So the 31 day tour is over and I thought I'd right a few random thoughts down!!
Firstly I enjoyed every moment of the trip from the very early mornings, the camping with very little sleep, the long long truck days, the cold trickly showers with insects and of course all the wonderful activities we were lucky enough to do. What probably made it so enjoyable is the great group of people that i was fortunate enough to share the trip with. I've met some people i will keep in touch with for a long time and no doubt meet up again with in a variety of places around the world. I'm not sure whether i was just lucky and whether over tours may be less enjoyable dependent on the people. So if anyone from the tour reads this - thanks for a great time!!
A tour is a great way to experience a large area and do so many activities that would take so long and so much organising alone. It also provides good company for single travellers. I would definitely consider doing another one.
One quick line about Sophie (who i travelled with). It was great to have a friend there and we got on so well throughout the trip despite early mornings and late nights. We got through with no arguments and the same smile on our faces as we just enjoyed the whole experience. One minor note - i did get smacked in the middle of the night in our tent by Soph who just (whilst still sleeping) sat forward smacked me and lay back down!!
The parts of Africa i saw were just amazing. Such a naturally beautiful and varied continent with some wonderful people. You see both ends of the poverty scale here but you always see smiles (even with overly enthusiatic salesmen). The wildlife and scenery is spectacular!!
Highlights: (in no particular order)
- some truly amazing animal sightings up close - all the big 5, an elephant in the campsite, a leopard with a kill up close, a large breeding herd of elephants playing in the river to name just a few
- White water rafting - a truly exhilarating and terrifying experience all at once. I'm so pleased that despite my fear of water and lack of swimming ability that i did it. Truly memorable day.
- Visiting the day care centre in Malawi. Such a good cause and good work being down here. Playing and singing with the constantly smiling children was truly humbling and amazing. Caused me to feel quite emotional actually. I will endeavour to run the great North run and raise money for the centre because what they do and how they do it is fantasctic!!
- The fancy dress fake wedding night in Malawi - such a random night and so much fun. Also the only time (i hope) i will spend the night in the bar in essentially just my boxer shorts!!
- Gorge swing. Stepping of a cliff into a 53m free fall isn't a natural expeience - but bloody good!!
- The beautiful island of Zanzibar!!
- Some truly fantastic people.
New Beers i drank:
- Tusker
- Kilimanjaro
- Castle
- Safari
- Mosi
- Windhoek
- Kuche Kuche
Injuries sustained:
- Far too many bangs on the head (including five on the same beam in the space of 2 hours!!)
- The double whammy (back on door face on broomstick) in the truck
- Banged up knee on a rock whilst rafting
- Multiple cuts in from coral in the sea in Dar es salaam
I learnt many card games and mental challenge games which will come in handy for the rest of the trip.
Things i had never done before:
- left europe
- white water rafting
- snorkelling
- horseriding with a saddle
- horseriding bareback in a lake
- walked like a cowboy due to the above point
- gorge swing
- flying fox
- abseiling
- safari
- been on a truck for 12 hours
- camped in Africa
- relied solely on hot water for fluid
- bush pee in Africa
- showered outdoors with many mosquito's
- showered in salt water
- met a masaii villager
- gone to the bar in my underwear
- been stared at by a hyena whilst walking to the toilet
Overall a truly wonderful 31 days that i was very sad to finish for many reasons!
