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So...the 6 months are almost over. Not sure what happened all of a sudden! Time has flown by! The last couple of weeks I have been busy exploring the African continent. Although I had be preferred to do it on my own or together with a fellow traveler, the best option was an overland trip this time. It actually comes down to the following, that you get to see many countries at a glance but do not really have enough time to get to know a place inside out. I would say I did Africa the Japanese way! 5 countries in 5 weeks! Very fast and very efficient! ;-) But I must say I did get to see a lot of things and was able to make it at a set time to my end destination Dar es Salaam.
As you can see from the pictures, the nature and wild life in Africa is stunning. Already entering Botswana from South Africa, we almost immediately encountered elephants and donkeys on the streets. Donkeys are of course not wild but if you see how they seem to roam free next to the road...they are a bit willd. Most impressive in Botswana I found Chobe National Park. I guess it was my first safari since 13 years so that maybe that explains why I liked it so much. And...we got to see a lot of animals! Already with the first afternoon drive, we bumped into lions, elephants and hippo's swimming in the river... The camp grounds in Botswana were also amazing...nice white sand to set up your tent and the prospect of meeting an elephant on the way to the toilet in the night.
From Botswana we set off to Zimbabwe which felt a bit strange as we in Europe usually here a lot of news about this country. I guess Vic Falls is set-up to be a tourist village where you can pay in dollars and notice nothing of what else is going on in Zimbabwe. The high light here were of course the Victoria Falls (even in the rain they are spectacular) and a canoe ride on the Zambezi. The rafting had been cancelled so the canoe ride was a very nice alternative. After getting the safety brief I almost thought it might be better not to go on the river .... "Always stick to the canoe if you fall in the water unless you get tipped over by a hippo!!". It was fun and we got soaked to the bone...not due to tipping over but due to rain that kept on following us.
After Vic Falls, I said goodbuye to me fellow travelers and met up with the new group with who I would travel for 21 days all the way up to Tanzania. Unfortunately, we had to stay another couple of days in Vic Falls...which is a tiny village where there is not much more to do then do adrenaline activities which cost alot of ...dollars! So the cricket match and drinks/dancing at the Shoestring Backpacker was a welcome alternative. Our trip really started when we left Livingston, Zambia and headed towards Malawi. Zambia is very green when you drive through it. You especially see the difference with Malawi. In Malawi you see a lot of tabacco and mais...makes me actual think a bit of Cuba.
In Malawi we stayed the first couple of nights at Kandi Beach, right along the coast of Lake Malawi. Beautiful but very busy campground...lots of overlanders and a group of 120 VSO's who are having their annual meeting there. For me quite fun as I got to talk to a couple of Dutch and hear about their work in Malawi. We also were able to visit the local village and see a bit more of Malawi then only from a very high and (not so) dry truck (Dutch expression!). After one more night further up North on the Lake, we entered Tanzania. The first night we spend just outside Iringa at a place called the Old Farmhouse. We did not have to cook and had a excellent meal from home grown vegetables and meat. Great place with hot showers....what a luxury! From there we drove to Dar es Salaam, partially through the Mikumi National Park. Lost of giraffes! Whe spend one night south of Dar at a place called Mikadi beach before heading off to Zanzibar the next day.
Zanzibar is a very interesting place, due to its history, the beautiful beached, clear water and nice food. Spend a day in Stone Town which has a very Arab feel. Nice food market at night (reminded me of Malaysia). The Spice Tour was an excellent experience for the senses...I did not know that cinamon comes from tree trunks. And I have never seen pepper grow. Very interesting. The next 3 days I spend on the North Beach, relaxing, reading a book, seeing sea turtles, diving off the Mnemba Atoll, drinking caiperinhas at sunset...and sleeping in a real bed! (no tents!!!). All in all a very relaxing 4 days!
After this came the highlight of the 21 day trip...Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater! We left on a very raining day from Arusha towards the Crater. Both National Parks are fantastic but so different. Serengeti is spread out and has the real Africa look with the yellow grass and hardly any trees. We first went for a brief visit to a Masaai village. Interesting how these people live, 24 wives in one village...sometimes you realise even more how lucky you are born (especially as a woman) in the Netherlands. The first thing we got to see the next day on our first drive in the Serengeti was a leopard...I guess that is a bit unusual! You need to do a lot of driving in the Serengeti to see things as they are quite spread out. But we got to see a lot of things including lions, elephants, even a cheetah, loads of zebras and wildebeast. The Crater is completely different...much greener, different vegetation and you see animals more readily. Lots of buffaloe here, wildebeast and surprise...we saw about 5 rhino's! Okay, I had to see them through binoculars to really believe it but they were there! The camping in the Serengeti and on the edge of the Crater was super! Very basic...especially when you are not feeling so well (we all had a stumach bug!). But it was amazing to wake up and hear a buffaloe grazing next to your tent. Bit of an issue of you really need to go to the toilet! ;-)
All in all it was a very nice experience. Got to see a lot of Africa in a short period of time. It will mean that I will have to come back in the future and spend more time in each of the countries. I must say it was also very welcoming to be in Dar es Salaam with friends, not sleeping in a tent, a proper toilet and nice conversations. Tomorrow we are off to Mombasa for Easter. Cannot believe it is already Easter! And the it is only a few more days before I am heading home. 18th April...I am now really starting to look forward to be back in Amsterdam, seeing friends and family. It was a great experience but it is time to go home!
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