Machingas

Another ever presence are the mostly young men who venture into traffic to sell their wares at car windows. We learned that they are called ‘machingas’ which is the Swahili version of ‘marching guys.’ We were also informed that with them and most of the roadside sellers one must reduce the stated price by half, perhaps even more if one is a Mzungu. On our bus to Mikumi people bought air time in this way, roasted cashews and peanuts, cassava or potato chips, soft drinks, newspapers, baskets and fruit. We also found many sellers with stands on the side of the road, especially nearer to Mikumi, with many different baskets, with an eye to the tourists going to the national park. Also sugar cane and coconuts, of course.