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It is a damn good job that Nat and I aren't meticulous to detail and super organised. After the panic of possibly missing the overland Africa tour we've been planning for months, we finally made it to Nairobi only one hour before the pre-departure meeting. Nat's bag was attacked by various wild animals of the luggage carousel and is now minus key buckles and clips. Good job we don't need to carry them for 6 weeks.
It is a little bizarre to be sheperded around by a trip leader who tells you when to eat, when to go to the toilet and how much paper to wipe your arse with. However, it is good not to have to worry about transport, food or accommodation. The tents are super easy to put up and the chores are painfree. Although everyone does comment on my bossiness... The truck has mainly Aussie and Kiwis - we are the token Scots who are asked to say random words with the letter R in. People can't believe we're sisters as Nat makes no sense whatsoever and so I have to translate what she says.
We went for 2 nights in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania. Amazing to see animals walking along the side of the road or taking shade under a tree. These aren't your average cows and sheep - we're talking giraffes and lions. We were all happy to take showers (cold but water nonetheless) after 3 days of dust had built up.
We went to Zanzibar for 3 nights where we could relax and get away from that bloody truck that sucks your soul and all enthusiasm for life from you. Loved the island and Nat and I tried snorkelling for the first time. Once Nat got over her little strop in front of everybody she started to enjoy herself. We even saw some wild dolphins playing around the boat.
Tanzania seems like a very easy place to travel around by yourself. A little disappointed we didn't know that before we booked...
We went to Malawi for a couple of nights where not much happened other than me getting very drunk and winning joint first prize for an air guitar competition. Having never even tried air guitar before I felt the need to celebrate even more. Result: table dancing, dirty dancing and sore head the next morning. Also went to a witch doctor who couldn't predict the time looking at a watch. Taught the local kids how to do the Grand Old Duke of York and the Gay Gordons. Oh, and LOTS of supermarket stops.
Zimbabwe
55$US for a Brit to enter Zimbabwe. We're not all made of money! Although it does feel like it walking around with their local currency. The official bank rate is 250 ZIM $ to 1 US$ but the black market rate is 900 ZIM to 1 US. Economy quite clearly messed up. We had 181 notes stuffed into every concealable pocket we had. Vic Falls is the adrenaline capital where we signed up for white water rafting (Nat a pro after Nepal), bought a shopful of wooden giraffes and visited the Falls. A good place to return to so that we could do the walk with lions and the helicopter ride over the Falls which everyone raved about.
Botswana
Another supermarket! Hurrah! We could do an essay on supermarkets across Africa since we've been to most of them. Eventually bought pillows after almost 3 weeks using our rucksacks dressed up in jumpers as substitutes. Fantastic time in Botswana at Chobe National Park. The game cruise along Chobe river was a great finish to the day as we watched the animals taking baths and drinking as the sun went down. Flip side of Botswana activities was the Okavango Delta 3-day trip in a mokoro (dug-out canoe). It was a trip along the Delta staying in hte bush in 'basic' conditions. 'Basic' meant only having waht you take with you - so no electricity, running water, toilets or any amenities whatsoever. So this is true camping. Actually s***ting in a hole with only bushes for cover and a shovel to tidy up after yourself. Highly scary experience the mokoro itself. Going throught the swamp/river all the reeds brush against your face and all manner of beasties live on you. I got the prize for most sunburnt face on the first day.
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