So i'm writing this at the end of my trip and its a mission - next month going to keep up with it! Baically we travelled across southern africa (SA,Namibia,Botswana,Zambia) in an overland truck named Shangani with 2 guides. Our guide Heini (namibia) and driver Anthony (from kenya) we're fabulous. We have all come to love Shangani rather a lot by the end of the month that's for sure! There was a group of 24 of us starting out at Cape Town with various destination points. The group have been fab, all from varied countries (england,NZ,Oz,Brazil,Americas,Ireland) and varied ages. Our main mode of accommodation has been TENTS and often at campsites in the middle of nowhere with no toilets/showers! So here goes...hope you don't get too bored...

4th-7th September - We arrived in Cape Town on q at a very nice hostel to ease us into things i think! We didn't have much time in cape town unfortunately so we took a standard red bus sightseeing tour to see the city in a nutshell. Main sights including Table Mountain - which we didnt get chance to get the cable car up, District Six Museum, V&A Waterfront...we didn't have time to go over to Robben Island either which was unfortunate...another day...We met the rest of the group and our tour guides that evening and they informed us of what was to come - lots of camping in the middle of nowhere! Yay.

The next day at 8am we boarded the truck - called 'Shangani' which was to be our home from home for the month...Visited the 'Langa' Township where we wandered around talking to the locals and visiting some of their homes. It was more like we were the spectacle however as the children swarmed around us everywhere desperate to have their pictures taken and to see the result! We visited one family who basically lived in a small box room which they shared with 2 other families. 3 beds crammed in and not much else- this room housed 16 people! Despite living in such conditions there is always such a strong sense of community in these townships and everyone was so warm and welcoming to us 'Mzungu's' (white people). We visitied a local Shebeen (pub) where the men had made us local brew which we all tried - tasted like pure yeast not your standard pint! Had my first taste of 'pap' which is a staple food eaten by people everywhere with all their meals - made from maize, looks like massively too thick mashed potato - not too good on its own but ok with sauce! They eat it with their fingers here, use it like a naan bread to mop everything up.

Our first evenings campsite 'Highlands' was basically in the middle of nowhere but lovely...first night of putting up the tent took a while for me and Nats but we have certainly improved over the month! Introduced to my first 'Springbok' shot - peppermint liquer and amarula (africas equivalent to baileys) - FIT! You have to do a little dance like you're a springbok before you drink it. The first of many beautiful showers, made from bamboo and with a view to die for - felt like i was in a herbal essences advert!

6th we made our way 200miles to Orange River where our campsite 'Fiddlers Creek' was set right on the riverside - gorgeous. We spent the evening at the bar again drinking springboks which we managed to get many free from the creepy south african barman who jsut wanted us pissed. By day 2 i already seemed to have gained the name 'Blondie' which i now rather like!

7th We swam in the orange river (freezing) before setting of to the Fish River Canyon our first stop in Namibia :-)