Kikuletwa Hot Springs

7.12.2019

Today we hit the Kikuletwa Hot Springs. It was amazingly refreshing and really worth of visiting! We joined six others from TVL and did the trip together in a mini van. Kikuletwa Hot Springs is located in the middle of a semi arid landscape, surrounded by a lot of trees. The Hot Springs offer crystal clear water bubbling from underground springs. The water wasn’t hot though, it was warm. But who wants to have a hot bath on a hot day?

The drive to Kikuletwa Hot Springs took about 1 hour 30 min. After leaving the main road the drive continued through Tanzanian country side past small villages, bush land, dry and wet riverbeds, as well as baobab and acacia trees. The road is quite bumpy and after rain it’s possible to have a big pond in the middle of the road. We had a super talented driver who drove us safely there and back. Apparently this area (which used to be a hunting ground for Europeans during the 1800s) is home to members of many different tribes , peacefully co-existing as neighbors. After 1,5h of driving, green sprawling fig trees fed by underground springs, will appear out of nowhere in this dry landscape, indicating Kikuletwa Hot Springs are within reach.

And there we were, around 10am, the first mzungu’s of the day! (Mzungu means a white person in Swahili, you hear that a lot when you walk on the streets etc.) First a quick dip in the ”Hot” Springs and then chilling in the hammock reading a book! The first time in the water freaked us out slighlty… No one told us there would be little fish that suck and nibble your skin (these fish are called Garra Rufa fish and they are used by pedicures around the world). Luckily they were just little fish….  Also got to do some snorkeling and discovered some underwater caves.  TVL had packed some lunch boxes for us though there was some food stalls available as well. After lunch, coming in and out of the water 9037374 times, sunbathing, napping and chatting, we were pretty much done and once more and more mzungu’s and locals started to appear, we packed our bags and hit the road. Had a pretty good 6 hours in a beautiful Kikuletwa Hot Springs!

So everything’s good in Tanzania! We have a lot to tell but due to the poor internet connection, work, new friends, obsession with sunbathing etc. we haven’t gotten around writing this blog as much as planned. Don’t you worry guys, we will be back sooner than you think.