16 Nov - flight from Joburg to Mumbai goes fine. Lots of red wine, good book (a Botswana love story!) and the inflight movie is Mamma Mia! Arrive at Mumbai INTERNATIONAL airport at 1am. However I don't realise that DOMESTIC flights leave from a different airport about 5km away, doh, my research reading is failing...as soon as you leave customs at Mumbai airport there is no arrivals hall, just a wall of shouting, honking taxis and taxi drivers...WELCOME TO INDIA. An official(ish) guy sees me looking bemused and 'helps' me out...not convinced it wasn't a scam, but hey, it seemed to [View Full Entry]

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13 Nov - the bus journey goes surprisingly quickly. Realise when I reach Joburg thought that I should have got ticket to Pretoria. Staff are v friendly though and helpful and let me stay on, seems to take forever to get there. I get a glimpse of Joburg when we drive into the bus station, glad I'm not staying here, completely different vibe to Cape Town, much grittier...like Glasgow in fact, lol. My taxi driver isn't too sure how to get to Twana Lodge but thankfully I recognise the road end. Ah, great to be back at Twana, feels like home. [View Full Entry]

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10 Nov - strike camp for the final time, no more tents or communal outdoor ablution blocks, woohoo! Get final photos of the group, the Ding Dongs and Priscilla. V sad to be approaching the end of my 52 day grand adventure round Southern Africa. However, still lots to see and do. Strange feeling approaching semi-familiar Cape Town and Table Mountain, experienced so much in the two months since I left here. Quick farewell to Priscilla then we take a trip down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Great coastal views here at the most south westerly point [View Full Entry]

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8 Nov - drive to Outshoorn. We have lunch at the Cango Caves then have a guided tour of the caves which have interesting stalagmite and stalactite formations. Outshoorn is famous for its ostriches - they're everywhere. There are lots of ostrich farms in the area with hundreds of birds on each farm. Some of the group go to visit a farm, but the rest of us visit Cango Wildife Ranch. As soon as we walk in, the first animals we see are...MEERKATS!!!! Soooooo excited, it was great to see my fave animal in the wild a few days ago but [View Full Entry]

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6 Nov - drive to Tsitsikama. En route we stop off at Jeffrey's Bay aka J'Bay. Few hours to explore, walk along the beach, watch the surfers then shop. There's a Billabong factory outlet - for 330 Rand (approx GBP 25) I get a lilac tshirt, skirt and board shorts!! We have lunch at a picnic site on the beach - our best lunch view to date. Arrive at Tube n' Axe backpackers at Storm River mid afternoon, set up camp then drive to the highest bridge bungee in the world. This ain't for me...I'll jump out of a plane, but [View Full Entry]

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3 Nov - early start for a MAMMOTH drive. We leave at 7am and don't arrive at Hogsback until 13 hours later. However, picturesque drive along the Wild Coast through the Eastern Cape, the poorest region of South Africa. We reach 'Away with the Fairies' hostel at Hogsback, in the dark about 8.30pm. Errol and I do the tent demonstration for the new guys then head to the bar for a quick dinner. The drinking then starts in ernest...having had a Savanna on the truck I continue my African drinks of choice - Windhoek lager, a few Jagers (of course!) some [View Full Entry]

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29 Oct - a few sore heads after Janet's birthday but we head off bright and early to Zululand. The scenery is just getting better and better. We arrive at St Lucia Estuary and set up camp at the backpackers. First time camping for a few days and the heavens open while I'm on kitchen duty...although most of the tent was secure the window on my side was rolled up. Aaaaarrrghhh, v soggy sleeping bag and mattress, no nice. Campsite v muddy and the young backpackers are partying in the bar until 4.30am and then we're up at 5am for game [View Full Entry]

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27 Oct - jump back aboard Priscilla, say farewell to Maputo, the sun is shining again and we cross the border from Mozambique into Swaziland. Stop at Pick n Pay, (yup they have supermarkets in Swaziland!) for essential birthday party supplies such as cake & champagne. ATM swallows my bank card, NOT amused but it gives me a chance to phone home and speak to mum and dad :) We arrive at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary - much more laid back than some of the other parks we've visited. Rolling hills, lush countryside, red dirt roads, purple jacaranda trees and croc / [View Full Entry]

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22 Oct - we leave South Africa and cross the border...eventually, into Mozambique. One of the more chaotic borders and as only Livie and I have visas, it's a long, hot wait while the rest of the guys get their visas and passports stamped. Interesting change in countryside. Poverty is instantly more apparent, scattered single storey houses, villages rather than towns and cities and more chaotic driving. We arrive at the campsite late afternoon to find 3 extremely cute collie dogs. I'm in my element playing with them, sooooo cute. Very windy night (and that's not due to the pap we [View Full Entry]

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21 Oct - time to explore Kruger. Some are going on an organised game drive in jeeps while others / the select few decide to take our chances with Priscilla - it worked before in Etosha, coz you're so high up...not to mention we have access to the cool box with the Savannas and will save a few rand, lol. Our gamble pays off. We have an amazing morning and spot all of the Big 5 within a few hours, very unusual. First we see an elephant, then a family of lions by the side of the road, several buffalo, white [View Full Entry]

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