The journey to Harare was hot and long. The two day journey was broken by a camp in the wilds. It was the first place that we did not attract the usual local onlookers. Normally rural people are just as fascinated in us as we are of them. This place had flies from hell and temperatures to match.

The next day was just as hot, having to wait to cross the Zambezi did not help. The locals were handing us ice cold soft drinks that tasted of bubble gum and it also looked like it glows in the dark. Zimbabwe was just down the road but we had the border crossing to negotiate.

I looked at the border crossing posters proudly saying that they were aiming to be the best (bad omen). In fact it was the worst taking 3 hours from start to finish with the usual confusion and inefficiency.

Northern Zimbabwe was very beautiful lots of rounded boulder hills/mountains. The people are really friendly; I usually take all opportunities to have a chat when we stop.

Spirits were high as we entered Harare (showers and big party was waiting), the music in the truck was turned right up as we went through the city. People turned and waved and a few started to dance as well. I have noticed that Africans can almost instantaneously break out into a dance (I have seen people start to dance to the music as we pass them going at about 80mph).

We got to bird camp; a wonderful lake with little cottages around was too good an opportunity to upgrade to a room. The lake had hippos and crocs; the croc that was patrolling had killed 2 people and injured 11 people in two weeks. It also had a go at the zebras and horses that roamed around the site.

That night was the fancy dress party, we got the costumes in Malawi. We had to buy in secret for someone out of a hat. As the costumes were revealed we new it was going to be a good night and it was.