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The very first diary entry...

So far, so good

Robinbye
2006-01-05 21:04:28

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hills surrounding it, it has a very flat top = plateau.

Continuing, we reached the gates of the Lewonde national park and eventually the Shire River. Here we were taken across in a boat to a lodge where we stayed the night. The site of the lodge was excellent. Enjoying a cold drink in the bar 10 metres from the water was superb. While colourful birds flew around, a half-metre lizard was digging (for food?) just outside, lots of baboons were running around, the casual crocodile floated lazily by, disguised as a log, though revealed by it large eyes staring at us. On the other side, elephants sometimes occured, and the heads of hippos could be seen in groups everywhere. Staying in chalets (a kind of hut), we could also hope (?!) for animals to appear outside during the night.

Before my arrival, Helene and Astrid spent a weekend climbing Mount Mulanje. Reaching more than 3000 metres, it is one of the taller mountains in Africa.
because the camp site was completely open. Other travellers had experienced waking up with both elephants or hippos just outside the window. We were not this lucky though.

Saturday night we went on a night safari driving in jeeps. Apart from having to change cars twice as they broke down in the middle of nowhere, the safari was fabulous. The plains were simply full of animals. I have never seen anything like it. There were lots of warthogs (norsk = vortesvin), impalas (antelope-like animals, but with impressive horns), waterbucks, and kudos (why not google these animals?), and we also managed to get fairly close to some elephants. Being aggressive, elephants can be dangerous to approach, so we were probably as close as we wanted to be. We also saw lots of baboons, and even saw some action when a baboon chased down a baby impala! However, before having time to kill it, the mother of the baby impala managed to scare the baboon off. It did not show too much interest in protecting ...