After another Lorraine and Amelia disaster to start our trip off (i.e. the trip was cancelled and we weren't told) we were flown out of Kenya and into Tanzania to Dar Es Salaam on the Coast, and the Gateway to Zanzibar Island. Unfortunately it means we've missed out the Serengeti and Zanzibar but just another glip in our troublesome traveller lives! We get to relax in the peace for one night at Mikadi Beach on the mainland coast. Although its a mere few miles from the town it takes a ferry to get there and in our new mode of transport (a rather cumbersome green HGV lorry refurbished with bus seats) we take up quite a lot of room! It's a real locals ferry so naturally we provide much entertainment to them as does their obscure Africa hip hop to us! We've been introduced to our tour leaders Andy, an Australian who'se currently doing a good impression of Jesus with full style beard, and Marlose, a dutch girl who included in her intro 'Hi, I've got Malaria' - careful not to shake hands with her we begin to worry this trip may not be smooth sailing! The next day we get to meet our group, fresh faced and relaxed from Zanzibar with an armful of spices, they don't look impressed when we tell them we're not too keen on spicy food! Intro's out of the way we get on the highway heading through rush hour Tanzania traffic - at a snail's pace. It gives us a great opportunity to bond with our new friends and get to grips with the waving on demand that is mandatory for sitting in the back of a green truck with very large windows. The locals here are very friendly and we are met with huge smiles and shouts of MAZUNGO! - which means white person, turns out we'll be hearing this a lot, the jury's still out on whether it's derogatory or not! Turn's out there's a lot for sale along the roads, anything from clothes, household items, food, puppies - still concerned over whether the puppies are for pets or food! We stay the night at a deserted hotel, not too dissmiliar from that out of the Shining, but with a selective bar and a choice buffet we get to know the group. It seems we're surrounded by Aussie's and Kiwi's who total a majority of 6 out of the 8, the remaining two, Howard and Nic being from sunny Manchester. The next days it's off into the bush - literally. Marlose has made a frantic dash from the trip home to Holland so Andy is going solo as driver, leader, cook, guide and general taskmaster - god job he had all that training in the Australian army!! With Marlose abandoning us we end up behind schedule and unable to reach our campsite for the night so with 'safari jane' being our middle name we pull up in the middle of nowhere and Amelia and Joe, chefs for the night, prepare a feast of cold vegtables and fried chicken - we don't actually even manage to do it that well as the chicken takes too long so we end up serving them seperately! Turns out though a night in the bush is not too bad and not only do we survive but we manage to sleep, with the exception of what be known only as 'the deer incident' and which only Lorraine can divulge (or Amelia for a price). Our trip onwards takes us through Mikumi National Park, which the highway rund straight through. Andy tells us that on his last night drive he saw an abundance of animals inclusing Leopards and Elephants, so with that in mind we sit it out at the side of the road while the sun sets waiting for some nocturnal activity! We see 4 elephants crossing the road and a whole variety of deer! Who knows what else was out there but with a few dim torches flashing pathetically into the bushes we'll never have known! We pull up at quite a nice hotel where we get to eat in the restaurant, use a shower (remember its been a few days) and sample the local beer. It's been a long ol' day and when Amelia rolls to bed at 5am it's almost time for the next! Our time in Tanzani soon expires and we're across the border into Malawi, we soon come to realise that border crossings are hot, slow, infuriating but on occasion a chance to meet some intersting locals, and witness a few fights and drug deals - every day is different! So 2 Countries down and now we're winging our way through Africa, next Malawi!! See you there!