Ujiji at last

Following my last post at Dodoma, dad and I spent the rest of the day with the German missionaries until about six o clock. We then got our bags and headed down to the station wo catch the all night train from Dodoma to Kigoma. We got to the station only to find that the train was delayed until 10. This wasn't the greatest news because train stations aren't the safest places anyway. So instead of hanging around there we went across the road to a hotel and had a drink until 8. We then decided that it was probably best to try and get to our carriage as soon as possible. So we loaded all our stuff up and headed as fast as possible through the crowds of people. (Dad had been told earlier by the station manager that it was best that we got into our carriage as soon as possible and then lock the doors to stop anyone breaking in and sealing our stuff). We kept moving until we got to our carriage, where we managed to find out room. we locked ourselves in and waited in the dark (the lights don't start working until the train is moving). I stood at the door and dad stood at the window.
After about an hour the train started to move and we were able to relaxe a little. However we were reminded of the risk of theft when one of the train conductors came in and jammed the windows shut to stop people from getting in while we were asleep.
We both finally got to bed (two bunks) without insident about an hour later.
I was woken at two in the morning by the sound of a woman screaming and crying hysterically. This was then joined by shouting. A little disconcerted and still half asleep I got out of bed and into the corridor and pocked my head out of the window. We had stopped at a station and a group of men had gathered at the door of the next carriage along. Some police soon arrived and also the station night guards and started to threaten a man. Gradually the lady stopped crying and everyone got back onto the train and off we went again. I never worked out what the problem was.
Dad and I woke up at 5 the next morning in order to film the sunrise, before going back to bed. The train took the best part of the next 17 hours to get to the shores of lake tanganyika. it was a nice trip, although the toilets were a hole in the ground through which you could see the tracks and there were no facilities for washing. During the whole 24 hours that I was on the train I only ate a little bit of rice. Partly because I saw at least 5 cockroaches leaving the kitchen of the train and partly so as to avoid needing to use the toilet.
The view from the train was of savannah grass land and small forests, intersperced with villages and the occasional hill. The part of tanzania that we went through was very flat and we saw no animals. We got to Kigoma at about 10 on friday night (8 british time) and have been spending the last couple of days staying on the house of some friends who are away at the moment.
Yesterday we went down to the beach with some missionaries and were assured that despite there being snakes, crocodiles and hippos in the lake, none had been seen there for a while. In the evening we were then invited back to house of some missionaries for a barbeque of Kudu meat. While we looked at some hunting rifles and had a good time just relaxing and chating.
Today we have been to see the Livingstone memorial in Ujiji just down the coast from where we are now. We went to the spot where Livingstone and Stanley met and had a guided tour of some of the buildings.
Our plans at the moment are still not fully formed. We are hoping to up to Bujumbura tomorrow, but we are not sure how to get there. We will either go by boat or by taxi, although I'm not too sure that either are particularly safe. Other than that we are trying to find out if anyone isstravelling up to Burundi in the next couple of days.
Well, unfortunately I must go as the counter is running down and I will have to go in a minute. My next post should be from Bujumbura if all goes well. We have taken plenty of pictures and video so when I get back to Britain I can put some images to these words for you all.
Until next time...!

Distance travelled: 1500 km
Mosquitos killed: 10
Days in Africa: 8