The Big 50 (or rather 51)

Hello all

First of all, I’m in Zimbabwe. But to go back to the beginning. The big trip! The overland truck was huge but we were a small group – only 7 people, 4 dutch, 2 germans and me. The person I got on best with was the guide, a 22 year old Africans guy who had so many bush stories it was unbelievable – chased by hippos/elephants, hunted warthogs, antelope, everything, grew up on a farm in SA.

The trip itself was a little disappointing as it wasn’t as “bush” (rough) as I thought it would be. For Europeans it probably was but I’m actually quite experienced now after my travels through Mongolia etc. so whereas they all got incredibly excited about sleeping by the side of the road because the river had flooded and we couldn’t get through, I thought it was normal!

I wouldn't be so quick to do a trip in rainy season either especially in a big truck. We got stuck in the mud several times (very good at digging trucks out now) and once had to wait all day for a tractor to come and pull us out. The truck weighed 3,500kg. At least with jeeps you can push em!

There were some cool parts to the trip. SPitzkope is a collection of rocky boulders and I went off for a walk/climb by myself, and had a wicked climb up/under/over the rocks to find a rather American looking canyon with cactuses and an amazing view. That eveing we had a surprise dinner in a cave lit by candlelight. We did some game drives, of which the best part was being surrounded by about 40 elephants. Because of the rains (there's been alot), nearly all the animals had young, giraffes/zebras/elephants/lions. Also saw rhinos and a host of small things including 2 chameleons having a fight. One won cause he pushed the other out of tree. I couldn't stop laughing! Snakes, antelope and everything else. Had some close encounters with hippos but luckily not been chased yet.

In Botswana we went by morrocos (dug out canoes) deep into the delta and camped out bush with some games walks. That was fun. YOu could hear the hippos going all night. Everyone was too afraid to leave the camp but I went for a small walk by myself. AFter all the reaon why Tommie (the guide) told us want to do if we came face to face with a lion was so that we wouldn't get eaten! That night our mocorro guides sang and danced for us and then we had to sing for them. I did jingle bells!

Also did an amazing river crusie on the Chobe saw lots of animals, including a herd of wilderbeest, elephants, antelope, giraffes on the skyline all shrouded in purple sky as the sunset. Unforgettable. The last night we did a booze cruise on Zambezi river and I excelled myself by getting absolutely wasted and doing a chant the mocorro guides taught us to do with coconuts.

Also on the tour we went to some traditional tribal villages -best I've ever been to. The real thing. One village permanently cover themselves with mud. Of course all the kids wanted to play with us so we got covered in the mud too!

Ok, now I'm writing about it the trip was pretty good!

Hope you're all well and happy
lots of love
kathryn xx

PS. I've now been to 51 countries. Zambia was the 51st ; )