Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tunapanga kusafiri takriban saa kumi, ilimradi mvua isinyeshe. - We plan to travel at around four o’clock, as long as it doesn’t rain.

tu- = we, -na- = present/progressive/habitual, -panga = plan. So tunapanga means “we’re planning now” or “we (generally) plan.”
tutapanga = “we will plan” (the act of planning is in the future).
tumepanga = “we have planned / we’ve arranged” (plan already set). The original uses a current, possibly still flexible plan, hence tunapanga.

After panga, do I have to use the infinitive ku- (kusafiri)? Can I drop ku- or say something like tunapanga tutasafiri?

After verbs like panga, the following verb normally stays in the infinitive with ku-: tunapanga kusafiri.
Don’t mix tenses inside one clause (e.g., tunapanga tutasafiri). If you want a finite clause, use kwamba: tunapanga kwamba tutaondoka…, but the infinitive is more natural here.

Is kusafiri the most natural way to say “to travel”? What about kwenda safarini?

kusafiri = to travel (generic, very common).
kwenda/kufanya safari or kwenda safarini = to go on a trip/journey (more event-like). All are fine; with a departure time, kusafiri is concise and common.

What does takriban mean exactly, and where does it go? Are there alternatives?

takriban / takribani = approximately/roughly; usually placed before the time: takriban saa kumi.
Common alternatives: kama saa kumi, saa kumi hivi (casual), karibu saa kumi (colloquial), mnamo saa kumi (more formal/scheduled). They all mean “about,” with slight register differences.

Does saa kumi mean 10:00 or 4:00?

Swahili counts hours from roughly 6:00. So:

saa moja = 7:00
saa sita = 12:00
saa kumi = 4:00. Without a qualifier, saa kumi can mean 4 am or 4 pm. Add period words to clarify:
saa kumi asubuhi/alfajiri = 4:00 am
saa kumi jioni/alasiri = 4:00 pm Context usually tells you which is meant; with travel plans, many would assume late afternoon.

How do I say “about 4:15” or “quarter to 4” in this system?

About 4:15 (Swahili time): saa kumi na robo, or saa kumi na dakika kumi na tano, or saa kumi na robo hivi.
“Quarter to 4” (Swahili time) = saa kumi kasorobo. Note that English 3:45 equals saa tisa kasorobo in Swahili time. You can keep “about” with takriban/hivi: takriban saa kumi na robo.

What does ilimradi mean, and how formal is it? Are there simpler alternatives?

ilimradi = provided that / so long as; it states a condition that must be met.
Register: neutral to slightly formal. Very common everyday alternative: mradi. Others meaning “if”: ikiwa, kama (neutral), iwapo, endapo (formal).

Why is it mvua isinyeshe instead of mvua hainyeshi?

Because ilimradi takes the subjunctive mood:

mvua isinyeshe = negative subjunctive (“so long as it not rain”). Morphology:
mvua (class 9)
Subject prefix class 9: i-
Negative subjunctive: isi- … -e
Root: -nyesh- (from kunyesha) Result: isi-nyesh-e → isinyeshe. The indicative negative (mvua hainyeshi, “it isn’t raining”) doesn’t fit a “provided that …” condition.

Could I use a straightforward “if it won’t rain” instead?

Yes:

ikiwa/kama mvua haitanyesha, … Here hai-ta-nyesha = class 9 negative + future + root. This is a neutral “if,” whereas ilimradi/mradi sounds more like a firm requirement.

Is the comma before ilimradi necessary? Can I put the condition first?

The comma is optional but helps readability.
Both orders are fine: Ilimradi mvua isinyeshe, tunapanga… or … tunapanga …, ilimradi mvua isinyeshe.

What subject agreement does mvua take in other tenses?

Class: 9/10 (N class).
Subject prefixes: i- (affirmative), hai- (negative indicative), isi- (negative subjunctive). Examples:
mvua inanyesha (it’s raining)
mvua itanyesha (it will rain)
mvua hainyeshi (it isn’t raining)
ilimradi mvua inyeshe (affirmative subjunctive, “provided that it rain”)

Could I omit mvua and just say … isinyeshe?

Only if “rain” is already the established topic. The verb still shows class‑9 agreement (isi-), so listeners can infer it, but mvua isinyeshe is clearer when introducing the condition.

Any small wording tweaks that keep the same meaning?

Swap the linker: … mradi mvua isinyeshe.
Different “about”: … saa kumi hivi / kama saa kumi / takribani saa kumi.
More definite plan: Tumepanga kusafiri …
More tentative: Tunatarajia kusafiri …

What’s the morpheme-by-morpheme breakdown?

tu-na-panga: tu- (we) + -na- (present/progressive) + -panga (plan)
ku-safiri: ku- (infinitive) + -safiri (travel)
takriban: approximately
saa kumi: “hour ten” (Swahili count → 4 o’clock)
ili-mradi: provided that (fixed conjunction)
mvua: rain (class 9)
isi-nyesh-e: isi- (neg. subj., class 9) + -nyesh- (rain) + -e (subjunctive)