Back from the loop...

so my time in Africa is running low (and i'm spending it online...hmmmm) and I can't believe it as gone so fast. I just got back from three weeks traveling in Malawi and Zambia. It was an amazing trip but I'm very glad to be done with bus travel for a long while. Zambia was just for a few days, me and my travel mates Luther (Australia) and Shannon (Canada) went to Livingstone to check out Victoria Falls, and they were everything and more that we had heard. Then I decided to check bungee jumping off my life list...and it was amazing. Jumped from a 111m bridge in the mist of the falls, and yes, I want to do it again!

Then on to Malawi where we chilled by the lake and I learned how to make a drum from sratch. I had to soak the goat skin, tighten it on the drum base, shave the hair off, and then I carved the drum. It took 4 days and is something I am super proud of now. Went to Vwaza National Park too, where the elephants passed witin 20 meters of our hut! I got some amazing photos and it was a truely surreal experience. Very different from the touristy Tanzania safari (which was also amazing though).

Now I'm back in Dar es Salaam and headed to Zanzibar in a day or so to finish off my time in Tanzania. Then I'm on a fligt back home July 1st, with mixed sadness and excitement. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read my blog and email me along my trip. It has been a very life changing trip and I hope I can share my photos with everyone who wants to see them. California, I'm soon on my way!!!

Kenya, Zambia, and Bungee Jumping

I have failed on the blog recently, but now I have a few minutes so I'll try and catch myself up. The last 2 weeks I spent in Kenya with my professor. It was really amazing living off the land in the middle of no where. We had solar power and a charcoal fridge. There were giraffes and elephants roaming the property, as well with a lot of cattle and Masai. I was inspired to go into research of the Dik-dik, a small antelope, due to questions about its taxonomic grouping...we'll see.

Last week was pretty much travel. 9 hours from Nairobi to Moshi, 8 hrs to Dar, 48 hr train to Kipiri-Mposhi (Zambia), 4 hr bus to Lusaka, 8 hr bus to Livingstone...and this morning we went to see Victoria Falls! so it was all worth it :D and I conquered my fear of heights by going bungee jumping. It was absolutely amazing and magical and crazy. You are falling for 111m in the mist of the most powerful falls in the world. Also, the bridge is on the boarder of Zambia and Zimbabwe, so technically you are in no mans land and the jump is right next to this painted line that divides the two countries. Its funny as well, cause there are people everywhere trying to sell you Zimbabwean dollars...of which I bought 100 trillion...for $1. Its crazy to hold an actual printed note that says a trillion dollars...though now they have officially changed to the american dollar, so life is a little more stable, hopefully.

Tomorrow or Monday we head off for the 2 day journey to Malawi, where we will be able to move much slower on our return towards Dar in Tanzania. My time is winding down here and I am trying to make the most of it! Oh, and when I say we, my traveling team for the moment is me, Shannon-Canada, and Luther-Australia. Its another strange batch of English!

I'll try and write again before I get home, but only 3 weeks to go, so maybe not. Home July 1st!