As I sat in Doogles in Blantyre trying to decide whether to head onwards or stay for a couple of days, I got chatting to a Scottish guy called Ken. After explaining my plans to him, he excitedly exclaimed that he knew an Israeli girl who really wanted to go to Mozambique, but she didn't want to go alone so was desperately trying to find a travel buddy. He introduced us, and we both seemed to have the same idea of hiking up Mount Mulanje before crossing t...

Arriving at Doogles Backpackers in Blantyre, I was at once struck by it's similarities with Lilongwe: Nearby Limbe is where the main bus station is, and is connected to Blantyre by a main road a couple of kilometers long - similar to Lilongwe city center and old town. However, I soon found that that is where the similarities end. Blantyre was a much easier place for me to find my way around and explore as a pedestrian. The main shops, cafes, etc are all ...

Hopping on to the Monkey Bay-bound minibus I made my way to Cape MacClear, a standard stop on the backpacking circuit along the shore of Lake Malawi. After waiting an hour for the minibus to fill up, I got to Cape Mac at it's most beautiful time: just before sunset. Checking in at the backpackers, I settled on to a beachside lounger and watched as the sun sank behind Thumbi West island. I was sharing my dorm with a Japanese Medecins Sans Frontiers voluntee...

Back in Lilongwe and feeling 100% again, there was nothing stopping me from playing some rugby! Oh, except that I didn't know where they trained or how to get there, and the phone number I had found wasn't working... But I wasn't about to let these details get in my way. After work on Tuesday, I headed with my colleague Eric to the minibus station where he put me on the bus going in vaguely the right direction (again, I wasn't exactly sure where I was going). Get...

On Monday morning, I woke up ready to meet my new colleagues, home, and office for the coming month: travelling is tiring (first world problem, I'm aware) and the mere thought of unpacking filled me with a sense of comfort. I was welcomed by Heather and Ida, the founder and the country manager, and introduced to the team who I would be sitting around the table in the small office with. Straight afterwards, I met with Ida and Lusungu, who I would be working closel...