Blogs from East, Congo Democratic Republic, Africa - page 2

After numerous obstacles encouraging me to give up I couldn’t help but grin myself to sleep. I just hadn’t given up on a destination I had craved to see. Yes I finally gave into corruption but it was so worth it. The sounds of waves crashing into each other, the strong breeze hitting our tent with such force I thought I was going to be lifted off and boiled to death. But we were in the middle of Africa and nowhere near the ocean. We were close to a timid lake and 3470m high. It took 5 hours to hike it, two attempts to enter it but at last after never giving up the thought. I had finally reached Congo and I climbed, than slept on the craters edge of a live bubbling volcano. As previously ... read more

We have made our way across Kenya staying at some spectacular campsites. One of which sits on the banks of the Nile as it is fed by Lake Victoria. This was just a stopover and we are due back there to enjoy it more on our way back to Nairobi. Uganda is calling so we are cutting through Kenya to get there. Over the whole trip we have covered some extraordinary terrain. We started with the very dry flat, almost desert like countryside of Southern Africa, through lush river delta's up to the lakesides and coastal roads of East Africa. The further north we have progressed and as our altitude has increased towards the equator we have been faced with an altogether different landscape. The land is primarily agricultural with plantations as far as the eye ... read more

Another early start, we leave the hotel at 6am. We drive to the base of the volcano again and pick up our armed escort, he is more protection from Congolese rebels... It's then another hour drive on very rough roads. At points it is proper 4WD territory, I am petrified that we are going to fall off the cliff side. Fidel doesn't help when he hits a bridge post and breaks the wheel arch off! We finally arrive at a remote building where the trekking will begin. We take one guide and 2 armed guards who also have machetes for cutting paths in the forest. We start with a short walk through some farmland then we enter the forest. The guide has a GPS monitor so he can take us to the place where the gorillas ... read more

I was up bright and early, despite having a hangover, not the best prep for what was in store! I left my big pack at the Auberge and set off with my day back to catch a boda-boda, to the border I had to wait a bit for my visa as the man with the stamp wasn't there. Once I had this I was walking off to get another boda-boda when I heard someone hissing at me (they don't whistle here), I knew this was trouble so I quickened my step but the guy started running and grabbed my arm. I looked round with a "Oh, you meant me expression" and he asked for my yellow fever certificate. I immediately knew I was doomed - I had left my form in my big pack - doh. ... read more

2009 Trip to DRCongo and Rwanda If you are planning a trip to Africa I would like to suggest you consider taking full advantage of the airline's excess baggage allowance. The airlines will allow up to ten 50lb boxes of supplies for $150 each. This may seem like a lot but it's pretty easy to ask friends and family for donations to cover the expense. And you will not believe the deep gratification you will feel delivering these supplies anywhere you go. There are several non-profit organizations that will donate medical supplies, medicines, vitamins etc if you can prove that you will deliver them to places in the world where they are desperately needed. It's best to buy your ticket 2 months in advance and quickly contact these agencies to acquire the donated supplies. I took ... read more