Exotic: Traveling along Tanzania’s B2 road

From Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, to Mtwara, you have to take the B2 road, which is the most important main road in Tanzania on the Indian Ocean. More than 500 kilometers of pipelines, stations, valve rooms, storage yards, campsites, treatment plants, etc. Contracted by China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation EPC, it is located on both sides of this road. Nearly a thousand petroleum employees work back and forth through this road. The reporter rushed to Mtwara for interviews and hurriedly enjoyed the scenery along the way.

Ethnic roads with local characteristics

Due to Tanzania's underdeveloped economy, Highway B2 is a two-lane national highway and still lags behind domestic rural roads in many sections. However, the savanna scenery on both sides of the road is stunning. The roadside is full of lush shrubs and trees. Africa's unique baobab trees, coconut trees, banana trees, mango trees, kidney trees, and red-flowered Christmas trees form a unique African-style landscape. In the woods and fields, from time to time you can see thatched houses or houses with adobe and iron roofs.

Partners in the same industry said that when the project construction was the most intense last year, the renovation of dozens of kilometers of the middle section of the Lindi area of ??the B2 highway took a month at home and a year here. It is said that the reason is that the roadbed settlement cannot be checked until the rainy season. At that time, all vehicles could only pass through the sandy areas on both sides of the road. The automobiles, long-distance buses, transportation vehicles, and engineering vehicles used in the project construction are vast and dusty, rolling forward, and the hot and sunny weather all year round is unbearable. During the rainy season, both sides of the road turn yellow and muddy, making it impassable for several months, posing great obstacles to project construction. However, the difficulties encountered by the builders who were cleaning, digging and welding pipelines in the jungle ravine at the other end of the road can be imagined.

Tasting roadside mushali

At noon we drove to Kalwa, a small town in the Lindi region, and got off the car with local driver Ali to have dinner nearby. We found a large restaurant with a tall thatched hut by the side of the road, surrounded by plastic tables and chairs. Many locals sit around and enjoy the unique local wooden chalice, kipps Mayayi, fried chicken and fish. Muxiali is actually white corn dough cooked in boiling hot water, served with half a lemon and a little salt. When eating, first pour the juice of half a lemon on the top of the wooden cup, then roll it into small balls with your hands, dip it in some salt and put it in your mouth. You can also add some money and dip it in a small bowl of tomato beef juice. It will taste better. Aunt Ma, kipps, pour fried potato chips into half-boiled eggs and fry them. When eating, pour tomato sauce and salt on top and eat with your hands. Not tasty, but delicious.

After setting out on the road again, Ali hummed a tune. As soon as he saw that there were fewer cars on the road, he wanted to increase the accelerator and drive faster. We stopped it immediately. My companion told me that car accidents often occur on the B2 highway because the villagers walking on both sides of the road are used to giving way to cars, and drivers are a very good profession in the local area, so they have developed the habit of driving fast. Therefore, the project requires local drivers to strictly implement safe driving regulations, and at the same time, measure vehicle speeds along the route from time to time and at fixed points to check the drivers.

Tanzania people are warm and cheerful. The most common people along the way are locals selling charcoal and various tropical fruits. The women wore colorful clothes and carried bananas and mangoes on their heads. They waved vigorously when they saw cars approaching. Due to lack of electricity, less than 20% of people in Tanzania have access to electricity. Most families use charcoal for cooking, and selling charcoal has become an important source of income for local farmers. After the Tanzania-Zambia natural gas pipeline is completed, natural gas power generation will solve the power shortage problem in one fell swoop. When locals learned that a Chinese company was building a natural gas pipeline for them, they were elated. When they saw the yellow-skinned Chinese through the window, Rafiq and Rafiq (Swahili friends) shouted loudly and smiled, which was unforgettable.

The charming Mtwara Coast

When the B2 road enters the Mtwara region, it sometimes approaches the Indian Ocean. The deep blue water is completely charming blue, and the white sandy beach is as fine as powder, gently nestling and blending with the clear water. Mangroves, tall coconut groves, and salty sea breeze can be seen everywhere, giving people a taste of the exotic atmosphere. The blue sky, white clouds, sea water, beach, and green trees complement each other, creating a dreamlike and wonderful scenery. In fact, such scenery can be seen everywhere in Tanzania. Tanzania is famous for Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, the Serengeti Great Migration, Lake Victoria, Zanzibar Island, etc. They are all the world's top tourist attractions. Due to the tight project construction time, everyone can only enjoy this exotic beauty along the pipeline.

In the evening, Mtwara City arrived. Compared with the high-rise buildings in Dar es Salaam, there are few decent buildings and no street lights. This is where the gas source and natural gas processing plant of the TAZARA project are located. The Tanzania project feels the pain of the local people. While the project is under construction, we help local people build flood control projects and water wells, build libraries and gymnasiums for local schools, donate cultural and sports supplies, and do our best to benefit the local people. He won the support and support of the local people and forged a deep friendship with them.

When we arrived at our residence for dinner, there were so many flies and mosquitoes that we couldn’t get rid of them. My companions joked that this is a pollution-free place, but mosquitoes in Africa bite people and may cause malaria, so everyone is extra careful about mosquitoes.

Wash away the dust and experience the long journey of the day.

Perhaps, the long journey is not only about the distance, but also about the road.