Coco Beach at Oyster Bay

On the shores of Coco Beach

The sand felt like gummy clay between my bare toes. It made a chewy sound as I gently stepped across the beach laden with shallow rocks and threads of green seaweed. Small white crabs quickly poked themselves in and out of the sand as the tide waters passed over the shore. Local children played in the distance while an ominous black cloud slowly moved in to provide yet another brief downpour as part of the April rainy season. A cool breeze carried the smell of ocean back to the nearby open air cafe where my mom looked on, awaiting my return.

The eastern edge of Dar es Salaam borders the Indian Ocean and the city has several relatively unspoilt beaches that are very close to the city center. Despite the chaos, poverty, and endless traffic of Dar, scenes like these make me appreciative of this seemingly remote part of the world.