Kikuletwa Hot Springs (Hai, Tanzania)

 

I'm arrived in Tanzania last night in advance of my next big adventure, which is to try to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. I've met up with several friends and friends of friends at the Lindrin Lodge, where I'll be staying when not on the mountain. Since we don't begin our trek until tomorrow, I decided to join the group for an afternoon playing around the Kikuletwa Hot Springs, also known as Chemka Hot Springs.

Our guide service has provided a shuttle bus and fifteen or so of us in our group pile into the vehicle for the hour or so drive to the hot springs. I figured spending this time with the group would give me a little time to get to know the folks I'll be with for the next several days. The roads here are quite bumpy and travel just about anywhere offers a "African massage" due to the large rocks embedded in the worn dirt roads. It's all in good fun though. 

Arriving at the hot springs, we're are shown to the restrooms and pools where we can swim. I grab an innertube, since I'm not a very good swimmer and at first hesitate to get into the crystal clear blue water, but eventually cave into the peer pressure of my new friends and climb down a ladder. The water is lukewarm, but not hot at all and near the roots at the edge of the pool, we are 'attacked' by some kind of small sucker fish who seem to like to clean the dead skin off of our feet. It doesn't hurt, but it feels a little weird. If you can imagine the most gentle tiny pinch possible and then fifty of them at the same time on your feet, you will have some idea of the sensation. Though not dangerous at all, I didn't really enjoy this sensation and didn't stay in the water very long.

My friends though made the most of our relaxing day and swam and floated all around the various chambers of the natural pool generated by the hot springs. Though it's possible to see the bottom through the clear water, these pools are pretty deep - a few meters at least. We spend another hour or so here just hanging out and admiring the small monkeys in the trees overhead. 

Once everyone has dried off, we head across the road and enjoy a traditional lunch under a semi-permanent awning. This is a pretty depressed area, but the people are warm and welcoming. After lunch, we visit an orphanage to drop off some educational supplies that our group organizer had put together. It's an eye-opening experience and I must compliment the teachers and caretakers at this facility. They seem to really care about the young people in their charge. After a day of adventure, we head back to the lodge to get a good night's sleep. Our big adventure begins tomorrow.