Blogs from Africa - page 2730

KabeashaI've now got my first bush trip under my belt and i can finally say ive experienced the Congo roads. Myself Murrey and Mubanga tarveled up to Kabiasha, a small village 230 km north of Lubumbashi. we were traveling up there to deliver medical supplies for the local clinic and also 2 sowing machines for the women form the church. We set off at 6.30 in the morning so that hopefully we could make it up in one straight drive and allowing for maybe a couple of delays. the first 100 km were very straight and also level so that was no problem so we flew through them. but then the fun began. some of the roads were roughly 70-100 meters wide but had around 5 routes in all directions and it was just a huge ... read more

Ngorogoro  Africa » Tanzania » Ngorogoro Crater By TamsinJune 15th 2007Tamsin Sebba Friday 15th Amazing morning - 6.30 breakfast (with another hot chocolate) and then drove down into the Crater. The first thing that we saw was nine lionesses and one lion. They looked like they were stalking a warthog, but it noticed & ran off. Inside the Crater is a big lake, with a few flamingos, zebra, wildebeest and Thompson gazelle milling about. It is really pretty with the mountains surrounding it. We spotted two black rhino in the distance (but they were sat down), two cheetahs (close up) and lots of hippo sitting in the sun. There was so much to see, includin... read more

Stayed on the sanctuary and spent the days hiking and horseback riding.... read more

I went for my first horse-ride this afternoon! Bashiir, one of the guards at the College very kindly came to teach me the basics - how to fit the saddle, how to tie the rope around the horse’s head to act as a bridle, how to get the horse to move faster (“Chi”) and stop (Shhhh!) and how to tie the rope to his leg at the end of the ride. I had such a great time. I have, after consultation with some Ethiopian colleagues, named the red horse “Daamaa”. I wanted to call the white horse “Bakakaa” which means Lightening as every time I try to stroke him he moves away very quickly - but my colleagues laughed and said it was not a good name for a horse, so instead he is named “Daallee”. ... read more

Borders After crossing lots of borders, we thought we had it sussed, until Zimbabwe! Under the section "occupation" you can write pretty much anything...astronaut, engineer, prostitute maybe...but whatever you do, don't put information officer. Duh! Rach got grilled at the border by two officials (so you come to seek information?) who suspected she was a journalist - the BBC are banned from Harare. After much explaining, Rach had to fill in a special form declaring she wouldn't collect any information on the political situation in Zim and stating she needed to report to immigration at Vic Falls (was never asked for it again and I'm now officially a teacher!). Harare seemed a very quiet city. We had to wait two days to get any cash, as the exchange rate at the bureaus was 250 to 1 ... read more