Tour Company: Drifters Adventours, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dates: 2002-07-07 to 2002-08-10
I took this trip with my friend Robin. She actually found all the information about the trip and asked if I wanted to travel with her, so I naturally jumped at this amazing opportunity. I won't talk about any personal incidents from the trip, but will focus more on the activities that we experienced as a group.
Contents
Sunday, July 7, 2002 - Depart Toronto, overnight to London
This great adventure begins today. I am leaving my car at my friend's house, so I arrive there in the late afternoon. I spent some time relaxing and park my car in their garage. Her parents deliver us to the airport and we check in, after waiting in line for some time. Rather than checking her sleeping bag separately, we choose to leave it attached to the outside of her backpack. However, its not securely attached, and this turns out to be a mistake as it gets lost in transit.
After we've check in, we're killing time in the airport, when I casually ask if Robin has brought her immunization passport. She has left this at home, and this necessitates a call to her parents, who rapidly find the missing item at home and drive it to us at the airport. This passport proves that we have had our Yellow Fever immunizations, and while in the end, no one ever asks to see it, it is better to carry that, than have a border official give you an immunization on the spot and charge you for it in a foreign country.
Monday, July 8, 2002 - London
Arrive in London, head into town, lunch with friend Carol, buy watch, Hamleys toy shop on Regent Street, back to Heathrow, disorganized state of South African check-in, overnight to Johannesburg, sleep like a baby...
Tuesday, July 9, 2002 - Johannesburg
Arrive Johannesburg, lost sleeping bag, met by driver, banking, tips, drive past downtown, arrival at Inn, shopping at Cresta, dinner, bar tender, sexism
After dinner we meet most of the rest of the group. We are:
We don't have a chance to meet Petra, the German girl who will join us in the morning. She has actually been working in South Africa prior to the tour, and will be coming in from Pretoria to meet the tour group.
The group has 7 people from North America. Apparently this is the most North American's ever on a group with Drifters.
Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - depart Johanesburg, Petersburg, bush camp
Departure from Johannesburg, shopping, private camp, fire, star gazing, first late night
Thursday, July 11, 2002 - Bietbridge, Great Zimbabwe, Maxvingo
bush shower, cross at Bietbridge, Great Zimbabwe, Masvingo, Inn on Great Zimbabwe
Friday, July 12, 2002 - Bulawayo, Matobo National Park
Bulawayo, Matobo National Park, Ian, sleep outside
Saturday, July 13, 2002 - Hwange National Park
Hawnge National Park, lionesses, push starting truck
Sunday, July 14, 2002 - Victoria Falls
Arrival Victoria Falls, bungee jump, park closed due to water buffalo dinner at Drifters Inn, dancers
Monday, July 15, 2002 - Victoria Falls
Morning flight cancelled, Vic Falls Park, some shopping, postcards, Boma dinner
Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - depart Victoria Falls, Gwabi Camp
depart Vic Falls, arrive Gwabi camp, Kafue River, meet Johan
Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - Zambezi River
Canoe trip, wind stories, camp over night on island
Thursday, July 18, 2002 - Zambezi River, Chongwe River Camp
Canoe trip, arrive at other end at Chongwe River, meet expats at bar, cool bar, antelope in camp, story about hyena
Friday, July 19, 2002 - return to Gwabi Camp
speedboat back to Gwabi camp, laundry, dinner at Gwabi
Saturday, July 20, 2002 - Lusaka, Zulu's Kral
Depart Gwabi, shopping in Lusaka, lunch after shopping, camp at Zulu's Kral, all sleep outside, two very agressive cats at dinner, sleeping on top of fire in morning
Sunday, July 21, 2002 - South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa NP, swim, relax, Mark's tour group (African Adventures?)
Monday, July 22, 2002 - South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa NP game drive, night drive, dinner from Lauren
Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - Kande Beach
Cross to Malawi, temporary bridge to cross, never been to Kande, far to go, Kande Beach, bog the truck (first time), camping on beach, full moon
Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - Kande Beach
Kande Beach, relax, shopping outside gate
Thursday, July 25, 2002 - Chitimba Beach
Chitimba on Lake Malawi, funeral as we arrive, filling truck with water
Friday, July 26, 2002 - Tanzania, Mikumi
bog truck before leaving, enter Tanzania, camp in Mikumi (old farm)
Saturday, July 27, 2002 - Dar Es Salaam
Long drive to Dar Es Salaam, traffic jam in Dar, overnight in Dar, dinner at hotel, monkey, snake pit, Silver Sands Hotel/Campground
Sunday, July 28, 2002 - Ferry to Zanzibar, Nungwe
Meet Georgie, drive to harbour, errands, Ferry to Zanzibar, rain storm, rough waters, seasick, meet Karen, another Canadian on ferry, arrive Zanzibar, meet Anjam, lunch, spices, curries, Oriental feel, drive to North part of island (Nungwe)
Monday, July 29, 2002 - Nungwe, Zanzibar
Nungwe, relax on beach, volleyball, swimming
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - Nungwe, Zanzibar
Nungwe, morning walk to fish market, sunrise photos, lose lens cap, relax on beach
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - Stone Town, Zanzibar
Return to Stone Town, spice tour, guest house, lunch at same place, slave tour, explore Stone Town, playing video games with kids (PS2, XBox, etc), dinner out at food stalls, burned foot incident
Thursday, August 1, 2002 - Stone Town, Ferry to Dar Es Salaam
Morning in Stone Town, last exploring and shopping, Ferry back to Dar, some rough water, locked out on front of boat, back to truck in Dar, new monkey pen
Friday, August 2, 2002 - Arusha
long drive to Arusha, can't see Kilimanjaro, stop for drinks, bottles incident
Saturday, August 3, 2002 - Arusha
Arusha, laundry, brunch, walk in to town, shopping, return to truck, dinner, tv
Sunday, August 4, 2002 - Serengeti
Depart Arusha, Lake Manyara (go past), see base of Ngorongoro crater, Masai camp, Serengeti game drive, camp, evening rain
Monday, August 5, 2002 - Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Morning game drive, breakfast, return to Ngorongoro crater to camp at Simba Camp, much colder
Tuesday, August 6, 2002 - Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha
Early morning game drive, pack of hyenas, old lion, too cold for many animals, return to camp, return drive to Arusha
Wednesday, August 7, 2002 - Nairobi
Depart Arusha for Nairobi, last day in truck, still can't see Kilimanjaro, cross border into Kenya, stop at airport, arrival at hotel, hot shower, downtown Nairobi to market, airlines, dinner at hotel
Thursday, August 8, 2002 - Nairobi
Last day of tour, breakfast, departure of Rouhet and Georgie, snake park, Men In Black II movie
Friday, August 9, 2002 - Nairobi, Johannesburg, London
Errands in downtown Nairobi, taxi fun to airport, fun at airport in Nairobi, fly to Johannesburg, nice airport there, seat mix-up, overnight to London
Saturday, August 10, 2002 - London, Toronto
Arrive London Heathrow, transfer, Air Canada flight to Toronto, arrive home
Lessons, pointers and other thoughts
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