Travel stories

Back to my roots

What was the moment you thought: “Wow, I’ll never forget this”?
That my dream of returning to my native country, where I grew up until I was 14, came true.
The headline Explore Tanzania gave to “our” trip: A trip down memory lane for the Kers-Benjamins family.

What surprised or touched you about Tanzania?
The embrace of the country from the moment I set foot on Tanzanian soil, the language, the familiarity, the smells, the people, and the tranquility…

How did you experience meeting the people and the culture?
How do I describe finally coming home after 50 years? The warm greetings when people hear that I was born in Tanzania. That I haven’t forgotten the language and still speak some of it. Explore made a great choice regarding “our” guide, Henry. Thanks to him, we visited local villages, made warm connections, and made friends. We experienced the local hospitality with an invitation to dinner and still stay in touch.

What would you recommend future travelers not to miss?
Mbudya Island, a wonderfully peaceful island to escape the hustle and bustle of Dar es Salaam. Beautiful beach, beautiful sea, and wonderful seating areas. Pure nature in Mikumi National Park. The beauty, tranquility, and richness of nature in and around Udzungwa Mountains, Hondo Hondo Tented Camp, and the Sanje Waterfalls.

What will you take with you from this trip, in your head, heart, and/or travel bag?
Immensly proud and grateful that I was born here and spent my childhood in this beautiful Tanzania. The realization of how rich you are and yet so poor, so poor and yet so rich. Wache Waseme (let them talk, think) is the quote I received from Tanzania. And finally, I take away the following: that I was able to experience this trip to and in my native country with my husband and daughter.

Our motto after Tanzania: “You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it, so enjoy it to the fullest.”