Malawi - 1 to 12 May 2007

A warm greeting to everybody from the sun drenched shores of Lake Malawi !!

We are about to cross the border into Tanzania , having spent 12 days in Malawi . After crossing the Mchinji border, we started off in the capital Lilongwe, where we replenished supplies, and took in our first experience of a true African market, where you can buy everything from fruit and veg to fish (you can imagine the smell!!) to car parts, in these narrow alleys crammed with people and stalls.

The group got separated yet again but fortunately reunited a few hours later and we were off to the lake. Since we left the Atlantic Coast at Swakopmund, it's been a hard and dusty push through Namibia and Botswana , and thereafter the lush bush of Zambia and Malawi . We passed through the gates of the camp at Senga Bay and had our first glimpse of Lake Malawi . Immediately we all shifted gears way down as the tropical paradise, that eased the shores of Lake Malawi started it's magic on our travel weary bones. It's been a wonderful rejuvenating time and we are all in awe of the natural wonder of this small country with it's warm people.

Our highlight has to be Cape Maclear where we spent 3 fantastic days at a campsite called Fat Monkeys, camping right alongside the lake. We went on a boat ride to an island where we went snorkeling observing thousands of colourful fish and also fed fish eagles which was quite spectacular. Thereafter, we made our way slowly north, camping along the lake at Nkhwazi beach,Chintheche Inn and Nkhata Bay and eventually at the rather basic Karonga, our last night in Malawi, which was a bit of an anti-climax. We also did a hectic off-road day trip up to Livingstonia Mission from Chitimba Beach-hair raising steep hairpins! Never again. Malawi is also the country in which Troy managed to wear and lose not only his flip-flops, but Dean and Waldo's too - ta Troy nou is ons kaal plates !!!

We are all very excited for Tanzania as it holds promises of wonderful things to come, so until next time ciao for now !!

The Globeriders Cape2cape