Day 14,18 July 2012, Kande Beach to Chitimba Beach via the market of Msuzu (pictured) - A mere 250 kms and 4 odd hours on the road today. En route we stocked up on Malawi Kwachas to pay for our postcard and stamp vice. Also our local brandy vice. Seems to be evaporating! In Msuzu our camp chef Godfrey needed to top up supplies - we were only allowed to follow him to the local market at a discreet distance as a bunch of Muzongas would triple the food prices. ...

Day 14,18 July 2012, Kande Beach to Chitimba Beach, Malawi - 250 kms and a mere 4-5 hours on the roads. Heaven. We are sad to be leaving beautiful Kande Beach as we did not manage to dive! It is, apparently, the windy season and all day yesterday it was blowing wild on-shore gales (and this morning too). There was no chance to get the boat into the surf (on a lake remember) without it flipping and potentially losing divers to the strong currents. C'est la vie...

Day 13,17 July 2012, Kande Beach, Lake Malawi - On arrival at Kande beach last night, after 7 hours of African massage in the back of the truck, we descended on the most surreal place - a fresh water lake in the middle of nowhere, it is huge (Africa's third biggest lake). We were all honour bound to rush in as fast as we humanly could. After an hour or so of paddling around and peering at the fish at our feet, it was time to get out and explore the necessities -...

Day 12,16 July 2012, Lilongwe to Kande Beach - 380 km or 6-7 hours over good roads (that's African for actual roads). We have consulted the hit parades of our lives and an old American TV show comes to mind - "BJ McKay and his best friend, Bear" - the slogan we recall is "Keep on Truckin'" and that is indeed what we are doing today. Coincidentally, "Bear" was trucker BJ's pet chimpanzee and our morning was to include some serious primate-watching. First thing ...

Day 11,15 July 2012, South Luangwa (Zambia) to Lilongwe (Malawi), via Chipata - The only thing worse than 5 hours to cover 130 km to get to South Luangwa is having to go back the same way. Sigh, bump, rattle, gurgle. Border crossing into Malawi this afternoon after lunch - first time either of us have done a land based crossing. We eventually arrive at Barefoot Lodge, Lilongwe (Malawi) at about 5 pm - phew - very long day. Border crossing was mildly unnervin...