to
Kundalila Falls
Camp
Kundalila Falls
S13 09' 10"
200kms
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Day 30 Sunday 4th July 2010
Leave South Luangwa National Park
Via Muchinga
Kanona
Destination Shoebill Island
450 kms
Day 28 Friday 2nd July 2010
Leave Kapisha Hot Springs
Via Muchunga
to
South Luangwa National Park
300 kms
Day 27 Thursday 1st July 2010
Kapisha Hot Springs
Visit Waterfall
Visit Shiwa Ngandu ("The Africa House")
Day 26 Wednesday 30th June 2010
Leave Mbeya
Cross border betwen Tanzania and Zambia at Tunduma
via Isoka
to Kapisha Hot Springs
Cam at Kapisha Hot Springs
S11 10' 19" E 31 35' 55"
420 kms
Day 25 Tuesday 29th June 2010
Leave Ruaha National Park
Via Iringa, Makambako
to Mbeya
Mbeya Greenview Inn
S8 53' 47" E 33 27' 02"
565kms
Day 24 Monday 28th June 2010
Ruaha National Park
Game viewing
Ruaha River Camp
S7 40' 58" E 34 55' 22"
Day 22 Saturday 26th June 2010
Leave Mto-Wa-Mbu
via Makuyuni
Kondoa
Dodoma
Camp
Bush camping
S6 39' 41" E35 58' 18"
Days 19 - 21 Wednesday 23rd June to Friday 5th June 2010
Adventurers to decide what would like to do during this time with Serengeti, Ngorongora Crater and other options in the area
Day 19 Wednesday 23rd June 2010
Free time to explore Ngorongora Serengeti, Oldwai Gorge, Lake Natron, Lake Manyare and or Tarangire National Park
Day 17 Monday 21st June 2010
Leave Dar-es-Salaam
via Bgamoyo, Msata, Korogwe,
to Pangani River Camp
S4 37' 01" E 38 00' 20"
Pangani River Campsite
390kms
Day 15 Saturday 19th June 2010
Dar es Salaam
Sunrise Beach Resort
* Will use the time based at Dar-es-Salaam to fly/ferry across to Zanzibar to explore the spice island.
Day 13 Thursday 17th June 2010
Leave Baobab Campsite
via Mikumi, Morrogoro, Chalinza
to Dar-es-Salaam
Camp at Sunrise Beach Resort
425 kms
Day 11 Tuesday 15th June 2010
Leave Kanda Bay
via Chintheche, Nkhata Bay, Chilumba, Korongo
Cross border from Malawi to Tanzania
Stop at Mbeya
Mbeya Greenview Inn camp
S8 53' 47" E33 27' 02" - nearer to the Equator now
lose 1 hour when cross into Tanzania
500kms
Day 9 Sunday 13th June 2010
Leave Cape Maclear
via Salima, Nkhotakota
to Kanda Bay
Campiste Kanda Bay
380kms
Day 8 Saturday 12th June 2010
Stay at Fat Monkeys
No travelling today
Visit World Heritage site
Kayak or boat trip to islands
0 kms
Day 6 Thursday 10th June 2010
STILL NO FERRY
The ferry is still going nowhere so its plan B and a fairly lengthy detour towards the Malawi border adding some 150kms onto our scheduled 400 kms today. We proceeded onto a "short-cut" but then reverted to the main road. After a fuel/comfort stop at Macubo we head towards the border and all the while the road deteriorated between gravel, potholes and deep sand. The GPS showed campsites dotted along the route but Rex had not been able to establish that these were still functioning. As we were only travelling at about 25km per hour even a relatively short detour in search of a campsite could take a couple of hours, so we decided to push on to the border. We eventually arrived at Milange at about 22H30 and a churchyard was the most appealing spot to camp for the night. It had taken us 14 1/2 hours to cover just over 500kms. It was a long day and a short night.
Day 4 Tuesday 8th June 2010
Left Inhassoro on the dot of 8am with the weather being warm 
and sunny. The first of many magnificent baobabs was sighted along the road. We were delayed at about 10am while the debris was cleared from a one-way bridge where two large articulated trucks had collided at 3am that morning. The trucks were backed up for a considerable distance and fortunately the officials gave cars and 4x4s preference. Birds such as Bataleurs, Lilac Breasted Rollers, Glossy Starlings and Burchell's Coucal become a more common sight. We stopped at Inchope to re-fuel. We arrived at the entrance to Gorongoza National park early in the afternoon and decided utilise the time by continuing. We finally stopped at about 18H30 at Mpingwe Lodge (James White Camp) - about 30kms from Caia - which on the GPS indicated had a camp site. However this was incorrect so we lodged in the log cabins and indulged in putting away a couple of local beers and enjoying a meal in the Lodge restaurant while getting the low down on the local information of the area. We also learnt that a magnificent bridge has now been built across the Zambezi so there is no longer a ferry crossing.
and sunny. The first of many magnificent baobabs was sighted along the road. We were delayed at about 10am while the debris was cleared from a one-way bridge where two large articulated trucks had collided at 3am that morning. The trucks were backed up for a considerable distance and fortunately the officials gave cars and 4x4s preference. Birds such as Bataleurs, Lilac Breasted Rollers, Glossy Starlings and Burchell's Coucal become a more common sight. We stopped at Inchope to re-fuel. We arrived at the entrance to Gorongoza National park early in the afternoon and decided utilise the time by continuing. We finally stopped at about 18H30 at Mpingwe Lodge (James White Camp) - about 30kms from Caia - which on the GPS indicated had a camp site. However this was incorrect so we lodged in the log cabins and indulged in putting away a couple of local beers and enjoying a meal in the Lodge restaurant while getting the low down on the local information of the area. We also learnt that a magnificent bridge has now been built across the Zambezi so there is no longer a ferry crossing.Distance 635kms
Our log cabin at Mpingwe Lodge
Day 3 Monday 7th June 2010
SUNRISE AT XAI XAI CAMPSITE
8am departure from Xai-Xai. It transpires that we were well advised to stay over at Xai-Xai as we were forced onto a lengthy detour for re-surfacing of the main road between to Quissico. It took 2 1/2 hours to arrive at the turnoff to Quissico so last night would have been a very late end to the day had we pressed on. We stopped at Maxine for re-fuelling (74lt). While we were required by law to carry a set of red warning triangles AND reflective jackets, the only warning of a broken down vehicle was a number of branches laid in the road behind the vehicles - the length of the breakdown being how fresh/dead the leaves on the branches were! Thankfully after negotiating several detours we proceeded on the newly re-surfaced road which was excellent.
8am departure from Xai-Xai. It transpires that we were well advised to stay over at Xai-Xai as we were forced onto a lengthy detour for re-surfacing of the main road between to Quissico. It took 2 1/2 hours to arrive at the turnoff to Quissico so last night would have been a very late end to the day had we pressed on. We stopped at Maxine for re-fuelling (74lt). While we were required by law to carry a set of red warning triangles AND reflective jackets, the only warning of a broken down vehicle was a number of branches laid in the road behind the vehicles - the length of the breakdown being how fresh/dead the leaves on the branches were! Thankfully after negotiating several detours we proceeded on the newly re-surfaced road which was excellent.
Hotel Seta Campsite - well positioned campsite with large sites, electricity, grass and trees and very close to beach. Ablutions new and very spacious. Other facilities included a restaurant and bar as well as accommodation at the hotel.
Distance 440kms
Day 2 - Sunday 6th June 2010
ETD 08H00 and we pulled out of the camp at exactly 08H00 having synchronised 9mHz radios. Warm sunny morning.
Proceed through Manzini (where bought diesel R7.95 per litre), Siteki to Swazi border crossing at Mhlumeni.
Enter Mocambique at Goba - took about half an hour to cross border. Gavin who was travelling on an Australian passport was required to obtain a visa at the border. Officials very friendly and delighted with FIFA ballpoint pens.
Continue by-passing Maputo to Quisico via Mararcuene where we drew money at ATM and were now armed with a fistfull of Meticals (Conversion R1 = 5Mt). Were advised not to proceed to Quissico as extensive roadworks and detours north of Xai-Xai. Decided to call it a day at Parque de Campisuo Xai-Xai by which time it was already getting dark.
Town after town still bore the scars of war, buildings which must have once stood proud are now roofless shells devoid of windows and doors or anything else which is movable. Frequently a very impressive wall has been erected on the "plot" enclosing the derelict building and a shack has been erected within the walls. The reason for this is apparently that although the land is Government owned (99 year lease) the buildings are owned by the Portuguese who fled in the times of conflict. The Mocambiquans are reluctant to renovate the buildings for fear of the "owners" returning and claiming back the buildings.
Distance 415kms
Day 1 Saturday 5th June 2010
All adventurers meet at Nerston (SA/Swazi border) at 11H30.
Proceed through border post to Sandlane (Swaziland) - no problems and all our papers in order.
Travel to Mlilwane National Park (26 29' 27"S 31 11' 06"E). Arrive early afternoon after viewing varied species of game including an enormous crocodile as we made our way to the campsite. The camp has good facilities - electricity, braai area, cold water tap, accommodation including beehive huts, a restaurant, shop and large ablutions. On arrival there was a great deal of activity at the camp as a cycle race was in progress. We managed to find four camp sites near to each other and having set up camp gathered round a communal camp fire to get to know our fellow adventurers and made sure that we complied with all the requirements for the various vehicle requirements for the countries which we would be visiting. Surprise - we have not forgotten anything.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Getting ready to leave
Only 11 days to go before we set off.
Our Bush Baby is still rather "naked" but will soon be decked out and ready to leave.
We set off on Friday 4th June and will stop off for the night in Northern KZN before meeting up with our fellow adventurers at the Swaziland border (Nerston) on Saturday 5th June.
Caption : Photo taken on a trip to Lesotho in April 2009
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