Friday marked the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, and we were in Trafalgar Square, together with the crowds there, and all of you in our minds. It also marked the end of our long journey. If you have given up on my 'blogging' (only Francois Swart appreciated it, so easy to follow - nothing to read), the albums are now at least sort of up to date, so you can browse some pics! Anyway, we are on London for now, and have been for some months, in a cosy home s...

Someone said that wherever you are, there you are (some existentialist stuff), but right now we actually are in Are,and that is where we are. As our travels would have it, throughthe good fortune of having such a good friend in Caron (Holdsworth), and the kindness of her sister and borther-in-law, we were able to use their RCI points for a week somewhere in the world. How exactly we got to Sweden,is now a vague and contested memory. I did suggest a snowy place ...

Day 42, Kigali A day of many surprises. Firstly, we flew Rwanda Air, probably the only airline that I can enthuse about. The staff are excellent, the 50-seat Bombardier jets are brand new and superbly maintained. The airway, like the country, is fresh, future focused and delivers the goods in all ways (even the food was good - no 'chicken' or 'beef', but tasty local fare). Next, Kigale airport is small, modern, clean and very efficient. Dedicated airport Taxis' ...

Day 36 - 41, 6 - 11 March - Dar Es Salaam The road from Mikumi town passes between the Mikumi and Selous Reserves and is the cheapest way of seeing the plains and animals of Tanzania, as the national road passes through the reserves. No fences etc. We saw herds of elephant, buffalo, impala etc, and even herds of Giraffe. Like the Baobabs in Baobab Valley, the usual sightings of giraffe may involve a few, or a small group. Here they hang around in a herd. The ro...

Day 35, 5 March - Iringa to MikumiAnother beautiful drive. Descending from 1750m at Iringa, into the warmer plains, through the valley of Baobabs. The road follows the Ruaha river for some time. Baobobs grow in groves, very hard to appreciate from text or photos. Mark, at the Old Farmhouse, told us that we would see more baobabs than we had seen in our lives, and he was quite right. Like weeds, they seem to grow everywhere. We arrived in Mikumi to spend the nigh...