After a few weeks of pedaling, I’ve finally reached the southern border of Tanzania and entered the next country on my journey, Malawi.

My time traveling from north to south through the remote and rural heart of Tanzania has been fascinating. It’s still too soon to fully process all that I’ve seen and experienced in this beautiful country, but with time, I’ll be able to better articulate my impressions. That said, a few key observations have stuck with me, particularly about the children and school kids. No matter how urban or rural the areas I visited were, there was always a constant stream of kids walking to and from school or playing in the schoolyards during recess. There are two reasons why this stood out to me.

First, the kids were always incredibly enthusiastic to see us cyclists. They would shout and cheer with excitement as we pedaled past. Many would run to the roadside, some cheering us on, while others would stop to stare, utterly bewildered. I have to admit, in this region, we probably looked quite odd in spandex, helmets, sunglasses, and flashy bikes. Every time the kids spotted us, they would shout “MZUNGA!” (which means “foreigner” in Swahili). I suspect that, in the more remote areas, many of the kids had seen few, if any, foreigners before. We couldn’t escape their curious eyes!

The second reason the kids were so memorable is because they wore the most pristine school uniforms. Their outfits were impeccably neat, often complete with bright white socks and crisp white shirts. Many of them walk up to 7 miles (10 km) one way just to get to school. To me, this showed that education is both a priority and a respected institution here.

To round out my thoughts on the trip, the people in general were incredibly welcoming, friendly, and always eager to exchange a smile or a greeting. The landscape was equally striking and ever-changing. In the north, the land was flatter and more arid, but as we moved south, it became lush and hilly. By the final stretch, we climbed over the southern ridge of the Great Rift Valley and cycled through some spectacular hills and valleys, passing by miles of tea plantations.

I’m grateful for the warm welcome I received from the people of Tanzania 🇹🇿. Now, it’s time to experience Malawi 🇲🇼!