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Published: October 12th 2007
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Table Mountain
View from Table Mountain, Cape Town Our last couple of weeks in Africa were a bit surreal. Once we hit Namibia, it was like being in Europe again. It was kind of scary really; it was too much like home! I had to finally admit to myself that it was all nearly over.
We crossed in to South Africa, on the 24th of September. Our last border crossing, our last passport stamp, our last currency change, our last country!
We took in the obligatory wine tour in Stellenbosch. Of the 4 wineries we visited,
Simonsig was my favourite and I was giddy from the bubbles of the
Kaapse Vonkel by 11am! (Betty, you’d love it!!). Add in an endless cheese-tasting session and I was in heaven!
From Stellenbosch we pushed on down to Cape Town, where we celebrated our last night of the trip with a fabulous
braai (barbeque) in Briony’s mums house!
The gang left in dribs and drabs over the next few days, and by the 1st of October it was my turn to leave. There were a few tears in the airport as I realised that I didn’t actually want what I’d been looking forward to for months - clean
Cape of Good Hope
The gang at the Cape of Good Hope clothes, a hot shower, a proper bed and a Sunday roast. I’d be happy to see my family and then return to Africa, my red tent and my dirty feet!
But, it all had to end some time! I had such an amazing 7 months in Africa - I haven’t even mentioned half of the things we experienced! I’ve included a few photos here that didn’t quite fit in anywhere else.
So that’s it! Back to Ireland now, and back to the real world. This is the final blog … unless I get a new job somewhere exotic! One last thing before I go, here's a list of questions I've been asked about Africa. Typically, the emphasis is on food and drink! 😊
Most scenic country: Ethiopia
Best cultural experience: Bamako, Mali
Friendliest people: Ethiopia
Most disappointing country: Cameroon
Most surprising country: Ethiopia
Strangest country: Zimbabwe. 3000%!i(MISSING)nflation and empty supermarket shelves
Overall favourite country: Ethiopia
Best meal: 2kg melt-in-the-mouth pork ribs, Swakopmund, Namibia. (Don't worry, I didnt eat 2kg by myself, it took 3 of us!)
Worst meal: Tanzania’s favourite dish, Chips Mayai - a chips omelette! Greasiest thing
ever, yuck!
Best seafood: Lamu,
Stellenbosch
Moreson vineyard in Stellenbosch Kenya
Best traditional meal: Ethiopias 'fasting food' - no meat on Wednesdays or Fridays. Small portions of various vegetarian dishes, with injera.
Best camping meal: Amanda the pig, Malawi
Worst camping meal: Plain rice, Namibia. Although I'm sure there was something more evil than that that involved spam...
Best snack food: Fan-Yogo frozen yoghurt, throughout West Africa
Overall best country for food: Ethiopia
Best beer: Whatever one we had straight after crossing the Sahara in Mali, Castel I think.
Best tea: Ethiopia
Best wine: South African Pinotage
Best campsite: FlatDogs, Zambia (where the elephants were!)
Worst campsite: Coco Beach, Togo
Best bushcamp: Kalahari Desert, Namibia
Best campsite facilities: Kasane, Botswana - best showers ever!
Best rooms: Sunset Bungalows, Kendwa, Zanzibar
Best beach: Alaska Beach, Busua, Ghana
Best roads: Tanzania
Worst roads: A tie between Northern Cameroon or Northern Kenya
Worst toilets: Gondar, Ethiopia
Most disgusting experience: Going to look for the bathroom after a meal in Ethiopia and finding them butchering a goat on the floor of the toilet. I'd just eaten goat ...
Best wildlife experience: Mountain Gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo
Best adrenalin experience: Bungee jump in Victoria Falls
Scariest experience: Forward-abseiling (i.e. face first)
Stellenbosch
Tai and Dr. Martin sample some of South Africa's finest in Zambia
Most embarrassing moment: Being the only one to 'wipeout' sandboarding in Namibia. And in front of the film crew. That'll definitely be broadcast in Japan now!
Favourite animal: Still has to be cheetahs, with gorillas a close second!
Item I couldn’t have lived without: My leatherman penknife, and my own tea mug
Item I wished I’d brought: A top of the range camera, and binoculars
Best thing about camping: Listening to animals snuffling around your tent at night
Worst thing about camping: Static hair!
Best moment: Visiting the mountain gorillas
Biggest regret: Not taking the baby gorilla with me
Worst moment: Sitting at the airport waiting to board the flight home!
THE END!
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Noel Madden
non-member comment
terrific
Anne-Marie - your blogs were great - the wildlife experience in particular and your altogether different view of Ehiopia which you related was just overwhelming