http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Tamsin/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Tamsin en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:23:13 +0000 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:23:13 +0000 My last night and the way homenbspEurope raquonbspUnited Kingdom raquonbspEngland raquonbspEssex raquonbspColchester By TamsinJune 30th 2007Tamsin Sebba Friday 29th Arrived in Nairobi at 10.30am and got a taxi to Kenrsquos backpackers where we were sure he wouldnrsquot be as last we saw he was in jail. However he greeted us with a mighty hug not remembering where he knew http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Essex/Colchester/blog-175744.html Saturday 23rd Irsquod given up on kite surfing and Dan Claudie Lucy invited me to go with them to the Northern coast. Following 5 matatu minibus a ferry and a bus up the coast we arrived in Watamu. Wersquore staying in a basic hostel and Irsquom sharing with Lucy so finally she doesnrsquot have be the gooseberry We went for a wander to the beach and got bargaining for a fishing http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Coast-Province/Watamu/blog-175742.html Human Tower War Saturday 16th 6am up for a 7am departure we crossed over the Kenyan border and a long journey to Nairobi. I used Andrearsquos room to shower repack my bag before getting the overnight bus to Mombassa. On the nightbus I had all the back seats to myself and lay out to sleep although the bumpy roads meant that I flew into the air on several occasions. At midnight we stoppe http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Coast-Province/blog-175740.html I am using my time on the internet job hunting. Also I can't compress photos at this internet cafe. So I think I will do my last month of blogs once I'm home.Quick update brilliant having mum and dad out thankyou guest bloggers.Then went to Serengetti and Ngorogoro crater adn saw loads of animals again. I am now on the kenyan coast trying to kitesurf if the wind would behave To gusty stro http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Coast-Province/blog-171810.html Ngorogoro nbspAfrica raquonbspTanzania raquonbspNgorogoro 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 fe http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/North/Ngorongoro-Conservation-Area/blog-175502.html Wed 13th Ok another long drive but it was worth it. Read a lot of my book. The last bit of the road was bumpy but nothing compared with Kenya. Drove past the Nogorogoro Crater and drove along the edge before continuing for another three hours to the Serengeti. I said to our guide that I wanted to see an adult male lion and 10 mins later we saw one Then Sean requested a leopard and in the next http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/North/Serengeti-National-Park/blog-175493.html Monday 11th Said good bye to mum and got in ldquomumrsquos tour companyrdquo shuttle over to Stone town and the ferry to the main land. I saw more of the hussel and bustle of town as we drove through and Irsquom glad we didnrsquot stay there. As I went through immigration even though I was staying in Tanzania I asked a girl behind me if she was on a tour and she was The Nomad tour th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/North/Arusha/blog-175492.html We had a very early start to get to the airport where we then sat because the plane was delayed. An hour and half flight into Stone Town. We were met by Ramadan and Mr Eddy the driver. They took us right into the heart of the Old Town and we had lunch in a bustling cafe. There weren't many women around as it was friday. Zanzibar is about 95 muslim. Havng spent about an hour in the town downloadi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/Zanzibar/blog-171226.html A giraffe drifted past the breakfast table view bidding us good bye as we started our 7 hour drive from Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru. The road for the last couple of hours was very dusty and bumpy as there were lots of large trucks. Nakuru National park is very wooded with flat plain down to the lake. It was rainy when we first arrived and our first glimpse of the flamingo in all their thousands 1. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Rift-Valley-Province/Lake-Nakuru-NP/blog-171205.html The opening photo just about sums up the day lucky sightings all day. We opted for an early morning drive and late afternoon. We had been tempted by the hot air balloon flights but it was very expensive rather cold and in the end we very glad we stayed on the ground. We started off by seeing elephant and all sorts of gazelle impala topi etc. Our first lions were sprawled out by the side of the http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Rift-Valley-Province/Masai-Mara-NP/blog-170425.html Early 7 am start as we had a six hour journey to get to the Masai Mara Game Reserve travelling through the Rift Valey. The vistas are vast and the sky plays a dominant role in the landscape. The loo stops consisted of never ending emporiums selling every conceivable shape of carved animal and tribal person backed up by amiable sales man who was your very best friend with a very good price The ro http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Rift-Valley-Province/Masai-Mara-NP/blog-169498.html The best hug in the world from Tamsin when I arrived in Nairobi. Having seen Leigh off on his flight we were driven into Nairobi for an over night stay before we had our one day tour round the city and various sites. We were shown the central buildings of nte and where the US Embassy was until 1998 when it was blown up. Not a paricularly inspiring city. Our first animal visit was to an elephant http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Nairobi-Province/Nairobi/blog-169485.html Sat 2 JuneWe fly together to Nairobi via Lusaka arriving late afternoon. Culture shock a big city cars factories and pelicans in the trees A few hours later we return to the airport to meet Iris off the flight from London. A quick cuppa tea and then Irsquom off on midnight flight to London. Over to Iris and Tamsin to tell you all about life in Kenyahelliphellip.Good bye from Leigh http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Nairobi-Province/Nairobi/blog-167022.html Thurs 31 MayDrove back to Mzuzu and relief an open petrol station. Wersquod only passed one other over the last four days and that was out of diesel. Reputedly wersquod been near to somewhere that sold it in 20 litre cans that they collected on the bus but I hadnrsquot actually found that retailer. Then southwards down the lakeshore to Kande Beach. A bit of a culture shock as it is a l http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Central/Lilongwe/blog-167021.html Tues 29 May Headed north along lakeshore and then inland up a 15km horrendous rough and steep road climbing 1500m to Livingstonia site of the Scottish Mission founded by the Scotsman Dr Robert Laws. Stayed overnight at the lsquoMushroom Farm Lodgersquo a small backpacker lodge with 1500m vertical views. Local lads guided us to a waterfall with a cave behind where people reputedly hid to http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-167001.html I know how you all love my updates but you will have to wait a little longer.I have been on an island in the middle of lake malawi wilth no email I borrowed a comp to type up what I had been doing but now back on the mainland on a slow computer the memory stick isn't recognised. So you will have to wait another week till I am in Lilongwe and I will try to update you there about the island and wh http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-162962.html Mon 28 May Emerged from our dingy Travelodge and gave the battery another wallop and Jonathan appeared to guide us to a local mechanic who charged 2 for parts new connectors and a 2 tip for his time. But for the rest of the trip I was never 100 confident about the goanywhere reliability of the 4x4 especially as the back door kept jamming the exotic gauges altimeter compass angle we http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Northern/Mzuzu/blog-166996.html Sat 26 May Off to catch the evening boat the Ilala itrsquos the only one to the Malawi mainland at Nkhata Bay. The ferry journey was 'an experience'. We actually had a nice cabin. But loading from Likoma where there is no jetty was like a war time evacuation. Lots of overloaded small boats carrying goods and people in the dark out to the ferry where we clambered up a ladder. And the arriva http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Northern/Mzuzu/blog-166989.html Thurs 24 May So here I am your guest blogger Leigh Dad DDLL short for daddy long legs self explanatory I trust. Irsquom new to this and a bit unhappy that itrsquos a public forum so canrsquot be too rude about anyone in case they tune in. Arrive Lilongwe from overnight flight via long stopover in Nairobi and spend afternoon sorting out arrangements. A good nightrsquos sleep a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-166969.html Sunday20th I walked to Kaya Mawa which is the really expensive resort on the island to see what all the fuss is about. I can see it would be a really nice honeymoon location suppose to be a top 10 but I think I would get bored I then walked to Mango drift and finally had one of their Pizza that Irsquod been told so much about but always arrived to late to order one. I talked to 2 people who http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/blog-164640.html