Day 4 30/9/07 - Africa

Victoria Falls

Highlight

• Woke up early, had a leisurely breakfast, then sat around waiting for the tour to start. Since the agreed time was 9:30 it wasn't long enough to do anything, so I was feeling bored already.
• Our pickup was 20 mins late, I tried some dried fruit that tastes like Chinese sour prunes.
• Finally met most, but not all, the people on the tour. Most had been on a tour before and already know people, except me. I already felt like the odd one out.
• Weather has been quite hot, especially in the sun.
• Our truck was smaller than I expected, and not very comfy, all the people who knew each other all sat together.
• Got to campsite, which was quite nice. Then I found out about the upgrade, which they didn't tell us about before. At most campsites, you can pay a little extra to stay in rooms instead of camping. Since I was bunking with Lynne, and she wanted to upgrade, I spent my first day in a room.
• Had some general chit-chat with the girls while they went about doing their laundry. We had to hang around the campsite until after lunch to venture out. I can feel it's going to be a very slow tour.
• Since there was no time to do any activities, went to walk around Vic Falls with the girls. The USD 20 entry fee was worth it. The Falls was supposed to be in dry season, so there were only patches of water, but they still put out this spectacular spray and a thunderous roar. We walked from one end to the other, but didn't go down the 76 steps. I wanted to, but no one else did, so I didn't go by myself. we walked all the way to the bridge, where I just missed seeing someone bungy off it.
• took heaps of shots, I guess partly to justify the entry cost.
• Watched another a Capella group, and had to give away more money.
• The tourist police took us via a "short cut", by walking through teh trees to this "really good" market. The sellers aren't as pushy as the Asian ones I'm used to, but they always talk to you, but the other girls were fully into it, buying lots of stuff.
• We tried going to the "supermarket", but it was closed, we went to 7/11 instead. As I was soon to find out, going to a shop doesn't actually mean there will be anything on sale.
• Came back for more chilling. We have to do chores every night, consisting of either cooking, washing, or truck cleaning.
• Dinner was pretty bland, but the other people were really into it...
• Argued our way out of paying for an expensive room 'cos of some misunderstanding.
• Our tour guide finally arranged to change some Zim dollars for us, so we didn't have to pay some extortionist prices for stuff. The currency actually had expiry dates, and we found out that they were changing it again at the end of October.
• A pretty uneventful day really, where I didn't get to do what I wanted. I hope it gets better when the tour proper starts.

Food

• Sprayview breakfast:
  • sausage
  • baked beans
  • fried egg
  • tomato
  • grapefruit and tamarillo
• wholegrain bread with salad and salami
• dried fruit
• spaghetti bolognese
• squash with cheese and corn
• tea

Day 3 29/9/07 - Africa

Johannesburg -> Victoria Falls

Highlight

• Checked out without a problem, the airport ride was smooth.
• The VAT was such a joke. They only half looked at your goods, I actually managed to get the VAT back for all the food I'd already eaten, but then the guy refused to refund it on my credit card, and made me cash a cheque at the bureau de change next door, which I had to pay R20 fee, on top of the R11.22R processing fees. So I ended up getting R60.40 back from my R807 worth of spending. I reckon they must have some arrangement going on. if I didn't have so much time I wouldn't have bothered. What a riot!
• I looked through the whole of Jburg airport. At least there weren't much people so I didn't have to wait.
• Read about my horrible BA experience here
• The flight itself was quick. Victoria Falls airport had no air-conditioning, and we had to wait in the heat for the very long visa process, but the non-visa line was even worst.
• Then had to wait in the heat for the airport transfer. Pickup was no problem this time.
• Met a NZ girl, Fiona, who was a travel agent, lived in London for 2 years, and on another Kumuka tour, so we hung out for the day.
• We booked a "cruise" on the Zambesi river, but because we had to be back by 6pm for the pre departure meeting, we missed out on the booze cruise.
• I had a dip in the pool, which was kinda cold and had lots of bugs, and read a bit.
• We had a driver and a "guide", who of course, turned out to be the salesperson of course. She was ok though. The whole thing was very basic, but at least it was only the 2 of us on the boat, and beer and "snacks" were included. 55 USD is not too bad for Vic Falls.
• We sailed along, looking for animals, and saw some hippos and baboons. We also got out the fishing rods and did some pretend fishing.
• Managed to see some monkeys and warthogs on the road back.
• Met my group, which turned out to be mostly Aussies. They had all been on previous trips before, so I befriended an English lady, Lynne, from Manchester.
• Since it was so late and dangerous to go out, ate an expensive dinner at the hotel, where there was a choice of curry, steak or fish only. They had also run out of soft drinks AND beers by the end of the night.
• Some a Capella group came to perform for us, and instead of tipping, I bought their CD. I didn't really want it, but I didn't really have the change for tipping.
• I didn't like having to tip for everything.
• Already spent most of my cash today, at least I don't need to carry it around.

Food

• banana
• coffee
• apple juice
• sparkling grape juice
• chicken sandwich
• breath mint
• mixed plate: beef, sausage/wrust, meatball, cheese pastry, samosa, spring roll
• Pilsner from Harare x2
• bream with chips and vegetables (USD 20)

Day 2 28/9/07 - Africa

Abu Dhabi -> Johannesburg

Highlight

• Landed on time again, but the entertainment system was broken so I didn't get to watch much.
• Took ages to get my bags.
• I didn't see my airport pick-up, so loads of taxi drivers were trying to pick me up.
• Finally got transferred to the airport, all their drivers are very nice, although they like to speed and drive while talking on their mobiles.
• After I sorted out the confusion with stupid expedia at the Mercure, had a quick rest, then took another transfer to Sandton City Shopping Centre.
• I was really disappointed as everything was exactly the same as Oz and UK or some equivalent of them.
• People dress exactly the same too, with the exception of their hairs I suppose.
• They certainly hire a lot more people per shop but all the shop keepers were friendly and helpful.
• There were no food that you couldn't get elsewhere too, probably the only exception was biltong, so that's what I got to eat.
• I got bored of Sandton really quickly as the products and the prices were the same, but to waste time, I spent from 12pm to 6pm there and walked almost every single shop. It's really kinda like Westfields Parramatta. I couldn't even buy any clothes as most shops only get 1 or 2 things in small sizes so there usually isn't anything. My shopping consisted of a hat, insect repellent stick, a water filter. I had a hell of a time trying to claim the VAT back. The information was so confusing, but hopefully it will work out, as the girl put the prices of all my food on the receipt.
• Nelson Mandela Square was also not that interesting. There was that big statue, but the restaurants were not interesting and there was nothing else to see. There wasn't even any seats at the square.
• I went to the library there just to waste more time. It was interestingly designed, but they had no internet.
• Called up Slokky and found out he was going to Turin.
• Watched Friends and a Van Damme movie to pass the time.
• Went to bed pretty early before Slokky decided to ring me up in the middle of the night.

Food

• Etihad snack:
  • chicken roll
  • Mars bar
• Etihad breakfast:
  • orange juice
  • fresh seasonal fruits
  • egg shashouka, baharat potatoes, feta cheese, foul medames
  • fruit bun
• savory biscuits
• sesame seed bagel (R2.39)
• mango atchar (R6.13)
• banana (R5.99/kg)
• smoked Jagwurst (R79.99/kg)

Africa 2007

Simple Plan:
England -> South Africa -> Zimbabwe -> Mozambique -> South Africa -> England

Expanded Plan:
London -> Johannesburg -> Victoria Falls -> Bulawayo -> Matobo National Park -> Antelope Park -> Vilanculos -> Bazaruto Archipelago -> Inhambane -> Ponta da Barra - Maputo -> Kruger National Park -> Johannesburg -> London

Date:
27/9/07 - 15/10/07

Flying:
Etihad + Comair

Cost:
$$$

Things you see everywhere in Africa

Johannesburg

• cars
• different nationalities
• Australian stuff
• new housing developments
• new suburbs

South Africa

• green farmland and rolling hills

Zimbabwe

• animals
• dry arid land
• roadside markets
• people carrying babies on back and loads on their heads
• empty shops and supermarkets
• bars with no beers
• beer ads
• black market money exchange
• lines for bread, ATM...etc

Mozambique

• rural huts
• streetside markets
• land mines
• beaches
• water
• houses with no roof
• palm trees
• M Cel advertisements
• garbage on the streets