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Great Africa Expedition

June - July 2017
A 49-day adventure by Jessica Read more
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  • 81footprints
  • 11countries
  • 49days
  • 204photos
  • 2videos
  • 22.3kkilometers
  • 14.5kkilometers
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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 12

    Adrift White Water Rafting

    June 20, 2017 in Uganda ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    I can now say I have done white water rafting on the River Nile. Let's just say, this was one of the scariest white water rafting I have done (close second to New Zealand) but not because of the large drops but because of the crossing waters.

    Our raft tipped over twice, the first time we tipped was on the second rapid and as I have come back up the boat has hit me on the head pushing me back under the water - I thought I was going to drown in the rapid. When I finally did reach the surface I was still in the middle of the rapid, luck a safety kayak with us came and pulled me out.

    After that I was a tad cautious and didn't really want to tip the raft over again so when we were given a choice of 'no flip', '50/50' or '100%' we chose 'no flip' but our instructor had other ideas and took us into the middle where we were guaranteed to flip the raft and once again we ended up in the water, at least this time I didn't get pushed under by the raft again.

    Once we had finished they provided us with beer and lots of food, they then drove us back to our accommodation where we viewed the photos and video footage. It was a good day, I am glad I did it but I think as I get older I am getting more cautious (maybe even wiser) and that is why these sorts of things are starting to scare me haha.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 13

    Ziwa Bush Lodge

    June 21, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today was a very, very long bus ride! I managed to watch two movies which were both a tad strange 'mr. right' and 'dirty beautiful'. There were lots of toilet stops today because there were a few sick people on the bus, still trying to figure out if it is dehydration or gastro from drinking too much river nile water while white water rafting!

    Once we got to the camp we had the option of upgrading from camping to a room for two nights while we're here. We were told these were one of the better upgrades so we did it and let's just say we're not regretting it either, the room is beautiful. The whole site is beautiful actually, the gardens, the outdoor pool and a bar overlooking a water hole.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 14

    East Africa Mission Orphanage

    June 22, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    I am exhausted already and I am only two weeks in!
    It doesn't help I haven't stopped since getting here so today I decided it was time for a 'rest day' where I would hang out at the resort and visit a local orphanage called East Africa Mission Orphanage (EAMO).

    EAMO was established in 1997 by Australian couple, Ralph and May Spinks who today provide a loving home for hundreds of orphaned children including babies and teenage mothers. EAMO provide health assessments, fresh clothing, 3 nutritious meals a day, and an excellent education program all the way through to completing High School, followed by vocational training or preparation for University.

    I was given a tour of the orphanage, they have two dormitories (one for the girls and one for the boys), a large dinning area, church, library (which was donated by an Australian family), classrooms for each grade and a babies room. The orphanages is fairly self sufficient with solar panels, a poultry farm, they also grow all their own fruit, vegetables and wheat. I liked the fact that majority of the people employed here were actually orphans and grew up in the orphanage.

    First we visited the boys dorm, followed by the babies and then the girls dorm. All the children were welcoming and were curious to find out more about me, looking through my photos and asking about what home was like. They loved the pictures of my dogs and the Police car. I then walked to dinner where I sat down and had dinner with the children, they were fighting over which table I was going to sit at.

    After dinner they sung songs in Swahili and in English, then it was our turn - we had to sing songs in front of them, number one request was 'mamma mia' which we did not do any justice and then we sang nursery rhymes which they loved.

    It was now time for the children to go to bed and for us to return home. I was only there for a short period of time and everyone has their own opinion on these sorts of places but I thoroughly enjoyed it and most importantly I felt like the children enjoyed it even more.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 15

    Crayfish Camp

    June 23, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    We started a little later today because there was only a two hour drive to our next camp which is called 'Crayfish Camp'.

    We arrived here at about 10:00am, set up our tents and then booked in our optional activities. I have chosen to do the walking safari, boat ride to see hippopotamus and the Elsamere Conservation Centre.

    The facilities at this camp are fairly average, good wifi but toilets and showers let this camp down. They are too far away and not very clean.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 15

    Lake Naivasha

    June 23, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Once we got back from our walking safari we straight away walked down to Lake Naivasha where there were boats waiting to pick us up and take us to see where the hippopotamus were resting.

    We were able to see probably about fifteen to twenty hippopotamus' just off of the shore in a large group the boat went straight to this group so that we could have a close up view of them, it was amazing (photographs do not do it justice) we continued on the boat and found a further two families.

    Once our time was up the ones that were going to the Elsamere Conservation Centre were dropped off on the bank of where the centre is located.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 15

    Elsamere Conservation Centre

    June 23, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    I am being honest I haven't really heard of Joy Adamson or George Adamson before but me being me I can't resist learning about history especially when there is cake involved!

    We arrived on the banks of Elsamere Conservation Centre by boat, we went into the museum first where we looked at a lot of Joy and George Adamson's belongings. There were type writers, sewing machines, paintings, certificates, oil paints, photographs and several other little belongings.

    We then were treated to high tea, there were so many cakes and biscuits - it was delicious. We then watched a documentary about Joy Adamson's life and she is such an incredible woman. I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did but I really did and I look forward to researching more about her.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 15

    Green Crater Lake Park

    June 23, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    First optional extra I signed up for today was what the call a 'walking safari' where we were going to walk through the Green Crater Lake Park with the animals (including twenty-eight leopards that call the park home)

    We walked about 11km in total and we were lucky enough to see giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, baboons, black and white colobus, warthogs and numerous different birds. They were so close, most of the were within twenty metres of us it was insane.

    At the end we walked up to the top of the crater to the lookout point, the view of the park and lake was beautiful.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 16

    Wildebeest Eco Camp

    June 24, 2017 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We arrived at Wilderbeest Eco Camp at about 10:00am, we had to remove everything off of the bus as they were taking it to get it cleaned because tomorrow a new group starts (well we lose some and gain some) for the next part of the trip.

    Once we had set up our tents we began doing our washing, Adam set up an elaborate washing line for everyone and then we began 'day drinking' while we snacked on chips and dips!

    It has been an awesome day, as stated before this camp site is really nice and has good wifi so I even got the chance to call mum and dad.    Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 17

    Kenya / Tanzania Border

    June 25, 2017 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    It is hot and this border is taking ages to cross, first we lined up to exit Kenya then we had to walk about a kilometre to the Tanzania office and line up again to enter the country. I think we spent a total of three hours waiting at the border in 'no mans land' because there was an issue with the clearing of the truck and the cooks passport.Read more

  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa Expedition
    Day 17

    Meserani Snake Park Camp

    June 25, 2017 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Tonight we are staying at the Meserani Snake Park Camp, as the name suggests there is a Snake Park attached to the camp site - this does not interest me in the slightest, if anything it scares me so I did not go see the snakes haha.

    I forgot to take pictures of the camp site but it was average compared to where we have been staying, there was no grass and the facilities were average.

    It was run but an elderly couple who were a good laugh, they had set up a pretty good bar with a dart board and plenty to look at on the walls and roof, as you can see from the photos - it was a typical outback bar! There were so many photographs and things to look at.    Read more

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