My First Solo Expedition! Woohoo!!!

Part 2...... The End

nataliep25 — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:36:00 GMT

So once in Botswana we drove to our campsite and after dinner we went to the bar and had some traditional tribal dancing by the local San Bushmen Community. It was really good fun, and we all got up and joined in for the last few songs. There were two groups there, the GAP group which were another tour like us doing pretty much the same route as we saw them everywhere, and us, Nomad. We went back to clear away after dinner and Jo-Jo gave us a little briefing about the next day, and then we all went to the bar. We all had a little to drink, especially Bradley who was absolutely hammered. He had Gaby, Owen and I in hysterics when he was telling us that the bar was in fact the mini bar and there was a big bar over there... (over where??) He didn't live it down for a few days after that as we all found it hilarious. The next day we were up early, put our tents down just as it became light and set off for Maun. We stopped in Maun to get supplies and Owen did some shopping and we used the internet, then we went to Maun Airport and stopped there for lunch on the car park, and a few people went on a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta. The rest off us got dropped off at the next campsite where we put up our tents and then went to the pool area which was nice. Jo-Jo had gone with Ella to pick the others up so as we had no swimming gear we swam in our clothes, and we opened a tab at the bar as all our money was in Ella too. Tut tut haha! It was fun though. Then we went back for a briefing from the guide about the next 2 days which we were spending in the Okavango Delta. That night we were all pretty tired and we all got ready for bed after dinner and had showers, and then I was like oh it's so early we should go to the bar, so I went and woke up Cecilia, who wasn't actually asleep but she was in her pj's and in her sleeping bag about to go to sleep haha, then on the way to the bar we grabbed Karim who had just been to brush his teeth ready for bed haha, oh well, so we went and sat in the bar for a couple of hours and chatted, and Marcin came with his laundry, and Owen came over after his shower, then we all went to bed around 11ish. The next morning we were up early, suprise suprise, and we loaded all our stuff into the 4x4 and drove to the delta. We all got assigned our Poler, me and Cecilia were with Best, quite aptly named really as I think he was one of the main guys although he was quiet except for occasionally shouting out snake or croc or bird haah, but it was nice. Mokoros are like canoes, but longer and you can fit all your things into them, some are carved from wood from the trees and some are now made from fibreglass, which is the better option as they are water proof haha. It was suprisingly comfortable apart from the insects attacking you as you are almost at water level as you travel along the channel of the delta. After a 3 hour mokoro ride we reached our campsite and most of us just wanted to jump in the river. We all pitched our tents wherever we could find a space, and then we had lunch. After lunch we all went and jumped in the river, and had a go at poling, I had Ed as my driver, it was rocky to say the least haha! Sorry Ed! After that most people went on a guided walk, Cecila, Jorge and I stayed on the riverbank and chilled out, wrote in our diaries and just relaxed. Then we went back and had dinner. The next morning we went on a 4 hour bush walk and we saw loads of Elephants, and Giraffes, some lion footprints, and a buffalo skull, someone had a tasty treat last night. Then we went back and had breakfast, spent the day sleeping on the riverbank and Song listened to Romeo and Juliet on his dictionary, which actually kept everyone amused for an hour or so. After that we had lunch, then I think we had another game walk, I can't remember that afternoon. After dinner that night we all watched the polers perform some traditional dancing, it was really good fun and Pilot (one of the polers) put a cushion up his top and although I don't think we understood the point of it it was still hilarious. After they had danced for us we all did a little performance for each country. Fabian started off brilliantly! We thought he was going to do a little song, but instead he got everyone involved shouting give me an N.. and spelt out Nomad but with such unexpected aggression in his face, we were in stitches. It was brilliant! Gaby and me kind of tried to hide at the back but they remembered England and so we tried and failed to get everyone learning Saturday Night by Whigfield and doing the dance, but to no avail haha. Then we played some games and then off to bed. The next morning another early bush walk, we woke up to one of the polers shouting us awake, Morning Glory! The sun is on shine! Re-Re-Re-loaded! Come on! There are only two people up! Morning glory! We didn't like being woken up although by now we should have been used to it! We got back, had breakfast, and then packed up and set off on the Mokoros and made our way back. We got back and then hopped on the truck and were driven back to the camp site. We had lunch and went for showers (Good work with the plan Gaby!) and then we packed everything up and set off for Gweta and the Planet Boabab Campsite. What an awesome campsite. We got there, pitched our tents (you will getbored of hearing this soon), then we went and jumped in the pool, which was freezing but so refreshing as it had been such a hot couple of days, and we stayed there until it was too dark and then we went to the bar, then had dinner and then some of us went back to the bar. Owen taught me how to play a game which they had there, which to be honest was really fun, until I emptied my storage and lost round 3! Oh well. It was a great night though, Owen, Jo-Jo, Bradley, Karim and I just hung around the bar and talked for hours, and then we went to bed, ready for the next early start haha. The next day we set off for Chobe NP. We went on a river cruise and saw Crocs, Hippos, Elephants, Baboons, and lots of birdlife, and saw the sun set behind the elephants silouhettes which was amazing, lots of Kodak moments, and then we got back and had dinner. The next day up early again and we left and set off for Zimbabwe. We only drove for about an hour to the border, and then it took about an hours to cross the border here as we had to pay visas, for UK it was 55USD, I think 390ZAR which is how I paid as it worked out cheaper, everyone else was 30USD but the Canadians had the short straw as they thought it was 65USD but it had gone up again to 75USD. So we were lucky with the 55! Then everything was done manually so it took onger than all the other border crossings we did. When we entered Zimbabwe we went to Vic Falls and spent about 3 hours there. Victoria Falls is the most amazing place I have ever been to, the Falls itself is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and Zimbabwe (well the small part we saw) I fell in love with! I will definately go back there, if only I could have stayed there! We stayed at the Savannah Lodge for these two nights. When we arrived we had lunch and then watched a presentation by Saf Par Excellence who were going to give us our optional activities to choose from. Everyone sorted out their activites, and I obviously chose the sky dive, but the plane was out of action for the week, so once again I couldn't do the sky-dive so I was gutted. Africa just didn't want me to sky-dive! So I then spent ages deciding what else I fancied doing and in the end I decided I would do the white water rafting on the Zambezi as a lot of people were doing that and I thought it would be nice to spend the last day with the group. So once I had sorted that I went to get my stuff from Ella and find out where my room was (everyone else had already done this while I was trying to sort the sky-dive for hours!) only to find Ella had gone :-( with all my clothes, towels, everything. So I went and had a manicure and pedicure in the lovely little outdoor salon they had at the lodge and we had a lovely girly afternoon. Then I went to see if Ella had returned as we had seen her pull up, but she had gone again, so time was running out as we had to meet for dinner at 6:45 in the reception. So I got myself a beer and found my room, and then just sat in the bar. Everyone started coming back from the market and from town, and the girls finished off their pamper sessions, then everyone went to get showered and ready for dinner while I drowned my sorrows haha. In the end I went and had a shower with all of Gaby's stuff and then by the time I had finished my towel and everything was outside ready and waiting (Thanks' girlies!). Everyone had already gone because dinner had been booked for 7pm, Jo-Jo felt bad but it wasn't his fault! It was mineif anything, but Gaby and Marieke waited for me and we got a taxi down together. As we walked in we were dressed in a robe and had a little mark painted on our face, and then we walked in, we all were like oh my god this is brilliant! There were drummers, and face painting and hair braiding, a fortune teller, we could all join in with the drumming, it was brilliant. The food was delicious, more game meats to try, buffalo, warthog, ostrich kebabs, all delicious. Soup was served in a kind of mini cauldron and was delicious. It was a great atmosphere. A guy came around and painted all our faces, I had a lion, Marieka a Zebra, and Gaby had a pretty Zebra style design, and we all danced and giggled the night away, then had our hair braided, then we went homein Ella and went into the bar for a while then we all went to sleep. The next day was the white water rafting day... oh dear! We met at 8am in the bar, set off to Vic Falls, got fitted with our gear, then got into teams of 6, then we walked down the cliffside which was so steep, and so high, I swearI have vertigo haha. Once we reached the bottom we did a practise run on the flat water and practised paddling and following our guide, Hippo's orders. Then we all set off. It was great the first few rapids, then we came to Rapid No. 5 - The Stairway to Heaven (or the Highway to Hell). This was the first Grade 5 rapid and as we approached it we were thinking ohhhh shiiiit! To be honest I wasn't too worried at this point and I was enjoying myself! s we hit the rapid the water just enveloped the raft, I flew forwards and then was thrown backwards and out of the raft. I swam to the surface and panicked didn't I - idiot! So I was swirling around, couldn't breathe, swallowing water, and I remember at one point thinking oh god I am going to die haha! I finally remembered the safety position and got into it and then I was washed through the rest of the rapid and grabbed onto the kayak of the wonderful safety guy (I wish I could remember his name!) who shouted at me to calm down, which I did quickly then. Then my fellows rafters came to collect me, and I then realised Karim had been on the Highway to Hell too! Apparently he had been shouting Nat are you ok? and I hadn't answered, he said he thought oh oh! Which was true, I was panicking haha! Wimp! Anyhow, after that I was terrified about falling back in the water, so I held on everytime we went into the rapids! We had lunch and a couple of people left as they didn't like the rafting and I almost did myself, but I thought well I have paid for it now and I have survived that so I'll stick it out. I hated it though, I just was scared about falling back in or the boat tipping over. I really did enjoy the smaller rapids though, they were great! There were also 2 rapids which you could swim through, I swam through the first one whilst holding onto one of the guys from Saf Par's lifejacket haha, then I asked Hippo which was the worst rapid and he said that the worst rapid is the one where you fall in, so I fell in at number 5, there were 20 more to go, so I was annoyed that I fell in so early haha. I am proud that I stuck it out though, no matter how afraid I was it was a good experience, but I don't think I will ever do it again, but I am glad I have done it. That's one thing I can check off my things to do before I am 30 list! After the rafting we had to climb up the steepest cliff ever with no steps, just logs to aid your step. Then when we reached the top we had ice cold water and beer. It was good. When we arrived back at the lodge we watched the rafting dvd and saw the photos and I felt fear all over again haha, but we had such a laugh, Costa's team flipped on almost every rapid, it looked amazing on DVD, although I am glad I wasn't in that raft haha.

I went and had a facial and then we went and had showers and got ready as we were all meeting in the bar at 7pm for our last night together. We ordered pizza and just sat in the bar laughing and joking and writing in each others books, then we met the new guide for the 2 day transfer which is another story. Owen and his brother came for a while, and Owen filled people in on what was happening the next day with all the other transfers. Then we all went to bed and the next day we got up early, Daddy Jo-Jo came to see us off which was so nice but sad to say goodbye to him, and then the 8 of us that were leaving on the transfer, plus one new addition Francis from France, and we all jumped on Ella after saying our goodbyes (tearful ones by now), then we waved as we left. The next two days were long, hard drives,hardly any stops, only to grab food at garages and supermarkets, and then back on the road. We camped for the last night with 4 of us in the tent, Me, Gaby, Ed and Bradley, and we all stayed nice and warm. Then we were up early for the last leg of the journey. We arrived in Jo'Burg at around 2:30pm and I said my goodbyes to Gaby and Ed, and Team Holland and then me and Erika went to drop our bags in the baggage hold and we went and had a coffee and an iced tea and then we went shopping. Then we went and checked in and shopped some more, we used the internet cafe, and then I went to catch my flight. Luckily I didn't wait long to board the plane and we took off early. I slept nearly all the 11 hours home, apart from breakfast and dinner. I wasn't glad to land in London, I felt sad and like my big adventure had now come to an end.

I can safely say that I am hooked on Africa! It is the most amazing country I have ever visited and my only regret is that I had to leave. I will definately be visiting Africa again in the near future, as well as all the other countries of all the new friends I have made. Looks like we will have to plan a Nomad Tours North Africa Reunion in a couple of years! Until then, it's back to work to pay off all my debts and then I am going around the world!!!!!

There is just so much to see out there! x

Home sweet home... so I'll finish....

nataliep25 — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:09:00 GMT

So, I left you at the aiport, but as I hadn't caught up before then here goes... After the Himba Tribe we left for Etosha NP. We did a game drive on the way to Okaukuejo which would be our camp site for the night. We saw Zebras, Giraffes, Elephants, many many Springboks which I think Fabian was happy about haha, we saw Oryx and lots of bird life. It was amazing to be right next to these animals, especially as I think this is the part of the tour a lot of people had been looking forward to the most, African wildlife! We had dinner and then went to the Waterhole after showers and watched the animals there for ages, Rhinos and Elephants and Jackals and Giraffes and then there were some lions, 3 of them drinking water, it was amazing. The sounds were amazing too, everyone was silent and you could just hear nature all around. So we got to the campsite and we all chose whether we wanted to do the optional activity the next night which was a night drive through the park. There were like 14 people who wanted to do the game drive but there were only 7 spaces, so we all drew numbers out of a hat, guess what number I got! 9!!!! I was really disappointed but Wout gave me his ticket which was really nice of him, I gave him a big hug. Els gave her ticket to Erika, and Regina and Kees gave their tickets to Marcin and Ela, which was lovely of them all. So we then had lunch and then a few of us went to chill out by the pool while everyone else went on another game drive in Ella. We had a lovely girlie afternoon painting our nails, and soaking up the sun and dipping in the pool, and drinking Savannah, and it was nice to just be able to chill out for an afternoon as it has been all go throughout the tour, not that that is a bad thing. Then we went and had showers.... oh my god! The showers were amazing! We went on the night drive and we didn't see much, we saw a lioness lying in the road right next to us, she just looked up at us, it was amazing! Apparently there was a leopard in a tree but I personally couldn't see it although I think some of the others may have seen it. We also saw a Rhino, and some Hyenas which were pretty creepy, for some reason I kept remembering the Lion King haha! Anyway, we drove back and it was freezing cold and I took my blanket as well as using the one that they had supplied us and I was still cold, and we got back and went to bed. The showers here were even better than the last haha! You will notice that I mention showers quite a lot, this is because it was so nice to have good showers, and most of the time they were good but some of them were freezing cold and some outdoor and some under rocks, so you were thankful for the hot ones haha. After Etosha we drove the long drive to Windhoek. It was like a 7-8 hours drive to the city and so we set off really early. We arrived at Cardboard Box Backpackers at around 6:15 and we all had to have showers and get ready for dinner as we were eating out at Joe's Beerhouse that night. We did it though, and we all climbed into Ella and drove into the city. Joe's Beerhouse was fantastic, memorabilia everywhere, they had Jagermeister memorabilia everywhere too mmmmmmmm ahha! We ordered drinks, as it was Regina's birthday she bought the first round of drinks, so I opted for the trusty Savannah, Song had a large beer, and it was LARGE, maybe two pints? He drank it though fair play to him haha! I had Bushman Sosatie for my meal, it was a kebab skewer of different game meats and it was delicious, Ostrich, Kudu, Springbok, Oryx, Crocodile (which was replaced by chicken as they had run out of crocodile) it was so tasty though. I am not a big fan of Kudu, but it was ok. Karim and I proceeded to have a chilli eating competition with me eating two chillis and Karim meekly only managing one! Wimp haah! Then we washed it down with a sickengly alcoholic drink afterwards, I think it was called a Dom Pedro? Not sure but it was good! The next day we were up early and we drove to the border and crossed over into Botswana. We set up camp and then had showers, and I wore my wonderful Springbok t-shirt which I had bought at Joe's Beerhouse, however I had to changed as we had Springbok Stew for dinner cooked by Owen, so after a few jokes I had to change it as I felt guilty haha....TBC

The last update before I come home!

nataliep25 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:47:00 GMT

Heyyyyy,

So I am in Jo'burg aiport now waiting for my flight home, which is sad, just said goodbye to Gabi and Ed :-((( We left Swakopmund and went to Spitkoppe, it was a long drive but it was worth it, we watched some tribal dancing and had to sing something ourselves for them so we ended up doing the Macarena! It was not a stellar performance haha, then we slept outside under the stars, it was beautiful. We kept on asking Jo-Jo to turn off the moon but he said the switch was broken, typical men! We saw some bushmen paintings and climbed to the top of SPitkoppe with the aid of a chain which was really not very useful at all! The view from the top was amazing though. We had fish for dinner, Snouk and Hake, Owen cooked it on the fire, it was delicious! The next day we went to the top of one of the rocks and watched the sunrise, which are the best in Africa, they are so amazing! Then we left for the Himba camp. We spent a few hours in the Himba village, we took them gifts and gifts for the children and played games with the children, (and no Faye I didn't teach them a drinking game) haha. It was such an eye opener! They don't wash with water, and they don't have to shave because of this special stuff they use called ochre powerder, lucky! I want some! The village is owned by a man called Jaco who set up the village after he gave a Himba lady some medical attention ad now most of the children there are orphans. We left early again the next day and drove to Etosha, I love that place! Amazing campsite! Amazing waterhole, and amazing animals! We saw lions and elephants and giraffes and rhinos, right in front of us. The next day we went on a game drive and then we sat by the pool and pampered ourselves. Time is running out now so I will have to finish later, see you tomorrow lovely people! xxxx

Sharp Sharp! Cool Bananas! Asante Sana!

nataliep25 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:05:00 GMT

So... finally I am back in civilisation! My my! What a week!

So, where did I leave it last time... City tour, well there were supposed to be a group of people on the tour but they had all cancelled, so It was just me and the tour guide! It was good though, got to see Cape Point, Table Mountain which was amazing but freezing cold on top, Bo-Kaap and tha Malay Quarters which were really cool, all the houses were in super bright colours, think I am going to paint our house when I get home haa! Then I got back to thge hotel, it was a bit boring, had nothing to do so watched a dodgy film on the tv and then fell asleep. Got to Nomad tours offices at about 7.15am on Sunday, met the crew, Jo-Jo is our guide and \driver, Owen is our cook, and Bradley is training. They are awesome! So much fun! The group is amazing, we all get on really well, there is a great mix of cultures, there is me and another English girl Gabriella, Marieka who is from Rotterdam, Ella and Marcim from Poland, two older couple from Holland, Erica from Amsterdam, Anna and Jorge from Madrid, Cecilia from Argentina, Karim from Sweden, Fabian from Germany, Song from South Korea, and Ed from Vancouver. All great guys! We have a great group dynamic which is good. So them we met Ella, our truck, we are not allowed to call her the truck, we love Ella! Hahah! She needs some decent suspension though on these roads!

So anyway, we spent the day talking about the truck and what was going to happen and we got sorted with our tent mates, I am with Marieka, and then we drove to Gekko backpackers, where we went on a guided walk into the Cedarberg Mountains, it was really good, and the weather was nice and sunny, although it wasn't too hot. Then we had dinner, and had a little introductory session around the camp fire, when it way my turn I said Hi I'm Natalie and I am an alcoholic! So that's my name now ahah! It was a good night, and we ended up getting a bit drunk, we drank a Springbok shooter and did the dance to go with it haha! We did a Giraffe, which is called that because of the way you drink it, its pretty much apple sours haha, the bar was a trust bar, you take what you want and write it on a list then pay the next day. Needless to say we were tired the next day when we had to take our tents down :-(((( So then we drove for hours and had to make sandwiches as we already had stops for "kodak" moments as they are now known as so we didn't have time to stop for lunch. Pretty much the food is good, we have cereals and bread and sometimes toast and eggs for breakfast, lunch is mainly salads, sandwiches, pasta if we don't have far to travel, and dinner is delicious! Owen is a great cook, we have had spaghetti bolko9gnaise, boerewors and mash, we had Pap the other day and ate it with our hands in the African way, it was delish actually, and I didn't mind not eating with my hands haha. We have been to Dune 45, a few of us had a few drinks on the night before and went to bed a bit late and had to get up at 4am! We were at the gates to dune 45 at 4:30 and were the first ones there. Mainly because tyhe sand is more solid in ythe morning before anyone has walked on it. It was hard hard work, so exhausting, every step you took you went back half a step so it took twice as long. I struggled I must say. The sunrise was amazing though. Then we went for a guided tour in Sossusvlei, and it was so hot, how anyone can survive in thew desert is beyond me! We saw deadvlei which was just beautiful. We went out last night for a meal in Swakopmund which is where we are now, it is cold here because we are by the coast. Booked my skydive yesterday at Desert Explorers, me and Song are going to do it together, but we waited this morning but no-one arrived and we got reception to call them and they said it was cancelled because of the weather. So spent all morning thinking oh god oh god and for what! Nothing! Haha! We are going to do it at vic falls instead so at least it will be sunny there! So we are staying at Villa Weise in a dorm! In beds!!!!!!! BEDS!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so good! We went to Neopolitana last night for a meal, I had Oryx steak, it was sooooo delicious! Forget any othermeat now, that is it! Just need to find a supplier hahaha! So then after dinner we went to a nightclub, haha, middle of the African desert and here were are nightclubbing, it weas fun! Savannah cider is delicious haha! Funny how half this has been talking about alcohol. Typical Nat! We have started to see some animals now, we have seen some Mountain Zebras, a Giraffe, a baboon, and lots of Springbok and an Oryx. We are all starting to get quite a little group going on, which is good as we are literally together 24/7. It's funny, I remember watching documentaries on tv about Africa, but nothing compares to this, it is the most amazing country, I could quite easily stay here forever! I am starting to miss everyone though, it's especially difficult when you have lietreally no connections at all. Now we are in Namibia there is hardly anything in terms of mobile signal, pretty much isolated! It is exhausting, every morning you take down your tent, drive in Ella to the next place, then put up your tent again. We have a rota for cleaning and washing up etc. I am Elephant haha, we got off lightly yesdterday though as we went out for dinner so only had to do bnreakfast and lunch. It's so cheap here, I have hardly spent any money, which is good, there isn't really any opportunity. Think we are going quad biking this afternoon as a group, which will be good, then we are having dinner at the hostel.Think we leave tomorrow after lunch. Can't remember where wqe are going, we keep forgetting what day it is nevermind the agenda haha. The crew is brilliant, they are always there for anything you need, and they are as much as part of the grouup as the rest of us, Jo-Jo is hilarious, we are continually using his phrases as he is so funny, Asante Sana! Haha which means thank you very much, and Sharp Sharp, Cool Bananas! Haha! Hilarious!!!! We stayed at a camp site called Fiddlers Creek the other night, the showers were outdoor, but were so amazing, we went swimming in the Orange/ Gariep river, freezing cold but brilliant! If you swim across the river you are in Namibia! Got through border control into Namibia ok, So all in all everything is going well, I have to sort my room out in a bit as it's a mess from last night haha, so that's the job for this afternoon, thwen dinner. Haah Owqen just found me in the internet cafe and sdaid how was sky diving, haha, I told him it was cancelled and he laughed, I was glad haha but in a way I wasn't glad really. I do want to do it! I have been learning spanish from Cecilia and Anna, and practising it on Jorge haha, I am not very good, but I can say a few things now, Gaby is helping Song with his English.

So from here in Swakopmund, hello! Goodbye! Asante Sana! There is so much I think I have missed out but I just don't think I have time to fit it all in! Alas, I may find another internet soon, but until then, love you all and miss you all lots!

Man I am hungry and need to go and eat! Do laundry, and clean my room, no change there then! Adios amigos!

Mwah!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxx

First Day

nataliep25 — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:15:00 GMT

Well, hello there from Cape Town!

Had a very eventful day yesterday, got up and got ready then went down to Landaaan with Mum and Dad, had a huuuge dinner as I thought I will probably be on rations haha, but then again I doubt it! Had a cup of tea then went through security, which as you all know was the part I was dreading, don't bloody know why though as I was in and out in minutes! Oh apart from the dude on the x-ray desk who insisted he had to empty my air bag with my 100ml toiletries in for testing! I don't know how he tested them but he didn't do much! Maybe the fact they were sealed gave it away! Anyway, enough of that. So next thing was I had to get a train over to my gate which was B47, but they said not to go over too early as there is nothing there! Erm..... I wouldn't say Harrods is nothing love! If I had been rich I would have spent a fortune! I did manage to get myself a swanky little leather IPod case though, under a tenner too! Bargain! So then I got on the poshest underground tram ever, and got to my gate, and sat there for about an hour before they started calling for seats 40 - 60 which was me :-)))) So went through and got on the plane, and thought bloody hell this is tight! Haha! Everything went ok then, just watched 17 Again, and Duplicity (great film), and I watched My Family, Friends, and the IT Crowd. Then got talking to the couple next to me, well they spoke to me first, I was trying to turn on the fan in my overhead light but couldn't get it to work, turns out there was a button on my arm rest! Durrrr!!! So anyway, ended up having a few bottles of wine (small plane size bottles before you say anything), and then felt really tipsy so had some water, then had a headache so went to sleep for a bit, woke up about 2 hours later and Paul (French lassies BF) had about 4 empty wine bottles on his table, he woke up soooo late today which annoyed me cos I was dying for the loo and I was by the window! Anyway, flight got a bit ofnbad turbulence as we entered the Southern Africa lines, which to be fair was not pleasant as I felt rough by then haha. Landed about 8.15 this morning, am knackered, checked into my room and it's lovely, the shower looks amazing! Loads of jets, and a waterfall head, and a handheld thing, wicked! Haven't seen a shop nearby yet that I can get food from, am ravenous, don't fancy walking down to Kloof Street though as I am being careful!

Oh and I opened my eyes this morning to the most amazing African sunrise through the plane window! I knew I was in Africa when I saw that! Although the sun has not been out all day and its been cold, I have had my wooly socks on, fleece and scarf!

Anyways, thought I would send you a quick update before I go out on my city tour. Going to the African Museum, Bo-Kaap which is one of the townships, I saw one on the way into the city in the taxi and it was a shocking sight! It's just amazing how differently things are here! Also going to see the V&A waterfront, Table Mountain, Cape Point and I am sure I have forgotten somewhere but I can't remember!

So all is fine, so don't worry mum and dad! Plus it only costs me 35p to text! Rock on! 78p to call per min and like 1.50 per min for internet. I am using the one in the lobby at the moment, no pound sign on here haha.

Felt a bit lonely today, just because I have been sitting around since I go there at 9.30am with nothing to do but have read half my book, had a few glasses of water, and freshened up so am all good!

So will speak soon. Not sure when I will be able to get on next.

Love you all, Mwah!!!!

Nat xxx

8 weeks and 4 days to go!!!!

nataliep25 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:45:00 GMT

It's the final countdown... danananaaaaa dananananaaaa!

To be exact, it is, as of right now, 22nd June 2009 @ 17:45pm :-

8 weeks, 3 days, 29 hours and 45 minutes left until I leave England for the trip of a lifetime!

I started planning this trip last year, and it has not been an easy ride! The company I booked with (Global Xperience, went into administration), there were no hotels with one nights availability for my first night in Cape Town, and I had no equipment or suitable clothing whatsoever, and I can assure you, the thought of walking through the desert in 4 inch stilettos is not something that appealed to me!

So I had a lot of work to do buying everything from my boots to my hats, but I have almost done it, and I have a lot less money to show for it! The main things I needed were easy, and organising the trip itsef was no problem, but the smaller things that needed organising were the things that you don't take into account when you think these things up! Like how will I get to the hotel from the airport and how will I get from the hotel to the tour offices, and where will I eat on my first night on my own, or how am I going to charge up my camera in the middle of the African wilderness?! Alas though, everything is sorted! So now I just have to get my spending money together, and wait...

As most of you know I will be travelling from Cape Town in South Africa, up through Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe for 3 weeks and then travelling down to Johannesburg where I will catch my flight home.

Not sure how often I will be able to get to a computer, but this (and another less fancy site which I will let you all know of the address shortly) will be my base where I will try and update as often as I can. I don't really expect to be able to more than 2-3 times during my trip but we'll see.

Before I leave I am having a bit of a do, really just an excuse for a piss up with all my family and friends, because you never know what might happen over there, there are Lions you know!!!! Also because I love them and won't see anyone for about a month, which is a long time on your own in a foreign country!

Well, that's the jist of it anyway, so until then I am going to continue working 7 days a week whilst trying my hardest to manage to:

Purchase the rest of my travel gear

Learn some Afrikaans, and some details about the countries I am visiting

Working out some way of keeping my camera charged throughout my trip

Get lots of spending money

So as you can imagine, I have little time, and a lot to do! So for now... I'll speak to you in 8 weeks from Africaaaaaa!!!!!!

Ciao, Nat xx

Gallery: 9 weeks to go!!

nataliep25 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Not long now.... until I leave the rainy shores of the UK and head off the the sunny shores of Africa!!!