Dec 12, 2012 - Tansania

3.30Uhr: Aufstehen Glücklicherweise mussten wir nichts anderes machen als Zelte abbauen und Sachen verstauen und dann so schnell wie möglich in den Truck und weiter schlafen. Bis wir um 6.00Uhr an der malawischen Grenze waren hat keiner von uns so richtig was mit bekommen. Uns wurde zwar um ca. 5.40 emfohlen den Sonnenaufgang anzuschauen, aber kaum jemand war dafür wach genug. An der Grenze war ein totales durcheinander - T.I.A. Wir waren blöderweise gleichzeitig mit einem Reisebus Einheimischer an der Grenze und obwohl am Schalter an...

Dec 11, 2012 - Chitimba

Heute war eigentlich ein ganz relaxter Tag. Morgens waren wir auf dem Markt des Dorfes, wo sie Holzschnitzereien verkauft haben. Dannach haben wir eine Stunde Beachvolleyball gespielt, um wenigstens etwas körperliches am Tag getan zu haben. Nach dem Mittagessen haben ein pasr von uns (inkl. mir) Schnitzunterricht genommen, wo wir selber Sachen schnitzen durften. Gegen Ende des Nachmittags haben wir uns noch ein Fußballspiel angeguckt, was sehr lustig war, da alle gespielt haben wie sie wollten. Besonders auffällig fand ich, das etwa die...

Dec 10, 2012 - Kostümparty

Auf gehts nach Chitimba! Und schon wieder eine Verzögerung. Nachdem wir uns darauf geeinigt hatten, dass es kein Ausschlafen mehr gibt, damit wir wenigstens ein Mal vor Einbruch der Dunkelheit im Camp sind, saßen wir um 6.30 Uhr alle abfahrbereit im Bus. Die ersten haben schon fast auf ihren Sitzen wieder geschlafen als die Nachricht kam :„ Bitte alle wieder aussteigen, wir haben eine Platten!" Der laute Knall auf der Fahrt vor zwei Tagen war doch unser Reifen, der geplatzt war. Es war nur der innere der zwei Reifen hinten rechts. Es war...

Aug 6, 2012 - Day 45 Cape Maclear to Chintheche, Malawi

Tea and coffee and home made biscuits were brought to our tent at 6h30am, we enjoyed the sunrise over the lake on our last morning at Mumbo Island. Sofia and I lay in the hammock and fed crumbs to the birds and enjoyed our tea! Some of the girls did a last kayak ride around the island before breakfast, and then we took the boat across to Cape Maclear at 09h30am. We left Chembe Village at 10h30am and drove via Golomoti and Salima to Chintheche on the Western shores of Lake Malawi, arriving at 3h30pm just in time for a swim in the lake before...

Aug 3, 2012 - Day 43 & 44 Blantyre to Cape Maclear, Mumbo Island Malawi

We are headed to Cape Maclear - Mumbo Island tomorrow morning - we are likely to be off the grid but should be back again when we reach Tanzania in 3 days by the 6th of August. Update will follow tuesday evening with photos We had a very early start from Casa Mia Lodge in Blantyre, taking with us a packed breakfast, and leaving at 6am sharp in order to arrive in time to catch the 10h30am boat from Chembe Village, Cape Maclear to Mumbo Island on Lake Malawi. We are stopped 3 times by traffic police en route, but the cops here are very...

Aug 2, 2012 - Day 42 Chimoio crossing into Blantyre - Malawi

Up early for one of our longest and most complicated drives tomorrow morning - headed via Tete to Blantyre in Malawi - + 600 KM - going through Tete - seems we are lucky that there is fuel in Malawi. We crossed the Zambezi river again. We have reached Blantyre after 9 hours drive and having early . By Thomas

Jun 28, 2012 - Day 4 Mbeya Southern Tanzania to Chintheche at Lake Malawi

Driving From Mbeya was beautiful and road was fantastic - every single town, even the ones with just two huts have 3 speed bumps and a police man are very hungry with a fixed set speed on his speed gun. It is questionable what kind of service these police men offer. Ugengule Coffee Lodge near Mneya was a blessing nice cold pool in the hills behind Mbeya - we had a great meal there - Hans got the bug and spend most the night talking in the big white telephone. Driving through Southern TZ was amazingly beautiful a bit of rain very green,...

May 22, 2012 - Day 123 to 127 - Bua River to Nkhotakota to Lilongwe

Leaving Kande beach with a modest bar tab of $26, we headed for Bua river camp set in one of Malawi's very few wildlife reserves. A beautiful camp set on the banks of the Bua river, I will now pass over to Saba for her journal entry on our time spent at Bua river.... "Today we all went for a morning walk with Juma. He told us about all the different trees like the brastegia tree. If there is a problem in the village like the rains are not coming all the villages gather around this tree and lay meat and fruits and preay to there god could...

May 20, 2012 - To the top of Lake Malawi

On our way by 6.30 – tents down, breakfast set up, eaten and packed away. We really are quite good at it. The scenery quite stunning today. Lots of hills and deep valleys, some rubber plantations and sugar crops. A coal mine. Some of the hills are cleared right to the top. We travel down a steep and windy pass – at the bottom we see the remains of a petrol tanker who obviously missed a corner and took the short way down – burnt out and, if the driver survived, he should be thanking god, Allah or his traditional healer – not necessarily in...

May 19, 2012 - A village walk

We opt to go for a village walk this morning. As soon as we leave the compound we are immediately surrounded and separated by young men – two or three attach themselves to each of us. Quite confronting at first. They explain that they are there to practice their English and answer any questions. Our local guide says nothing to us about them so we wander along with them. Whenever our guide wants to show us something or talk to us they leave only to return when he has finished. We visit the local school and have a talk to the local...

May 18, 2012 - and on to Kande Beach

Another travel day. The vegetation is very different in Malawi. We see many ‘ornamental ‘ plants – even some around the houses. The Poinsettia are everywhere – growing to a couple of metres high. The houses have vegetable plots growing a variety of plants. Most have a corn plot and everyone has a plot of Cassava. This is used to make flour and replaces maize in many cases. Very easy to grow. The roots are what are used to make the flour and the stems are cut and put back in the soil to grow into new plants. A very self-sufficient staple...

May 17, 2012 - Into Malawi

Up early – on the same road for another four hours. We fill up with fuel at Chipata as diesel is unreliable in Malawi. Not long before we reach the border and cross into Malawi. Just love these early morning starts. Watching the villages and roads come alive. The women heading off with their plastic buckets and containers to the central water point. The men on their bicycles with baskets on the back with some type of vegetable hoping to sell to the market stall holders. Others ride past with their charcoal bags, kindling or wood. Other...