Hi All

Hope you are all well and happy. Since my last blog I have had a ball. I went on a cruise on the Chobe river and got very wet as it poured with rain and didn't see much, then our truck couldn't come and get us as there was too much mud so we had to walk a few hundred metres through the mud. I slipped getting into the truck and cut open my leg but it seems to be healling ok and I have kept loads of anticeptic on it. Surprisingly africa is a lot cleaner than I expected. The place where we stayed that night was a mud pool and we all were very grotty and our tents were soaked, but this is africa and I am really learning to slow down and go with the flow, nothing here seems to ever upset anyone.

Anyway after chobe we had to cross the border over the Zambezi river to Zambia. It was a long slow process with only two ferries carrying one bus, one car and one truck at a time, the line was miles long with cargo trucks waiting to pass. We luckily made it through in about an hour and a half. I got a double entry visa as I was planning to go the Zimbabwe side of the falls but as I was going to be doing it alone I changed my mind after one of the guys in our group was held up at knife point when there were three of them walking here together, so it is taxis and large groups for us all at the moment.

Anyway we arrived in Livingstone and after attacking the local banks made our way to Victoria Falls. It was absolutely spectacular and I managed to get completely soaked and could barely see as I was wearing glasses. We spent about an hour walking along the falls and only saw about ten percent of the falls. I am dissapointed I can't go into Zimbabwe as the view from there is better apparently but safety first. Kel I also can't swim at devils pool as the water is flowing to fast :( I was also going to do a flight over but at 130 US$ for 15 minutes I don't see the value. Livingstone is extremely expensive but I did spend the morning yesterday working in a community school healping to build classrooms, I am now an expert at rendering walls so I may attack the patio when I return. We even had to mix the cement using shovels and a wheelbarrow. Really hard work but the thrill of feeling like I have helped make a small difference was definitely worth it. I am a little stiff today but all good. We also had heaps of children interacting with us and getting us to take photos. They love to look at themselves in your camera after you have taken the picture. We then had an all you can drink sunset cruise last night and as it was our last night as a group we lived it up and I got to bed at about 2pm this afternoon ( I am way too old for this sort of behaviour) feeling surprisingly good hope it doesn't hit me tomorrow.

Tomorrow I am doing an early morning walk with lions, I can't wait I think it will be awesome. I am then heading into town with others from our group. I will try anbd call then mum but phone access is not easy to find and very expensive. Where we are staying costs US$4 per minute!! If I don't get a chance to call have a great birthday Aunty Helen and everyone enjoy the party, wish I was there to help you celebrate.

We leave here on Saturday and will be heading north through east africa. Our guide has said that life is a lot less civilised there so if you don't hear from me don't panic, I will do my best to up date when I can.

Mum can you please check my balances on my credit card as the only way I can access cash is through Visa at the moment so I am racking it up very fast. I have paid off most of the local payment now so only h ave about 300US$ to put on that and then spending money which shouldn't be too much. Thanks so much and if you want to go with Les on the boat I am sure Tia will cope in a kennel for a few weeks. I will send you an email soon to organise where you will be when I get home. Will make an effort tomorrow to load some more photos from the last few weeks.

Take care eveyone

Love Sharon