We woke to a damp morning and because we’d slept with all the flaps closed it was also slightly damp on the tent. The vehicle was no better, our laundry had steamed it up but was a long way off dry. After packing up, saying our goodbyes and making it down through the banana plantations … More North before East
We crossed the border bridge to enter Uganda and it was busier but still very quiet. Mainly though it was men in yellow vests wandering around, the vests identified them as being part of a money changing association. They seem to be individuals that are legitimately allowed to change money. The quietness were we later … More The pearl of Africa – Uganda
Our next destination was Kigali, the capital. Only around 110km away we knew it’d take us just over 2 hours so we didn’t rush to leave the hotel. We still passed on the breakfast in favour of our usual routine of eating our own on the road. Our vehicle got washed complimentary of the hotel … More Kigali – our first capital + border number 2
We slept well with the cooler temperature and relative quietness. We got up a little later than normal as we were within an hour or so run to our first destination Akagera National Park. The drive was easy and we only missed our turning once but there was no shortage of money demands from people … More Rhinos and roads
At the Rusomo crossing Rwanda and Tanzania operate joint one stop border posts. The border itself is the river. If going TZ->RW you cross the river and use that post, if coming the other way you cross the river and use the other post. We hadn’t had chance to refresh ourselves on what the border … More Crossing into Rwanda – and driving on the right
Back on the road we headed West, our next destination was crossing the Rwandan border at Rusomo. We knew it would take us at least a day and a half to get there so our aim again was to get as far as we could and then find somewhere to stay for the night, but … More To the Rwandan border we go!
The Western gate to the Serengeti is much less used than those on the East (which are within striking distance of Arusha). On that side it is over touristed with guides using radios to alert others to key animal sightings. Stories abound of up to 40 safari vehicles being gathered at sightings and the kiwi … More Exploring the Serengeti
We left the campsite at 7am. It wasn’t fully light, it was cloudy so still a bit dim. As we left we were surprised to not just find zebras outside the campsite but wildebeest too. It was cool and the roads quiet. It felt like we made good progress, the road condition was good and … More A slow journey west
Usually we name our road trips (the last one we called chasing sunrise as we travelled from West to East across Southern Africa) but we can’t think of the right name for this one. “In a circle” or “round the lake” aren’t quite right. So for now it is a very literal “Clockwise we go”. … More Clockwise we go! (+ Tarangire National Park)
Picking up the vehicle took all morning. For a start we had said we would get to the vehicle place at 8am and actually got there at 9am. Coffee was needed before we departed and it always being quiet in the mornings (Africa very much wakes up) we had to walk a way to get … More Hitting the road – Mount Kilimanjaro
Marie & Emma's Travel Journal 