Follow us

Travel Blog #10 - From Karonga in Malawi to Mbeya in Tanzania

Submitted by Peter on Mon, 2010-04-12 14:28.

Location

South Africa
8° 53' 57.3612" S, 33° 26' 59.46" E
 
 
Passing a South African company called Macsteel in Karonga.
 
 
 
We battled for an hour to get connected to the Internet at old Mbewe Technology Services, but to no avail. The travel blog will have to wait.
 
 
 
The border crossing from Malawi to Tanzania went reasonably smoothly but not without it's problems.The border officials quickly swapped one of our $100 notes with a fake one and we were short changed trying to exchange currency. We quickly realised this is a totally different country all together. Not friendly and you have to be wide awake.
 
 
 
One climbs to about 2300 meters all the way up to Mbeya. Very misty but beautifull.
 
 
 
Approaching Mbeya in a thunderstorm. We had to find a bank and battled for a camp site.We then decided to push on further west towards Iringa.
 
 
 

We found a lovely camp site right on the Ruaha River called Camel Foot camp site abour 20 kms west of Mbeya. Basic facilities, long drop, cold water and no cell phone coverage. It was fantastic as we could try out our hot water shower and satellite phone.

Travel Blog #9 - Ngala Beach Lodge in Lake Malawi to Karonga.

Submitted by Peter on Mon, 2010-04-12 10:24.

Location

South Africa
9° 56' 6.3708" S, 33° 55' 51.9708" E
 From Ngala Beach Lodge we headed for Karonga, our last stop before leaving Malawi. It has been a wonderful experience with very friendly people.
View of Lake Malawi decending into Karonga.
 
 
 
View of Lake Malawi decending towards Karonga.
 
 
 
Lake Malawi en route to Karonga

 


Wooden bridge.
 
 
 
Mufwa Camp site in Karonga. Right on the beach with very basic amenities.
 
 
 

It was like camping in a compound. The rooms were all occupied with Aids Conference delegates.
 
 
 
Toni and Bosco the site attendant. He was a bit in our faces but we can only imagine that he has not had many visitors for a long time.

Travel Blog #8 - Monkey Bay to Ngala Beach Lodge

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-07 21:44.

Location

South Africa
12° 56' 34.7964" S, 34° 16' 18.6636" E
From Monkey Bay we travelled north all along Lake Malawi. The road is in excellent condition and beautifull scenery all the way.
 

Road from Monkey Bay to Nkhotakota.
 
 
Thick vegetation and trees all the way.
 
Farming is mainly sugar cane. Most houses have a mealie patch for own consumption, brick making, selling firewood or charcoal or stones for concrete.
 
 
 
Endless stream of people walking or riding a bicycle.
 
 
Bicycles everywhere.

 

 
Each bicycle has a neat little padded seat at the back for a passenger.

  

More people and bicycles.

 

 
Every 10 kms or so a little village with shops. This makes going very slow going as you have to stick to the 50 km/hour speed limit.
 
 
 
Turnoff towards Ngala Lodge just after Nkhotakota.
 
 
Beautiful camp site right on the Lake. 

 

 

 

John selling curios. 

 

 

 
Toni starting supper.
 
 
The Coleman Dual Fuel stove is a winner. We actually used all 3 burners for the first time.
 
 
The inverter supplying 220 v to charge cell phones, laptop, lights etc.
 
 
The rear fresh water outlet is very useful. We are still using water from good old Johannesburg Water but it is starting to run low. On the roof we have a spare 50 liters.
 
 
The drawer system is working very well. Nice to have everything ‘on tap’ without rummaging through boxes.
 
 
This morning a fierce Lake Malawi crab attacked us and we were lucky to escape with our lives.
 
View of Ngala Beach Lodge from the Sunset Cruise Boat.
 
 
Our skipper, Skoya.






 
 
And his second in command.



 
 




 
Toni in Lake Malawi.







 
 
Floating in Lake Malawi, watching the sun setting, having a cold one.
 
 






The sun going down…



 
 





Fisherman on his way out in a Makorro to catch fish. They use 2 paraffin Coleman lamps to attract the fish to the boat. The catch right through the night and return to the shore in the morning. Apparently the only time they can’t go out is when it is full moon when the fish are attracted to the light of the moon.









 
 
 




Fishermen on their way out for the evening's catch.
 
 

Sunrise at Ngala Beach Lodge.






 

Travle Blog #7 - Tete to Monkey Bay in Malawi

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-07 07:11.

Location

South Africa
16° 10' 26.8356" S, 33° 35' 26.5128" E
We left Tete early on Monday morning to avoyed the mess on the Santa Anna bridge over the Zambezi which is being reapaired. Only one lane of traffic is allowed over from each side at a time and only one truck at a time. Delays have been up to 4 days in the past.
 

Santa Anna bridge over the Zambezi River in Tete.
 
 
 

Charcoal vendors en route to Malawi.
 
 
 

Unbelieveable beautifull scenery between Tete & Malawi.
 
 
 

Tete to Dedza border post.
 
 


Dedza Border post between Mozambique and Malawi.
No problems and very friendly officials.
 
 
 

Finally Lake Malawi.
 
 
 

Fat Monkey Camp Site in Monkey Bay.
 
 
 

Right on the beach. Heaven......
 
 
 

Sunset on Lake Malawi. Africa at it's best. At $5 a night, priceless.

Travel Blog #5 - Nyanga NP to Tete in Mozambique

Submitted by Peter on Wed, 2010-04-07 07:09.

Location

South Africa
18° 27' 50.3244" S, 32° 48' 18.6336" E
We left the Nyanga NP early in the morning for Tete in Mozambique. En route we stopped at the Worlds View lookout point.


Worlds View look out point in the Nyanga National Park.

 
 

Worlds View Nyanga National Park. 
 
 
 
Worlds View Nyanga National Park.
 
 

Don't rely on the GPS too much from Nyanga NP to the Nyampanda border gate, between Zimbabwe & Mozambique. The route that the GPS shows has not been used for years and to get out of that mess, don't take directions from a guy on a bicycle wearing a blue T Shirt. You will get into a bigger mess. The border crossing was a breeze and within 15 mins. we were on our way to Tete in Mozambique. Toni decided that she will handle the formalities at customs and I can stay with the car. I think she feels I am too intimidating.
 
 

En route to Tete we passed some guys from George, South Africa. I am not sure how long they have been travelling with that load.
 
 

Once the tar road ends there is about 150 kms of fairly good off road driving to the Nyampanda border crossing. Providing you don't get lost.
 
 

En route to the Nyampanda Border Crossing. Unbelieveable beatifull scenery with the Mozambique border on your right.
 
 

En route to the Nyampanda border crossing.
 
 

Finally, the Zambezi flowing through Tete in Mozambique. What a welcoming sight. Seeing the Zambezi is like meeting an old friend.
 
 

Our very good friends, Theo & Mynie invited over some friends for a typical South African braai. What a wonderfull experience to spend some time with such lovely people so far away from home.
 
 

Theo, Mynie, us and friends.
 
 

Theo, myself and Toni.
 
 

Our washing machine. In the morning we put our dirty clothes into a plastic container with some water and soap, drive as much off road as possible and then in the evening our washing is spotless. Thanks to Meryl for the advice.
« first‹ previous…456789101112next ›last »
Syndicate content