By daylight we could see the view from the campsite was fabulousstretching right out over the lake. We walked up to Livingstonia by way of Manchewe Falls, a spectacular 50m waterfall with a cave behind in which local people hid from slave hunters 100 years ago. Livingstonia was the missionary site that David Livingstone set up during his missionary days in Africa and the small museum there details early European exploration and missionary work in Malawi. It was a hot climb up to Livingstonia a round trip of about 14k so hot that Peter blistered the back of his neck in the sun. On the way up we were accompanied by three local boys, 2 aged 14 and one aged 10. We chatted with them and they told us one had no parents and two had one parent each. There are many many orphanages in Malawi and 50% of the population is under 15. They make wooden keyrings for tourists to try and earn some money and it is so sad that a 10 year old has to do this in order to keep himself.

On the way up we stopped at a small shop where there were several children aged from about 2 to 10 outside watching t.v. through the window. We bought 2 family packs of biscuits and 5 fantas plus 8 small packs of biscuits for the t.v. watchers and the whole lot came to only 2 pounds. A bottle of Carlsberg Special costs only 30p!!

At the top we swapped names and addresses with the boys and promised to send them some shoes and clothes. Two of them had made the walk up on the stoney path with no shoes and the other had sneeked a pair of flip flops two sizes too big from his brother whilst he was still asleep. When you see a 14 year old boy in a T Shirt with 'Little Princess' on the front and glimps his lacy elastic edged 'underpants' and realise they started life as a pair of knickers your heart goes out to them. As it will be June before we get back and can fulfil our promise, if anyone is willing to send some clothes or shoes sizes 5 to 7 on our behalf I am sure the lads will be very happy and may even write back to you. Their address is:-

Hardson Kondowe 14, John Gomeka 10, Junior Gomeka 14

Chitimba f p School, Chitimba, Rumphi, Malawi, Central Africa

The town itself provides a fascinating glimpse into Malawi's colonial past and the mix of old buildings, wide dustry tree lined streets and panoramic views of the hills was very pleasant. Relative isolation due to the ardous climb to the top has kept the place quiet and unspoil and a nice place for people to live.