It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Mwanza, Tanzania – or maybe not.

Trying to stay on the shady side of the street in tropical temperatures, my Christmas shopping experience in Tanzania this year has been pretty much the antithesis of any yuletide cliches I’m familiar with.

At 28 degrees I headed into the packed markets of central Mwanza to embark on the Christmas shopping for my three children, husband, two cats, dog and friends.

But without the dulcet tones of Dean Martin blasting from the shops, novelty knitwear piled high and heart string-tugging sentimentality, there was a different feel to my festive shopping spree. Saying that, I did spot a few pieces of tinsel, a couple of Christmas trees, and the hustle and bustle was familiar of traditional packed Christmas markets, but instead of mulled wine and chestnuts, my yuletide refreshments consisted of a glass of fresh passion fruit and a potato samosa.

After a lot of rummaging I managed to get most of the presents, football kits, Tanzania cooking pots, material to make clothes, felt tips, stickers and even a hula hoop, and I returned home a relatively stress-free mum… well until I started the Christmas baking, but then that will be another blog entry.