Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 34 South Luangwa to Petauke, Zambia

December 28, 2017

Monday 25 December 2017. Photos
Highlights: Game drive – colourful wild dogs

Christmas Day was finally here. I woke up early with my tent companion Bill still sleeping soundly. This gave me a chance to go to the bar area and long into the wifi and received various Christmas messages from those back home who were almost finished with their Christmas Day being 9 hours ahead of Zambia. This made me miss home and my family in particular my nieces and nephews. I might have to forgo future trips at this time of the year despite the numerous advantages in getting time off from work in December and January.

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Africa Travel Co, On The Go Tours, Petauke, South Luangwa, Zambia
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 33 Kande Beach to South Luangwa, Zambia

December 27, 2017

Sunday 24 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: Border crossing, elephants and baboons near the campsite

Today we farewelled Malawi with five less tour members and welcomed Zambia for our Christmas stay. The long truck drive today was made much easier by everyone being able to stretch out in their own seat. Kapala have decked out the truck with some Christmas decorations to make it more festive.

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Africa Travel Co, Kande Beach, Malawi, On The Go Tours, South Luangwa, Zambia
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 32 Kande Beach, Malawi

December 25, 2017

Saturday 23 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: Relaxing at the campsite

Today I just relaxed at the campsite, not wanting to go diving or snorkelling in Lake Malawi for which you are almost guaranteed to pick up a parasite that will need to be treated in a few months back home. This meant a nice today spent reflecting on the trip so far, reading and relaxing in a hammock.

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Africa Travel Co, Kande Beach, Malawi, On The Go Tours
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 31 Chitimba Beach to Kande Beach, Malawi

December 23, 2017

Friday 22 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: Lake Malawi coast, Kande Beach Village visit

We got to sleep in today with a 7 am alarm and 8 am departure. This gave me a great chance to see the spectacular scenery and sunrise over the Chitimba Beach around 5.30 am.

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Africa Travel Co, Chitimba Beach, Kande Beach, Malawi, On The Go Tours
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 30 Iringa to Chitimba Beach, Malawi

December 23, 2017

Thursday 21 December 2017. Photos
Highlights: The Tanzania-Malawi Border Crossing

We farewelled Tanzania today and entered the small landlocked nation of Malawi today. This was our second consecutive long day driving as we covered 500 kms in around 12 hours. This time we left at the relatively late time of 6 am and it wasn’t long until the sun was up. Just before 5 am I woke up and found I had to go to the bathroom, it wasn’t worth going back to sleep for 15 minutes so I carefully dressed in the dark in order to avoid waking my roommate Tara.

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Africa Travel Co, Chitimba Beach, Iringa, Malawi, On The Go Tours, Tanzania
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 29 Dar Es Salaam to Iringa, Tanzania

December 22, 2017

Wednesday 20 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: The wildlife in Mikumi National Park, the landscape

I slept though my 4.00 am alarm and woke with a start at 4.20 am. Luckily I always have me gear for the day ahead already out the night before. Unluckily I ended up leaving my iPhone headphones behind meaning I had to use my backup pair on todays 13 hour 600 km drive.

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Africa Travel Co, Dar Es Salaam, Iringa, On The Go Tours, Tanzania
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 28 Nungwi Beach to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

December 22, 2017

Tuesday 19 December 2017. Photos Zanzibar & Tanzania.
Highlights: Watching the sun come up at Nungwi Beach

I found myself waking up early at Nungwi Beach so instead of going back to sleep I went out into the restaurant area and wrote blog entries for the last few days while watching the sun slowly rise. The weather was amazing when it was light but the sun wasn’t yet up. I really wished I could have gone for a swim but that would have meant packing wet clothes.

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Africa Travel Co, Dar Es Salaam, Nungwi Beach, On The Go Tours, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 27 Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar

December 19, 2017

Monday 18 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: Local shopping, walking on the beach

A full relaxing day on the beach and at the resort. After breakfast I went out shopping with Tera at some different local curio shops. While I hadn’t been expecting to buy anything I did end up getting a small lion for Indie back home given I’d seen a photo of her with Christmas present yesterday. I just couldn’t help myself.

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Africa Travel Co, Nungwi Beach, On The Go Tours, Zanzibar
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 26 Stone Town to Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar

December 19, 2017

Sunday 17 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: Swimming in Indian Ocean, Curio Shopping

I nice leisurely day sleeping in and enjoying the included breakfast on the hotel’s rooftop was a great way to ease into the day. We did have to leave until 10 am to go to Nungwi in the north of the island. For this trip extension Roz, Arran, Emilie, Logan and Tera were joining me along with Kapalia. Young Jessica was going to join us as well but pulled out.

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Africa Travel Co, Nungwi Beach, On The Go Tours, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Africa Trip 2017-18: Day 25 Dar Es Salaam to Stone Town, Zanzibar

December 18, 2017

Saturday 16 December 2017. Photos.
Highlights: Water crossing, Spice Farm Tour, Slave Market, The Old Fort, Sunset, Night Market

A huge day overall that started with us leaving camp at 5 am after a 4 am wake up. Even at 4 am in the morning it was extremely humid and I was glad I only had a daypack to carry during the morning. Our truck drop us off after a 15 minute ride from there we caught a small ferry across to Dar Es Salam proper followed by a bus to the main port terminal and then eventually we got on the main ferry that took just less than 2 hours to travel to Zanzibar.

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Dar Es Salaam, On The Go Tours, Stone Town, Tanzania, Zanzibar