Hello all,

Another chance for an update as to what we've been up to. After Zambia we headed to Zimbabwe for 12 days, a very cool country but also very strange as even the rich struggle for basic things like bread. There's pretty much no petrol either and when things are in the shops etc they are too expensive to buy. The currency is screwed as well - $1 million Zimbabwe to a pound!!

We spent 2 nights on a houseboat on Lake Kariba which was awesome - time to relax, get off the truck and have no chores to do. We did a couple of game drives on the water, saw crocs, hippo's and elephants. Had a big old party which resulted in more than a few sick people and also had fun jumping off the top of the boat into the lake (in the centre where the crocs couldn't get us of course!). Next up was Antelope Park which is an incredible place, it's like a conservation place where you can interact with the animals - Joel and I had an elephant swim, played with 9 month old lion cubs and went on a lion walk. Even though they are cubs they still have sharp teeth though! We've got some great photos which we'll put on in Cape Town next week. After Antelope Park we went to Bulwayo for one of the highlights of the trip so far - walking with wild rhinos! Their eyesight isn't very good so you can get really close to them - about a metre! We walked with 3 sets, the 1st two we were kind of behind little trees, so a little protection (not much!) but the 3rd set it was an open plain with a 3 month old baby and they didn't take kindly to us and had a little charge. I can honestly say one of the scariest experiences for me, was back in the truck quick time! Was brilliant though.

Vic Falls was the next stop for 4 nights and it lived up to it's expectations. Clare did the Adrenaline Day which was gorge swing, flying fox, abseiling and rapt jump - all very cool, gorge swing being scarier than bungy jumping. Joel did a safari on horseback which meant you could get really close to animals. We both did white water rafting on the Zambezi River and OH MY GOD, it was brilliant. One hairy moment where our raft flipped on rapid number 8 and we all got sucked under a couple of times but was ok in the end. We also walked to Vic Falls and saw that, that was very cool and again we'll post the photos soon. Zimbabwe is an awesome country and hopefully it will sort itself out soon - would recommend anyone to go there as so much to see an do.

Into Botswana- did a game cruise at Chobe National Park and saw loads - highlight was a massive herd of elephants crossing the river which was incredible. We spent a night on the Okavango Delta bush camping - went there on things called Makuros (bit like punting) and had a great time with the group. Joel enjoyed himself looking for elephant dung with Toddy until the early hours to burn on the fire! I was well asleep under the stars in my cool mozzie net.

Now we're in Namibia which is a very country too (they all are!). We spent 3 nights in Etosha National Park which has huge watering holes at the campsites where you can watch the animals all night - we did this until late a couple of nights, saw black rhions which is pretty rare, loads of elephants, giraffes and what not. I was in bed when people saw the lions! We went to a Cheetah Park and played with tame cheetahs and watched wild ones being fed - a conservation place where they have saved loads from being killed by farmers as cheetahs are pests. From here we headed to Swakopmund for more adrenaline activities! Clare did sandboarding anf Joel did lay down boarding - brilliant day but the climb back up the huge dunes weren't the best! Clare did a dolphin cruise and then quadbiking, Joel went game fishing and they caught enough fish to feed 60 people!!! So a fish BBQ tomorrow night!

So, we're leaving Swakopmund tomorrow and will be in Cape Town next Saturday, stopping at various places along the way.

Hope everything is well at home, will add some photo's soon.

Love Clare & Joel xxx