Blogs from Northern, Malawi, Africa

The Mushroom Farm really does exist, and it’s a magical place. Sometimes you hear about a place from a few people and when you get there it disappoints. Well, Mushroom Farm managed to exceed our lofty expectations. Thanks to all who recommended it. There’s no gain without pain though. Getting there is far from easy as an independent traveller, and even with your own wheels it’s challenging. A minibus dropped us off by the main road at Chitimba where the Mushroom Farm have a small office. Stanley was waiting there for us and made sure that any transport heading up the hill didn’t leave without us. We had been warned that we might face a wait of a few hours so we were quite happy when, after just an hour and twenty minutes, we were loaded ... read more

Hello again. Very sorry for the delay. I think it's been almost two months since I last wrote a blog so I will try sum up the past few weeks as concise as possible. Over the past few weeks I have continued to teach at the school as well as being involved in the other projects on site. We had a special treat at the school when two travellers said they would perform their musical instruments for us. The instruments were a banjo and a flute, they played a range of irish and balkan music which was brilliant. The kids loved it and spent most of the lesson dancing on the tables. It was not only something different but very fun too and it exposes them to different music from around the world which is important. ... read more

Back in the truck we rattle along to the border of Malawi. On a potty stop in a baobab forest we cavort about like Gulliver dwarfed by the enormous trees. I hug a Baobab...an ant on the side of the world!.Henry our driver extraordinaire warns us that Tanzania was the holiday, Malawi will be rough...basic and off the grid. It begins at the border...thank goodness at least there is no visa fee as we swelter for two hours in the stifling heat of the immigration office answering a million detailed questions of our travel plans. Lucy and I reach down from the truck to give our remaining Tanzanian shillings to dusty little boys...they beam their radiant thanks. That night at dinner Henry reads the group the riot act, I had written the tour company a letter ... read more

Sorry but another very late post, it seems to be the way of things with this blog. Uploading photo's here when the power can go off at any minute and where the internet is painfully slow doesn't help my cause one bit. Anyway, during Mid December I went with Megan (another volunteer at Butterfly) to Nyika N.P which is in the NW of Malawi. The park itself straddles the Zambian border and boasts an array of game and wildlife, although spotting some of the big 5 is incredibly challenging. The National Park is the largest in Malawi and it's huge expansive rolling grasslands are home to Zebra, Reedbuck and Bushbuck, Eland and Roan Antelope, all of which you are guaranteed to see in the park. And that we did. Despite not being home to some of ... read more

More pictures. Sorry for the backlog. Pictures include: Butterfly Space, Sunsets, Chikhale Beach, Luskwe - cliff jumping and more... read more