Malawi


Day 66 & 67 – 12th & 13th August 2019

Blue Canoe Safari Camp was only an hour from the Tanzanian/Malawian border post.  

These African border posts are incredibly slow – either their systems are slow, or they have no systems and everything is paper based!  It took us three hours to cross the border, but with the help of the insurance guys at the border.  The Malawi Road Toll fee was US$20, TIP $20 and 3rd Party Insurance US$50.  But once we had been “cleared” to leave, the insurance guys demanded a US$25 “Agent’s Fee”.  At the end of the day, we thought that it would have taken us a heck of a longer time more if they didn’t help us, so we gladly paid the fee.

We arrived at Chitimba Camp on Lake Malawi around lunchtime.  Camping was on lawn and really pleasant.  Because there was power we decided to stay for two nights, instead of pushing on to Lukwe Eco Lodge which was just 18km’s up the mountain but did not have electricity.  Johan & Joanne left us after breakfast to go to Lukwe, and we shall meet up with them tomorrow at our next destination.

Day 68 - 70 - 14th -16th August 2019

We had heard great things about Makuze Lodge, south of Nkhata Bay, that we resolved to park out and enjoy 3 nights on the lake.  The place turned out to be everything we expected - superb beach, great camp site with electricity and good chef!  Our hosts, Brett and Lara, were super friendly (Brett being ex Richards Bay!).  We scoured around the grounds looking for birds, kayaked around the island not too far from the lodge, and generally just relaxed - marvellous!!



We were supposed to push on to Senga Bay for a night, but on advice from Brett, stayed over at Kuti Wildlife Camp, just outside Salima, on route to Cape Maclear.
.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tarangire National Park

Image
Day 30 & 31 – 8 th & 9 th Jully 2019 The trip from Arusha to Tarangire was absolutely facinating.  Being Masaai territory, you expected only to see the Masaai tending their herds.  But our journey co-incided with a special cattle market in the Mgagau area.  It is here where people come and buy and sell cattle, goats and sheep for either for butcheries, milking and farming. Mgagau Cattle Market  And, of course, some Masaai are too lazy to walk their goat to the market! A Masaai taking his goat to market Tarangire National Park thus far has been the best National Park we have ever visited.   Not a large variety of game, but massive herds of zebra, buffalo, elephant and giraffe.   Also, huge prides of lion. Upon arrival at the gate, the large number of tour operated vehicles was overwhelming.  This is possibly forerunner of what we can expect in the Serengeti earlier next week. Tour Operator's vehicles for Tarangire We wanted special camps
Read more

Serengeti National Park

Image
Days 37 to 42 - 15th to 20th July 2019 We passed a few Masaai villages on route to Serengeti.  The Serengeti proved to be everything we dreamed it would be - other than the VERY bad roads, cold showers and atrocious ablution blocks in the public campsites. Because we could only get 2 nights in Kogatende special campsite number 7 and the rest would be public campsites, we decided that we would have one night in Dik Dik , one night in Lobo and then push north to Kogatende which is on the Mara River, then back to Dik Dik for a night, before the last night at Ndabaka. Between the Gate and Dik Dik there were huge herds of Thompson's and Grant's Gazelle, the occasional elephant, some resident wildebeest and zebra, and quite a few lion. A highlight on our way north to Kogatende was a cheetah sat on an anthill, and just hundreds and thousands of wildebeest. We met the ranger at the Kogatende Air Strip - a very friendly guy.  We asked him where we find SCS 7.  He sai
Read more

The countdown has begun!

After tons of internet research and input from experienced overland travellers who are members of the 4 x 4 Community website, we have finalised our travel plans.  Our thanks go to all those who contributed to our proposed itinerary.  As a great mentor, Stan Weakley deserves a special mention for his valuable input and advice on our plans.  Thanks Stan! This trip will take us from the east coast of South Africa through Botswana, into Katima Mulilo in Namibia, Zambia,Tanzania and Rwanda, and then returning through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana  home.  A trip of 90 days. Travelling through Africa does not come without its difficulties.  Due to the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the Limpopo, no raw meat can be taken into Botswana.  Also, when entering Botswana this time last year, they confiscated our fruit and veg at the border because of an alleged "fruit fly problem" which according to Botswana border controls up north should not have happened.  A fu
Read more