Hey everyone!!

I had the most amazing time ever on safari, but I guess I should start roughly where I left you. The beach at Zanzibar was amazing. The staff were really friendly and went out of the way to help, and I had a great time. I took the dalladalla (quite the experience-it's the local bus which is really a pick up truck with benches and no speed limits) out to Jozani forest. It's the only place (in the world apparently) where you can see red colobus monkeys, and was a great experience.

It then came to flying out.. and that's where it got interesting. Regional air told us that they weren't doing our flight to Arusha because only two of us were going on to there, they would only go as far as Kili., so we would have to wait for the 6pm flight. I went with the other girl, Haike, to the restaurant only to have a guy come running out at 2 saying "get on plane". And so it was that me and my luggage, without security, passport or ticket checks, were thrown onto a 10 seater charter plane, wherer tim our pilot turned around, said it would be an hour to Arusha and set off down the run way. It was only as he called "can you hear me, I'm taking off now" as we rushed off that I really got scared.. I wish I was jokinh but I'm not.

Despite this, we arrived in Arusha (me with my hands attached to the seat of my chair). The outpost lodge was a great place to start and we met Moses, our tour leader, and each other.There were 5 couples on the trip, and 4 people travelling individually but everyone got on so well! They are all amazing people, and it made the goodbyes yesterday really hard, although we have a facebook page already set up to keep in touch.

So, the highlights of the safari (so as not to bore you) were a mother cheetah and her cubs crossing the road in front of us, a pride of 6 female lions walking all the way down the road towards us and past the van, a mother leopard and cubs sleeping in the trees, the massive pool full of hippos (!) and the biggest herd of elephants I have ever seen surrounding our vans for half an hour. Also it's the baby season, so there were baby lions, cheetah, zebra, elephant, hippos.. The whole thing was incredible. Not to mention singing american pie and the "jambo song" around the camp fire. The not quite so highlights (but still an experience) were having hyenas outside the tent, because we don't have any fences round the sites!!

So this brings me to yesterday, which I would like to explain properly to stop any worries people I have phoned have. I got really sick by the road, and there were bad pains so they took me to the hotel who they have a deal with. The hotel have a dr, and because gap uses them forth the upmarket tours they are supposed to see the ill people, but they refused to see me. And so it was that I ended up in Ngorongoro hospital, and Iswear it was better than hospital at home. The doctor was amazing, and had perfect English. He said I had either eaten or drunk something bad and had inflammation of the abdomen. They saw me straight away, gave me an injection (totally and completely sterrile, though they laughed when I asked) and some tablets, and I felt better instantly. They gave me a private room and Tammy (a truly wonderful girl from our tour) stayed with me the whole time. They did all this for free, though I made sure I left money to cover the medicines. I am very achey today (like I was punched in the belly) but I'm fine, I promise.

So there you have it all. Despite yesterday it was the most wonderful experience I have ever had, and as soon as I get on a decent computer (this one has a virus and I can't upload photos) I will include pictures of the safari, and of me! I hope everyone's well, I admit I have been kind of homesick, but it's all going really well. I have my bus booked for Tanga in a couple of hours, so I will try and email again from there.

Lots of love xxxx

I forgot things.. at ngorongoro there were elephants walking through the campsite and drinking from the water tank, which they than broke. I bought some awesome gifts for people (not telling). I have over 30 bites just on my shoulders.. lol I'm sure I will remember more. Those of you I haven't emailed I apologise, connection is vrey slow and I have a taxi soon. Love to everyone, and Chloe, I miss you lots, sorry I haven't spoken to you (but I got you a present in Zanzibar if it makes up for it)