Exploring nature on a hike to southeast Dar es Salaam

Hiking in Dar es Salaam.

Women hike at Kazimzimbwi Forest in Pugu, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on October 24, 2020. PHOTO | COURTESY | PUGU HILLS ECO CULTURAL TOURISM (PHECT)

It was the weekend before the October 28 General Election. On this early Saturday morning, 26 women from Dar es Salaam and I set out for a hike on the outskirts of the city.

Perhaps we were running away from all the hype and scandal of election season to be soothed by nature, welcoming a chance to mingle with strangers and sample patriotism more authentic than the one we saw on headlines.