Friday, 1 July 2016

Oasis Overland Adventure - #75daysofoasisoverland

Way back in February I said that I would attempt to document our Oasis Overland trip by taking one photo a day and posting it on our Instagram account under the hashtag #75daysofoasisoverland.

Amazingly, despite a whole host of hurdles, we've managed it! We now have at least one photo for each day of our journey as we drove from Nairobi to Cape Town.

As promised this is a blog for all those who couldn't access our photos as they were being posted. 

I suggest you grab a cuppa, sit back & enjoy :) 

Love, M x
.............................................................................................

< KENYA >



Already late to upload, not a great start..! Here is a photo of #day1 & our first campsite


#day2 of our Oasis Overland - man makes fire


Up bright & early on #day3 of our Oasis Overland trip for the first safari trip of the tour. It was worth the early start as we've spotted rhino, giraffe, zebra & LEOPARD


This may not be that pretty looking but let me tell you it's more than photo worthy - lasange made from scratch & cooked on a camp fire #day4

< UGANDA >

Drinks with a view! Arrived in Jinja and our campsite bar has the best view of the Nile going  #day6 


After a fantastic lazy morning kayaking on the Nile it's time to explore Jinja town #day6


So today was awesome! We went white water rafting down the Nile & it got pretty wild #day7


I guess there are worst places to spend a lazy afternoon in Kampala before watching the six nations later #day8


Did someone say deja vu?! 34 days after we crossed the equator with the #MissonRwentobo team we crossed with our Oasis Overland truck. Highlight of today: seeing the Rwentobo school & clinic construction progress #day9


Check out this motley crew we are calling our Oasis Overland family for the next two months! Had a beaut day relaxing at Lake Bunyoni & visiting a local school for orphans #day10

< RWANDA >


Bonjour Rwanda - what a beautiful country you seem to be! #day11


Today the rest of the group went off & when they came back they had some pretty awesome photos to show us! #day12 


Today we were incredibly moved as we visited the Rwandan Genocide Memorial, their suffering and loss is utterly unimaginable.#day13


Having been internet deprived for the last 5 days it's time to play catch up! Here is our last photo taken in Rwanda - a stunning, surprisingly clean and slightly eerie country.#day14

< TANZANIA >


#day15 of our Oasis Overland and we headed in to Tanzania - after a gruelling drive off-road we were delighted to see the ferry to take us across Lake Victoria - it wasn't quite the Dover to Calais...


What a view to wake up to! Having slept at Mwanza's finest yacht club the early start was made easier with this stunning sunrise #day16



&& then we drove all day from Tanzania back, to Kenya - I'm looking forward to when we return & see more of Tanzania than just roads, border control and the inside of the Oasis truck... #day16continued


< KENYA >


This group though...what a TEAm :) possibly the coolest campsite we have been to, hidden deep within a tea plantation over looking a lake, with a fat old BBQ = bliss #day17 


Today Ben cheated on me with a 17ft Rothschid giraffe... look at the passion in his eyes! #day18


Today we visited 23 baby elephants playing in the mud & drinking their milk at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This wonderful place is a home for orphaned bubba elephants & it was WONDERFUL.! #day19


(For the next 7 days we are away from the oasis overland truck as ourselves & 5 other travel buddies opted out of the safari in the Serengeti, we will rejoin the group in Zanzibar.) This was my view for 11 hours today... Having persistently sweated in a muggy, falling apart coach from Nairobi to Mombasa we are delighted to have arrived at the Indian Ocean - tomorrow BEACH. #day20


We have arrived!! Diani Beach is utterly stunning so Keianna & I couldn't resist a tour of the area by these lovely camels #day21


I would apologise for adding two photos a day, but this place is too stunning to not show off! #day21continued


#day22 and the view has only got better! The beach life is definitely the one for me :)


Sometimes travelling with Ben isn't so bad :) #day23


Despite a stressful morning of stolen phones & crowded journeys the 7 of us then enjoyed a stroll around Mombasa Old Town - thanks for the photo Michael! #day24


Time to leave Kenya for good!! Yesterday we took the loooooong bus journey from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam. It was incredibly hot & sweaty and with traffic like this I was glad not to be driving! #day25

< TANZANIA >


Zanzibar you beautiful thing you! Having spent an afternoon exploring Stone Town I've already fallen in love with this island - tomorrow, more beach! #day26


It's official, I'm in paradise. I can't explain how beautiful Zanzibar is but it's made even prettier with Keianna in the photo :) #day27


Yesterday we finally became one big overland group! Our 7 have rejoined the main group & we have a couple days left on the island before we all squeeze back on to the truck #day28


Apparently it can also rain in paradise! Today has been pretty damp & miserable, but as I have a dose of sun stroke to get over I'm bed bound anyway #day29



Here Ben & I are enjoying the sunset boat trip the group went on last night. The local dhow are quite an experience to sail in & it was a pretty cool way to end our time on the beach. #day30


Today we were back in Stone Town. We braved the rain & went exploring in the spice, fish & meat markets. Funnily enough the photos from the butchers weren't that pretty so here is one of all the spices. #day31



And after 7 days without internet access we are back!! This photo doesn't look like much but in it the group are entertaining themselves with the highly competitive 'truck surfing'. #day32 involved a whole day driving across Tanzania.


#day33 was another looooong drive day finishing with our second bush camp. Now I'm no fan of 12 hour drives but it is easier when there is this view out the window!

< MALAWI >


\

#day34 and we FINALLY arrived in Malawi! To anyone thinking Africa is made up of dry, flat land I can assure you Malawi in rainy season will make you think again.


When walking along the shores of Lake Malawi we stumbled across a load of local kids fishing & enjoying the last of their Easter holidays. #day35


On #day36 we spent most of the day haggling & trading at the local market. Here I'm learning to play the addictive Malawian game of Bao with a local named Nutella #


When it stopped raining Lake Malawi threw up some pretty stunning sunsets #day37


Absolutely horrendous outfits, a spit roasted pig & a load of beach side drinking = Ben's birthday!! (thanks for the photo Lindsey) #day38


Now no one from our group expected Lake Malawi to throw up some of the biggest surf we've seen in Africa #day39


Next we left the lake side and headed south to Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city. The drive wasn't too long, we had stunning views and dinner was this meat feast of kabob goodness - so all in all not a bad day #day40

< MOZAMBIQUE >


Goodbye Malawi, Ola Mozambique! Now to get to our next destination of Zimbabwe we had to drive through the Tete corridor in Mozambique. A pretty pointless $72 spent on a visa but we were rewarded with a stunning bush camp under ALL the stars #day41

< ZIMBABWE >


We arrived in Zimbabwe!! 2 years ago if someone had told me I would visit Harare 3 times in 2 years I couldn't imagine it would become one of my favourite places. However we had mixed emotions over our Chinese that night as sadly we were saying goodbye to one of the truck favourites. Amanda we love you & it already feels strange without you!! #day42


Oh it's good to see the CBF team again!! It's been 2 months since Ben & I spent a month volunteering with this amazing family and it was so nice to be reunited. Add a peanut butter milkshake from Mugg & Bean and the day was made! #day43


And we are on the move again! Time to head south east and explore the utterly stunning region of the Chimanimani mountain range. We are so excited to stretch our legs tomorrow and go wandering #day44


A fantastic day as we journeyed along the 2 hour dirt track to the small, beautiful village of Rusitu - the village that Ruth (Mumma Spring) spent the first decade of her life. In this photo Ben is stood next to a plaque honouring the fantastic impact his Grandpa had whilst living for 40 odd years in the Rusitu Mission #day45


This is Great Zimbabwe - the second oldest ruins in Africa (the first being the pyramids). It's a wonderful nod to the undiscovered & often misjudged beauty of Zimbabwe #day46


We got the chance to meet & play with three 5 month old bubba lion cubs. Need I say more?! #day47


I'm going to sneak another photo in for today, it wouldn't be right to have spent a magical hour riding the most stunning African elephants through the bush not to mention it as a highlight of my trip #day47continued


As part of the incredible work they do at Antelope Park they offer the unbelievable opportunity to walk with two of their 19 month old cubs. It's safe to say Ben & I loved every second #day48


This morning we tagged along with the research team who track the 'wild' lions at the stage 2 of the release programme - we spent a stunning 2 1/2 hours with 9 beautiful female lions and 2 males - a true highlight #day49


After driving up from Bulawayo we have now arrived in Victoria Falls! We will go exploring tomorrow but for now Ben has found a slightly smaller lion to play with #day50


Victoria Falls are utterly stunning #day51


On Monday 25th I should have died..! Ben & I spent all morning throwing ourselves into the 120m high gorge, first on a canopy tour, then flying fox & extreme zipline finishing with a GORGE SWING!! I never dreamed I would get the courage to jump off a cliff to free fall for 70m but I did & surprise surprise it was a.w.e.s.o.m.e #day52

< ZAMBIA >


Yesterday we went to Zambia! We had a fantastic day exploring Livingstone & visiting the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. (thanks for the photo Michael) #day53


I'm going to sneak more photos in as this photo of the Zambian side of Victoria Falls is utterly stunning #day53continued


Final photo for now I promise! Yesterday we had to say goodbye (for now) to this wonderful pair. For the last 50 odd days we have crashed their romantic moments, irritated them nonstop & danced like crazy. Ben & Sheila we will miss you like crazy - see you in Cape Town! #day53continued

< ZIMBABWE >


Today we went for high tea at the prettiest place on earth #day54

< BOTSWANA >


It's true, we do go to the most beautiful places on earth!! Yesterday afternoon we spent a lovely 3 hours cruising on a boat trip up the Chobe River, after spotting elephants, hippos & crocs all in the water we then witnessed this stunning sunset #day55


Our camp all set up in the middle of Botswana next to a watering hole & a popular hang out for a whole herd of elephants. Ben & I fell asleep watching (by star light) & listening to 3 noisy elephants munching on the trees next to the truck...Magical!! #day56


Today Ben & I went flying! Grabbing the chance to fly over the Okavango Delta ourselves & 5 others from the truck ascended to witness the vast expanse of water networks from the sky. Whilst we were up there we also spotted huge herds of elephants, giraffe, buffalo, crocs, hippo & even 7 lions feasting on a kill #day57


After a very relaxing day on the waterways of the Okavango Delta we went for a walking safari - this is us heading over to the elephant we'd spotted #day58


Today we headed back from our overnight stay in the Okavango Delta - weaving through the waterways in the traditional mokoro (dug out boats) was pretty special #day59

< NAMIBIA >


Enjoying drinks by the Okavango in Namibia!! Our brief stay in Botswana was wonderful but I'm now excited to head towards heaps & heaps of sand #day60


Our bush camp for the night ended up being next to a national landmark in Namibia - an estimated 2,000 year old boabab tree #day61


When in Namibia it would be almost criminal not to visit the vast expanse of Etosha National Park. At 150km long and 50km wide it s home to Africa's largest salt pan & it was pretty awesome #day62


I couldn't not put a second photo for day 62 as it finished in an epic game viewing session by a floodlit watering hole. We sat silently captivated by the 13 elephants, 2 fighting rhinos and a lioness all came after dark to drink #day62continued


Next we headed further in to the middle of nowhere and stopped off for a night at the Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm. In short it's a family of cattle farmers who came across these abandoned or orphaned cheetahs when tiny and have taken them in. Now all I need to suss out is how I have a cheetah in my garden at home..! #day63


As we were driving through the desert it's hard to ever imagine how civilisations coped let alone thrived. However, we were able to see the rock paintings, left by local tribes 1,000 - 6,000 years ago! #day64


#day65 was pretty awesome as we explored the Spitzkoppe rock formations. After hiking up to the top of one we deemed it necessary to get one hell of a selfie with the truck


Here is a sneaky second photo of the Cape Cross Seal Colony we went to before the Spitzkoppe rocks. There are an estimated 100,000 stinky pieces of blubber & is one of the largest Cape Fur Seal colonies in the world! #day65continued


Having woken in the middle of the desert after a chilly bush camp we arrived in Swakopmund or otherwise known as the adventure capital of Namibia. We got our first kick when 10 of us went go-carting & battled it out in a 5 lap qualifier then a 20 lap race. Lets just say it competitive... #day66


Our second day in Swakop started with a much needed lie-in & then a mahoooosive breakfast. All 15 of us then headed to the dunes and may have misbehaved on the quad bikes a little more than we should - you can't blame us, who wouldn't want to fly down a sand dune at top speed?! #day67


WE WENT SKYDIVING!!! Out last full day in Swakopmund did not disappoint! After another lazy morning we took to the skies and then plummeted out of it once we reached 10,000ft. It was incredible. #day68


Dune 45 is pretty awesome to hike up but even more fun to run down..! #day69


Feeling teeny tiny in this mini canyon hidden away in Sossusvlei #day70


At 160km long & 27km wide Fish River Canyon is preeeeeetty mind blowing #day71

< SOUTH AFRICA >


WE GOT IN TO SOUTH AFRICA!!! After a couple of months of worry we were allowed back in to this beautiful country & therefore going to finish the Oasis Overland trip in Cape Town. Here is our celebratory dinner in Stellenbosch #day72 


Well today has been just lovely. After a much needed haircut & an equally 'necessary' shopping spree Ben, Keianna & I had a potter around the botanical gardens #day73


Finally, after 74 days of travelling through Africa on the Oasis Overland trip we have our first sighting of Table Mountain...What a city, what a group!! #day74


Apologies for the day delay but here it is... #day75 - the final photo of our #75daysofoasisoverland !! Our Oasis Overland adventure has been incredible & I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of people to journey with. We never thought we'd end up overlanding but Ben & I have seen, experienced and thoroughly enjoyed every step of the way. To everyone on the truck thank you for putting up with Ben & I and our constant bickering. To everyone else who have just lived this journey through our photos - I'm sorry for making you jealous! 


The overland trip may be over but we aren't ready to stop exploring Cape Town with this lovely bunch. Yesterday we all climbed Table Mountain, had pancakes, then climbed Lions Head - today I'm anticipating sore legs!!


&&& we're on the move again! Cape Town remains one of my favourite places on earth but now it's time to catch a teeny flight up to Durban 

So there you have it, our collection of photos documenting our Oasis Overland journey. We've broken the whole adventure in to four blog posts which you can catch up on here:






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