British teacher moves to a tiny village in Africa - after falling in love with a tribal elder

By Beth Hale Last updated at 11:59 AM on 11th October 2008

Romance was the last thing that Carole Woolgar expected to find on her journey through Africa.

Some wild animals, maybe, or perhaps a few bugs – but not the love of her life. That, however, is exactly what the teacher, 51, came across in a small village in Tanzania.

Now she is preparing to leave behind the comforts of life in Southampton, for a considerably more humble existence with tribal elder Amri Shimata.

Far-flung love: Intrepid Carole Woolgar, 51, will jet off in November to live with partner Amri Shimata in Mahenge, a village in a remote part of Tanzania

After a four-year long-distance affair, Miss Woolgar is moving to Mahenge, a village in the south of the country, where she will live with Mr Shimata in a brick hut with a tin roof and no electricity or running water.

Her only toilet will be a 'longdrop' and her outdoor kitchen will be based around a charcoal stove.

The couple hope to be able to help improve village life and farming techniques.

Surrounded by herds of elephants, zebras and giraffes, the village even has the occasional leopard, who sleeps on a rock overlooking the community.

Miss Woolgar, who has never married and has no children, is prepared to miss some modern conveniences – not least her washing machine.

'The women have to walk to fetch water in buckets and then wash everything by hand, she said.

'The cooking is very primitive too but I think I can cope. 'If not I'll come back to my washing machine and fully fitted kitchen in my comfortable house in Southampton.'

Mahenge village has a humble existence, with no electricity or running water and a low life expectancy, but it is 'friendly and welcoming'

The adult education expert first travelled to Tanzania five years ago to visit a friend, and fell in love with the country.

She returned to help with community-based projects, and it was then that she met Mr Shimata, 56, a local politician.

They only had enough time to talk briefly and exchange e-mail addresses. But when Miss Woolgar returned again love blossomed.

Until then, she had been quite content as a single woman with no children. Last night she told why she had decided to make such a dramatic change to her life.

'Since meeting Amri for the first time I have been back to the village two or three times a year – and our romance just blossomed,' she said.

'It had just become harder and harder to say goodbye to Amri when I came to leave so I decided I had to do something.'

Together: Carole Woolgar and Amri Shimita are looking forward to a happy existence together

Miss Woolgar has quit her work in adult education at Peter Symonds College, in Winchester, but will return to the classroom in Tanzania, teaching a class of 50-60 secondary school girls English.

The couple have no plans to marry, but this will not be a problem in the community, according to Miss Woolgar.

University-educated Mr Shimata is a divorced father of four who has retired from the aviation industry and decided to return home to his village.

Mr Shimata has met her parents, siblings and nieces and nephews during visits to England, and they are all supportive of the relationship.

She said: 'At 51 you don't expect this to come along and hit you. I have been quite happy and if this hadn't happened life would have just gone on.

'This is just the golden topping, the universe has brought everything together.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076215/British-teacher-moves-tiny-village-Africa--falling-love-tribal-elder.html