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...

Day 34, 4 march 2010, Chitimba to Iringa A long day, leaving Lake Malawi at 08:30 and arriving at the Old Farmhouse Lodge nearby Iringa in Tanzania, and including an uneventful but slow border crossing. The Northern stretch of Lake Malawi from Chitimba to Karonga is exquisite and deserves more time. in fact, it is easy to get stuck at the lake of stars and stay forever. Many have done just that! Our best surprise en-route was a message that Didi (cat) was found...

Day 32-33, 2-3 March - Chitimba A reasonably early start and short drive via Mzuzu to a lakeside beach at Chitimba, at the Chitimba Beach Camp. One of the most scenic drives in Malawi approaches the lakeshore with its long beaches, from the highlands which include the settlement of Livingstonia. The camp is pleasant, a regular stop for overland trucks. The lake appears like the sea here. Makoros line the shore, fishing nets 'dry' in the 'sun'. People wash and ...