pancake. The cook was unhurried, and thus we waited 30 minutes for our simply prepared but delicious breakfast. Our coffee and tea were also prepared with great care - taking 45 minutes - and we could only enjoy them after breakfast.

Well, everything here at the banana farm operated under the motto: 'Polle polle', meaning 'Slowly, slowly'.

We were supposed to check out at 10 AM, but since we received our additionally ordered banana shake - preparation time 30 minutes - only at 10:15 AM, we adapted to the Eco Banana Farm time and the lived 'Polle-Polle' motto and checked out at 11 AM.

 

Roli had planned a surprise for Tanja and booked a 'Tanzanian cooking lesson' at the Eco Banana Farm weeks before our arrival. According to the booking, the start time was set for 12:30 PM, but according to other Dutch guests, it was 11 AM, and according to information from the receptionist, it was 12 PM. Hmm, okay, clear as mud.

Since we learned about a waterfall nearby during the banana farm tour the day before, we decided to cool off there a bit. But that was easier said than done. Without the internet, without GPS, and of course not signposted, we relied on vague directions and our rough instinct for the right direction.
On the dry and dusty road, we encountered various locals. From a mother carrying shopping on her head with a baby wrapped around her waist, to an old man in a black suit, children in winter jackets, teenagers in short clothing and without helmets riding three on a moped, to sweet and overly friendly children who waved to us from all sides and even accompanied us hand in hand for a part of our journey.
With many impressions but no visit to the waterfall - as we unfortunately couldn't find it - we walked back to the farm, since the cooking lesson was supposed to start at 12 PM according to the cook's info. Luckily, Roli had picked up some climbing skills from the bush monkeys over the past days and skillfully climbed over the fence to open the back door of the farm, which was locked from the inside.
When we finally showed up sweaty and on time for the cooking class, we were again told to wait for 1.5 hours - Polle polle indeed.

We were thrilled with the cooking class. A motivated cook with a passion and skill for Tanzanian cuisine taught us how to prepare banana chips, filled samosas, naan bread, cooked spinach, local vegetables, and beef stew. Roli excelled at rolling out the naan bread, while Tanja was adept at folding the pastries.
Our conclusion: fun, educational, and delicious.

After a short and refreshingly cold outdoor shower in the middle of the banana plantation, we were taken to Kilimanjaro Airport by a taxi driver who surprisingly showed up on time. On the way there, Kilimanjaro, lightly covered with snow, peeked through the clouds at us. We immediately added it to our list for our next visit to Tanzania.
At the small and manageable airport, we were checked from head to toe, emphasizing 'foot', as we had to take off our shoes multiple times and send them through the scanner.

In an Airbus 350
we flew at 7:05 PM with Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and after a two-hour stop, we continued on a smaller Boeing 737 to the Seychelles.

Thus, our visit to Tanzania, including a safari, felt like it went by faster than you can say 'Safari is awesome' with a multitude of new experiences and moments worth cherishing in a jam jar.
See you again, Tanzania