index by countries

10/01/2002: We arrived in South Africa today. After enjoying the "real Africa" for three months, we are looking forward to experiencing a bit more civilisation.

09/29/2002: On our search for the best diving-spots in Mozambique we drive along the coast southwards. After a first stop in Morrungulo, we are now very enthusiastic about "Praia de Tofo" and the diving center Diversity Scuba close to Inhambane. On two dive charters in the Indian Ocean we saw an incredible amount of marine life - on and in the water. We had fun with Dolphins, Humpback-Whales, Turtles, Mantas, many Trigger-, Box-, Cow-, Parrot-, Angelfish as well as Lobsters and thousands of other colourful fish. We thought we were in an aquarium!

09/23/2002: Our first stopover in Mozambique is in Quelimane. The city has been an important marketplace already in the 17th century (not only because of the slave trade). Today it has lost a lot of its charm but the Portuguese influence is still very present: the language, the architecture, the wide lanes ... But we drive a little bit further to the "Praia do Zalala", a beach close to Quelimane. Yes! We did reach the Indian Ocean! And the beach is just like a dream: finest white sand, hundreds of coconut-palms, the water so warm that we'd like to stay in it for the whole day ...

09/22/2002: Today we leave Malawi and pass the Border to Mozambique. What will we discover in the fifth country on our trip?

09/21/2002: We go on a hike with a local guide: two days across the Mount Mulanje, the highest mountains in Malawi with one peak over 3000 meters high. The first day we pass the side of peak Chilemba to reach a hut on the Lychenia-plateau on 1995 meters. The path just don't want to climb up and so we do, no matter how much power we still have! But the amazing views make us forget the exhausting walk. After five hours through grassy plains, steep woods and little rain-forests along small rivers we reach the hut just in time for a cup of tea while viewing the sun going down over Malawi. After a refreshing night we start on our way across the different plateaux to the Chambe hut - again with stunning views up (to the peaks) and down (over Malawi). A short rest at the hut and on we go, passing a romantic waterfall and reaching finally our "home". After eight ours strenuous walking we won't do much more than crawling to bed: our feet just refuse to work any more!

09/19/2002: Malawis landscape has everything that you could want: from the high mountain to the sea (OK, it's just a very big lake). Our trip brings us to the city Zomba and we decide to explore the plateau with the same name. On more than 2000 meters height, we find wide forests with large trees and green fields with lots of flowers and lots of berries: strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, ... The wood industries here provide most of the jobs in this area and we are not only impressed by the vast views over the surroundings but also by the workers, who carry immense amounts of wood - either on their heads or if they have one on their bikes - down the mountain!

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